Social Security earnings limit before and after FRA in 2025 - turning 66 and 8 months (born 1958)
Can someone break down the earnings limits for me? I'm turning my Full Retirement Age (66 and 8 months, born in 1958) on May 23, 2025. Super confused about two things: 1. How much can I earn between January 1 and May 23, 2025 before they reduce my benefits? I heard there's some monthly rule but don't understand it. 2. After I hit FRA in May, is there any limit on what my income can be for the rest of 2025? And does this apply to my Adjusted Gross Income or just wages? I started taking SS at 62 and now I'm planning my work schedule for next year. My boss wants me to take on more hours, but I don't want to mess up my SS payments. Thanks for any help!
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Zara Khan
The earnings test works differently in the year you reach FRA versus before that year. For 2025 (numbers are estimates since official 2025 limits aren't published yet): 1. From January 1 until the MONTH you reach FRA (so through April 2025 for you), you can earn approximately $62,000 before any deductions happen. That's using the 2024 limit of $59,520 with a small COLA increase. 2. After you reach FRA in May 2025, there is NO LIMIT on how much you can earn! The earnings test disappears completely once you hit your full retirement age. The monthly rule is for the first year you claim benefits. Since you started at 62, that doesn't apply to you now. Only earned income counts - wages, self-employment. Not investment income, pensions, etc.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Thanks so much! Just to double check - the $62,000 limit applies from Jan 1 thru April 30, right? And then starting May 1 (even though my birthday is May 23), I can earn unlimited? That seems really generous but I want to make sure I'm understanding correctly.
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MoonlightSonata
Hi there. I see some incorrect info above. For the year you reach FRA, the earnings limit applies only until the ACTUAL MONTH you reach FRA, not the month before. So for you, the limit applies January through May (not April). The limit is different in your FRA year than in previous years - it's higher. Also, SSA only counts earnings up to the day you reach FRA, not the full month. So technically, you have no limit after May 23, 2025.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Oh that's different from what the other person said! So the limit applies through May 23rd, not April 30th? This is exactly why I get so confused with Social Security rules. 😩
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Mateo Gonzalez
Let me clarify this since there seems to be confusion: 1. In the year you reach FRA (2025 for you), the earnings limit is much higher than previous years - approximately $62,000 as someone mentioned. 2. This higher limit applies only from January 1, 2025 until THE DAY you reach FRA (May 23, 2025) - not the full month of May and not just through April. 3. After May 23, 2025, there is NO earnings limit whatsoever. You can earn millions and it won't affect your Social Security benefits. SSA only counts earnings received until the exact day you reach FRA. So earnings from May 24-31 don't count toward the limit. And to be perfectly clear: only earned income (wages, self-employment) counts toward these limits, not your entire AGI. Investment income, pensions, annuities, etc. don't count at all.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Thank you for clearing that up! So basically my earnings are limited Jan 1 through May 23, and then May 24 onward I'm completely free to earn whatever without penalty. This helps a lot with my work planning!
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Nia Williams
i went thru this last yr & let me tell u what happens if u go over - they take $1 for every $3 u earn over the limit for those months before FRA. but its not as bad as before ur FRA year when they take $1 for every $2. and they dont just deduct it all at once they spread it out which was a relief 4 me.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Thanks, that's helpful to know! So even if I accidentally go over, they don't just suddenly stop my payments completely. That was one of my worries.
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Luca Ricci
BEWARE!!! SSA accounting is TERRIBLE!! I went through this last year and they messed up my calculation completely. They counted income I earned AFTER my FRA in the calculation and reduced my benefits incorrectly. Took me 6 MONTHS and countless phone calls to fix. Document EVERYTHING and keep ALL your paystubs organized by date!!
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Aisha Mohammed
•This is exactly why I recommend using Claimyr when dealing with Social Security errors like this. I had a similar issue with earnings calculations and was getting nowhere trying to call SSA directly - hours on hold only to get disconnected. Used claimyr.com and got through to an agent in under 20 minutes who fixed my record. They have a demo video that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - definitely worth it when dealing with complicated earnings issues where you need to talk to a human.
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Ethan Campbell
Wait im confused why r u saying u get SS at 62 but also turning FRA in 2025? If u already get SS how r u just reaching full retirement age? Am I missing something?
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Mateo Gonzalez
•You can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as 62, but that's not your Full Retirement Age (FRA). When you claim early, you get a permanently reduced benefit. OP started receiving reduced benefits at 62, and is now approaching their actual FRA (66 and 8 months for those born in 1958). At FRA, the earnings limits disappear, even though they've been receiving benefits for years.
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Sean Fitzgerald
I just got off the phone with SS after a 2 hour wait! They confirmed what you all said - my limit is about $62,160 (they gave me the exact number) from Jan 1 to May 23. After that, no limit at all. But the rep warned me that if I earn too much in those early months, I might have to pay back some benefits. I'm going to try to stay under the limit to be safe. BTW they also told me to report my expected earnings for 2025 in advance using the SSA website, which I didn't know was possible!
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Zara Khan
•That's great you got confirmation! Yes, reporting expected earnings in advance is super helpful - it helps them adjust your benefits throughout the year rather than creating an overpayment situation that you'd have to deal with later. Smart move!
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Lorenzo McCormick
Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful for your planning - when you do reach FRA in May, you'll also become eligible for delayed retirement credits if you decide to delay claiming further increases to your benefit. Since you're already receiving benefits, this doesn't apply to you, but it's worth knowing that the earnings test elimination at FRA is permanent. Also, regarding work scheduling - since you know your exact limit now ($62,160 through May 23), you might want to calculate backwards from that number to figure out your safe hourly/weekly earnings rate for those first 4+ months. That way you can give your boss a clear answer about the additional hours without risking going over the threshold. Good luck with your work planning for 2025!
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