Social Security earnings limit at FRA in 2025 - Will exceeding $62,160 reduce my SS benefits?

The earnings limit ONLY applies to earnings before you reach your Full Retirement Age. For 2025, the limit you mentioned ($62,160) is correct, but this would only apply to your earnings from January through April 2025. Since you're earning about $25,000 during those months, you're well under the limit and shouldn't have any benefits withheld. If you did exceed the limit during those months before FRA, Social Security would withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above the limit. But once you hit your FRA in May, you can earn unlimited income with zero reduction in benefits. Also, important to note - even if benefits are withheld due to earnings, it's not a permanent reduction. SSA will recalculate your benefit amount when you reach FRA to credit you for months when benefits were withheld.

my sister had same thing last year. they dont care what u make after FRA date. only before. she worked full time after FRA and didnt lose a penny of SS money. dont worry about it

I just want to confirm what others have said. The earnings test ONLY applies to the months BEFORE you reach your Full Retirement Age. In your case, that's Jan-Apr 2025. Since you'll make about $25,000 during those months, you're WELL BELOW the $62,160 limit for 2025. Once you hit your FRA in May, you can earn a million dollars if you want with ZERO impact on your benefits! I went through this exact situation last year when I reached my FRA in August. I was so worried about the earnings test that I almost considered quitting my job, which would have been a HUGE mistake. You're going to be just fine!

FRA is full retirement age for anyone wondering - took me forever to figure that out lol

Don't trust what anyone says here!! The SSA makes MAJOR errors on this all the time! I hit my FRA last July and they STILL reduced my benefits because of my earnings even though they weren't supposed to!!! Called DOZENS of times and couldn't get through to fix it. Spent HOURS on hold only to be disconnected! They finally fixed it after 4 MONTHS but never gave me the back payments they owed me!!! The system is BROKEN!!!!

I had some confusion about this same issue. Turns out there are actually two different earnings tests: 1. In years BEFORE the year you reach FRA, the 2025 limit is $22,320 (not applicable to you) 2. In the year you reach FRA, the 2025 limit is $62,160 but ONLY for months BEFORE you reach FRA Since you're only making $25,000 before your FRA in May, you're well below the limit. I wouldn't worry at all. Your after-FRA earnings don't count against you in any way.

Question for OP - why are you even claiming benefits right at your FRA? If you're still working and making good money, have you considered delaying your claim to earn delayed retirement credits? Each year you delay past FRA until age 70 gets you an 8% permanent increase. Just something to consider if you don't need the SS income right away.

i thought the earnings limit was way lower, like $20,000 or something? confused why everyones saying $62k???

Something nobody's mentioned - make ABSOLUTELY SURE your employer correctly reports your pre-FRA vs post-FRA income on your W-2! My company's payroll didn't break this down correctly and it caused a HUGE mess with Social Security automatically deducting from my benefits incorrectly. Took forever to fix!

Just to add some clarity on how SSA actually applies the earnings test in your situation: 1. They'll look at your total earnings January-April (before FRA) 2. If those earnings exceed $62,160 (which yours don't at $25,000), they'd withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 above the threshold 3. The withholding would be applied to your monthly benefits starting from January 4. Once you reach FRA in May, no further withholding occurs regardless of earnings 5. At your FRA, SSA automatically adjusts your ongoing benefit amount to give you credit for any months benefits were withheld But since you're well under the threshold, this won't apply to you at all. You'll receive your full benefit amount with no reductions.

my dad just went thru this! he said make sure you tell them you reached FRA when you call because sometimes the customer service people get confused about which rule applies to you. he had to call back 3 times to get someone who understood the rule correctly lol