Social Security earnings limit for 2025 - still $22,320 for collecting SS before FRA?

The 2025 figures aren't released yet. SSA usually announces next years limits in October so you won't know for sure until then. It goes up every year with COLA but nobody knows exact amount until they announce it.

Thanks! Do you know where I should look in October to find this info? The SSA website is so confusing to navigate sometimes.

The earnings test limit is adjusted annually based on changes in the national average wage index. The 2024 limit for those under FRA is $22,320, and yes, benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above that threshold.While the 2025 limit hasn't been officially announced yet (typically announced in October), it will almost certainly be higher than the 2024 figure due to wage growth. Your brother-in-law's $25,000 estimate might not be far off, but it's just speculation until the SSA makes the official announcement.If you're planning your work schedule, I'd suggest calculating both scenarios - one with the current $22,320 limit (worst case) and another with an estimated higher limit. Remember that the earnings test is less restrictive in the year you reach FRA (higher limit and only $1 reduction for every $3 earned).

This is really helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought about doing calculations for different scenarios. Smart approach. And I totally forgot about the different rules in the year you reach FRA - thankfully that's still a few years away for me.

LOL your brother in law is making stuff up!! No way it's going to $25,000 that's almost a 12% increase, when have we EVER seen increases that big?? The earnings limit usually goes up like 3-4% a year so maybe $23,000 tops for 2025.

Actually, the earnings test limit increased 7.7% from 2023 to 2024 (from $21,240 to $22,320), so a 12% increase isn't impossible, especially with recent wage growth and inflation patterns. The earnings test limit is tied to the national average wage index, not the COLA that affects benefit amounts.

i went through this last year. they don't announce the new limits until october. so frustrating when trying to plan! and the worst is even after you figure out the limit you still have to deal with SS if you go over. i was on hold for 3 hours trying to explain my earnings!!!

If you're having trouble reaching Social Security by phone, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in the same situation with hours of hold time, but they got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me a huge headache when I needed to sort out my earnings test withholding issues.

thanks! will check it out if i have to call again

Don't forget that the earnings test only counts EARNED income like wages and self-employment. If you have investment income, rental properties, pensions or annuity income those DON'T count toward the earnings test limit!!! That's a huge thing many people miss.

That's good to know! Fortunately all my income is from my part-time job, so it's pretty straightforward in my case. But I appreciate you pointing that out!

My sister started collecting early last year and made too much money. Now they want her to pay back almost $4,000!!! Be really careful about this earnings limit stuff. The SSA doesn't mess around.

One important piece of information: if 2025 is your first year of retirement (meaning you weren't entitled to benefits before January 2025), SSA applies a special monthly earnings test rather than the annual test. This allows you to receive benefits for any month your earnings are below the monthly limit (annual limit divided by 12), regardless of your total earnings for the year.So if you're just starting in January 2025 and have high earnings early in the year but then reduce your work, you might still get benefits for the months where your earnings are under the monthly threshold.

Wow, I had no idea about the monthly test for the first year! That could make a big difference for me since I was planning to work more in the first half of the year. Thank you for this information!

for watcching the announcment, just google \

Just to add a perspective on planning: when Social Security withholds benefits due to the earnings test, they're not gone forever. Once you reach your full retirement age, your monthly benefit amount is recalculated to credit you for the months benefits were withheld. This results in a permanent increase to your monthly benefit amount going forward.So while the earnings test may reduce your benefits in the short term, you'll eventually get that money back in the form of higher monthly payments for the rest of your life after FRA.

I didn't realize they recalculate at FRA! That makes me feel better about the whole situation. Thanks for explaining this.

This is SUPER important info that most people don't know!!! The money isn't