Social Security earnings limit confusion - does April count toward $1,950 monthly limit if birthday causes payment delay?

The earnings limit is based on when you're ENTITLED to benefits, not when you actually receive the payment. So yes, April absolutely counts! If your benefit start date is April 1, then April's earnings count toward the limit, regardless of when you physically receive the money. Social Security operates with a quirky payment system where benefits are paid in the month AFTER they're due. So April benefits are paid in May, May benefits in June, etc. But the earnings test is still applied to April if that's when your entitlement begins. If you earn over $1,950 in April, you could lose some benefits right off the bat. Might be worth adjusting those hours if you can!

it doesn happen right away like that. they dont take it month by month, its more at the end of the year when they look at your total earnings. but ya april counts

I was in this EXACT situation last year!!! My birthday is April 22nd so I get it! They absolutely counted April even though I didn't see a penny until May 28th. I went over by like $200 and they took it out of a later check. Such garbage! The whole system is designed to confuse us!!! Be super careful with your hours. They say it's a "monthly" limit but they really look at your annual income too when all is said and done. The whole thing is SO FRUSTRATING.

Just to add some clarity, the earnings test works on two levels: 1) The annual test: In 2025, you can earn up to $23,400 for the year before benefits are reduced ($1,950 × 12) 2) The monthly test: In any individual month, you can earn up to $1,950 Your benefit month begins on the first day of the month, so April 1 is your entitlement date regardless of when your birthday falls or when the payment arrives. One important note: If this is your first year claiming benefits, you can use the monthly test even if you earn over the annual limit. So if you keep April under $1,950 but go over in other months, you'd still get April's payment. The system is confusing, but working directly with an SSA representative can help ensure you're maximizing your benefits while avoiding problems.

I had the SAME issue trying to reach SSA last month about my earnings test questions! I was on hold forever, disconnected three times, and when I finally got through, the person couldn't even answer my specific question. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth every penny since I needed to adjust my work schedule right away based on what the agent told me. Turns out I was calculating my earnings all wrong and would have had a big overpayment later.

I think everyone is overlooking something important here. The earnings limit only applies to WAGES from employment, not all income. If you're self-employed, they look at your hours worked, not just the money. And certain types of income don't count toward the limit at all, like investment income, pension payments, and government benefits. Also, the year you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the limit jumps significantly for the months before your FRA month. And once you hit your FRA month, there's no earnings limit at all. If you're close to your FRA, it might be worth looking at the exact numbers to see if waiting a bit longer would be better financially.

My sister went through this whole mess last year and ended up with a $4200 overpayment notice 9 months later! So stressful! She had no idea she was over the limit until the letter came. Now they're taking money out of every check to repay it. Just double checked with her - she confirms April would definitely count in your situation since that's when benefits start. The actual payment date doesn't matter for the earnings test.

One more thing to consider: if you're going to be close to or over the limit, you should proactively contact SSA to reduce your benefits rather than waiting for them to discover it later. You can estimate your earnings for the year and ask them to withhold benefits accordingly. This prevents the surprise of getting an overpayment notice months later. You can always request a reinstated payment if you end up earning less than expected. Also, keep in mind that the earnings limit will eventually disappear once you reach FRA, so this is a temporary concern.

I work part-time at a local business and just started my Social Security benefits this month. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea the earnings test was so complicated with the monthly vs annual limits. One thing I learned from my HR department that might help others: they said I can request to have my work schedule adjusted on short notice if I'm getting close to the monthly limit. Most employers are pretty understanding about Social Security restrictions if you explain the situation early. Also, for anyone struggling to get through to SSA by phone - I found that calling right when they open at 8 AM local time gives you the best chance. I got through in about 45 minutes that way versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. The whole system really is confusing, but this community has been a lifesaver for navigating it!