Social Security earnings limit confusion - monthly vs yearly limits for 2025 when not at FRA

The monthly limit only applies in your first year of receiving benefits. After that, only the annual limit matters until you reach Full Retirement Age. Since you're starting benefits in March 2025, SSA will apply the monthly test from March-December 2025. Any month you earn over $1,950, you won't receive a benefit, regardless of your annual total. Starting January 2026, they'll only look at your annual earnings to determine if you exceed the limit (which will probably increase slightly from the $23,400 for inflation). Hope this helps!

I think ur confusing yourself. SS only cares about the yearly amount. I went through this last year and made more some months and less others. No problems with my checks at all. Just stay under the yearly amount and your fine!

Had the same problem last yr!!! SS system is SO MESSED UP now. Spent 3 HOURS on hold and then got disconnected. TWICE!!! Try calling right when they open, thats what finally worked for me. The monthly limit thing is real tho, my brother in law lost benefits for 2 months when he went over.

I've been dealing with social security for years and yes the monthly earnings test is definitely a thing in your first partial calendar year of benefits. After your first year they only look at annual totals. If you're starting benefits in March, the monthly limit applies March-December 2025. In 2026, they'll switch to annual.

I went through this exact situation in 2023. Here's what you need to know: 1. For your first calendar year receiving benefits (2025 in your case), the monthly earnings test applies. If you earn over $1,950 in any month, you'll forfeit your benefit for that month. 2. Starting January 2026, only the annual limit matters (likely around $24,000 by then with COLA). 3. If you're close to the limits, it's extremely important to contact SSA and report your expected earnings. Don't wait for them to discover it later - they can assess overpayments going back years with interest. 4. At Full Retirement Age, these limits disappear completely. You can earn any amount without reduction. The system is frustrating but it works if you stay on top of reporting. For the phone issues, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes after I spent days trying. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it saved me so much frustration after being on hold for hours previously.

My friend tried getting benefits early and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! Just wait til FRA if u can. Not worth the headache of all these stupid rules!!!

To make matters even more complicated, if you're self-employed, SSA also considers "time spent in business" as part of the monthly earnings test during your first year, not just your income! I had to document my work hours to prove I wasn't working too much in months where I received larger payments for previous work. The rules are in POMS RS 02505.055 if you want to look it up. The system is absurdly complicated.

Let me clarify everything for you: 1. The monthly earnings test only applies during your first year of receiving retirement benefits before Full Retirement Age (FRA). 2. In 2025, if you earn over $1,950 in any month during this first year (March-Dec 2025 for you), you'll lose benefits for that specific month regardless of your annual total. 3. Beginning January 2026, only the annual limit matters ($23,400 plus any COLA increases). 4. For earnings over the annual limit, SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. 5. Self-employment adds complexity because SSA considers both earnings and hours worked (generally over 45 hours/month is considered substantial). You should contact SSA directly to discuss your specific situation and estimated earnings pattern. Make sure to establish an account on my.ssa.gov if you haven't already to monitor your benefits. One important note: Any benefits withheld due to excess earnings aren't truly "lost" - they're factored back into your benefit calculation when you reach FRA, resulting in a higher monthly payment later.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above last week after trying for DAYS to reach SS about my disability review. It actually works! Got through in like 15min after spending hours getting busy signals. Way better than waiting on hold forever or getting hung up on.

One strategy to consider: if you know which months you'll earn over $1,950 in 2025, you could ask SSA to suspend your benefits just for those specific months. This way, you won't have an overpayment to deal with later. Then in 2026, when only the annual limit applies, you can adjust your work schedule as needed throughout the year as long as your total stays under the limit. Just make sure to report your expected earnings to SSA in advance.

I'm in a similar situation - starting benefits next month but still working part-time. After reading through all these responses, it's clear that the monthly earnings test is definitely real for the first year. What I'm still confused about is the self-employment aspect that AstroAce mentioned. If I'm understanding correctly, even if I stay under $1,950 in monthly earnings, I could still lose benefits if I work more than 45 hours in a month? That seems like it would affect a lot of people who do seasonal or project-based work. Has anyone actually had SSA monitor their work hours, or is this more of a theoretical concern? I'm also curious about the voluntary suspension strategy - can you really just call and ask them to suspend benefits for specific months, or is there paperwork involved?

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also approaching eligibility and was completely unaware of the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who mentioned reporting expected earnings to SSA in advance, is there a specific form or process for this? I'd rather be proactive about managing this situation than risk dealing with overpayments later. Also, has anyone here actually used the voluntary suspension option and can share how that process worked? The idea of suspending benefits for specific high-earning months sounds like the smartest approach if you can predict your income patterns. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's impossible to find on the official SSA website!

This is exactly the kind of detailed breakdown I needed! I've been lurking here for weeks trying to understand these rules before starting my benefits. The distinction between first-year monthly testing vs. annual testing afterwards finally makes sense. What really caught my attention was the mention of keeping detailed records - I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for specific documentation to maintain? I'm thinking earnings statements, work hour logs for self-employment, and copies of any SSA communications, but are there other important records I should be tracking? Also, for those who've been through this process, how far in advance should someone contact SSA about expected earnings changes? I have a consulting contract that might push me over the monthly limit in a few specific months later this year, and I want to get ahead of any potential issues. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - this community has been invaluable for understanding what the official SSA resources don't explain clearly!

This thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm new to the community and facing a similar situation - eligible for benefits in a few months but still working part-time. The clarity everyone has provided about the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction is exactly what I needed. I had no idea about the first-year monthly testing rule, and honestly, the SSA website makes this so confusing. One question I haven't seen addressed yet: if you voluntarily suspend benefits for certain months during your first year, does that affect your benefit calculation when you reach FRA? I understand that benefits withheld due to excess earnings get factored back in later, but I'm wondering if voluntary suspension works the same way or if those months are just "lost." Also, huge thanks to those who mentioned specific resources like the POMS references and the Claimyr service - having actual tools to navigate this bureaucratic maze is incredibly helpful. The phone system really is impossible! I'm definitely going to be proactive about reporting my expected earnings and keeping detailed records based on all the advice here.

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm approaching eligibility for Social Security in a few months and had no idea about the complexity of the earnings limit rules. The distinction between the monthly earnings test in the first year versus the annual test afterward is something I never would have understood from the SSA website alone. What strikes me most is how many people are dealing with similar situations - it really highlights how unclear the official guidance is. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about voluntary suspension and the importance of proactive communication with SSA. The tip about keeping detailed records and the 60-day advance notice recommendation will definitely influence how I approach my own situation. One thing that's concerning me after reading through all of this is how difficult it seems to actually reach SSA by phone. Has anyone had better luck with in-person visits to local SSA offices, or are those just as challenging to navigate? I'm wondering if it might be worth scheduling an appointment well in advance to discuss my specific earnings pattern and get guidance directly from an agent. Thanks to everyone who has shared their real-world experiences - this kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable when dealing with such a complex system!