Social Security earnings limit confusion - husband starting SS early while still working

The earnings test is calculated both ways - annually and monthly. Since your husband is retiring in May, he can use the monthly test for the remainder of 2025. For months he's not working after retirement, he'll receive full benefits regardless of his earnings earlier in the year. However, for May specifically, if he earns over $1,770 (the monthly limit for 2025), he'll likely lose that month's benefit. The good news is that starting the month he turns his Full Retirement Age, there's no earnings limit at all. You should definitely call SSA to clarify his start date and how they'll apply the earnings test in his specific situation.

happened to me last yr. SSA starts benefits the month after u apply usally. if hes over the limit they just take back some $$ later. its annoying but not a huge deal

This is a common misunderstanding with Social Security. The earnings limit for 2025 is $21,240/year if below FRA, or $1,770/month. When you're in the first year of retirement, you can use the monthly test, which is more favorable for mid-year retirees. Here's what this means for your husband: 1. For any month in 2025 that he earns more than $1,770, he'll lose benefits for that month 2. For any month he earns under $1,770, he receives his full benefit 3. His earnings in months before he claimed benefits don't matter So for May, if he's earning $7,500, he would likely have that month's benefit withheld. But his June-December benefits should be fine as long as he's retired. He should call SSA to clarify the start date issue - sometimes there are clerical errors in the award letters.

The original post states the husband turns 66 in April, not that he reaches his Full Retirement Age (FRA). For people born in 1959, FRA is 66 and 10 months. For those born in 1960 or later, it's 67. So if the husband is turning 66 in April 2025, he's still subject to the earnings limit until he reaches his actual FRA, which would be sometime in 2026 depending on his birth year. The earnings limit does disappear completely in the month someone reaches their Full Retirement Age, but that's not just when they turn 66 anymore.

I'm dealing with almost the EXACT same situation!!! Applied for benefits to start AFTER retirement but SS decided to start them sooner. Called FIVE TIMES and got disconnected every single time trying to fix this. I gave up and am just having the extra money from early months set aside in case they want it back. The whole system is BROKEN!

My retirement counselor told me that taking benefits while still working is complicated. They will reduce your SS benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. And they do recalculate earnings limits every year. So even in 2026, your husband would have a higher earnings limit but still some limit until he reaches his exact FRA month. The advantage to calling is you might be able to change that May 1 start date to June 1 and avoid the whole problem.

what about his medicare? is that starting may 1 too? might want to keep that part even if u delay SS

Does anyone know if they send you a warning before they start taking money back? My husband got overpaid last year because they didn't process his earnings information correctly and we just got a surprise letter saying we owe $4700 back!!! No warning at all. Now we're fighting with them about a payment plan.

I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here. The real issue isn't just May - it's that your husband is claiming before his FRA which is permanently reducing his benefit amount. At 66 in 2025, he's about 10 months early (assuming born in 1959). That's roughly a 5.56% permanent reduction in benefits. If his benefit is $2,500, that's $139/month FOREVER. Has he considered working until his FRA to get the full benefit amount?