Social Security earnings limit for 5 months between early filing and FRA - born in 1959

Yes, the earnings limit will apply only for those 5 months before you reach your Full Retirement Age in July 2026. For 2025, the earnings limit for people reaching FRA during that year is $56,520 (it will likely be higher for 2026). But here's the important part - SSA only counts earnings BEFORE the month you reach FRA. So they'll only look at your earnings from January-June 2026. For someone in your situation, they would apply the higher earnings limit (the one for the year you reach FRA), and they only count earnings in the months before you reach FRA. So if you're making $85,000 annually, that's about $7,083 per month, so for 6 months that's around $42,500 - which is under the current limit (and likely under the 2026 limit too).

this happened to my neighbor last year and he got BURNED bad. SS took back money after they said he earned too much. make sure ur keeping track of EXACTLY what u earn those months - like down to the penny. they dont mess around!!

The earnings limit would absolutely apply from February to June 2026. However, you need to understand there's also a monthly earnings test that might help you. If you have a month where you earn under a certain amount ($1,630 in 2023, will be higher in 2026) AND you've reduced your work to below the SGA level, that month won't be subject to the earnings limit regardless of your annual earnings. So if you dropped to part-time for those months, you might avoid the withholding entirely. But based on your numbers ($85k annually = ~$7,083/month), you'd be over both the monthly and annual limits. For 2026, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above the limit. And you're right that they only look at the actual months before your FRA, not the whole year.

I went through this exact situation! Trust me, calling the SSA directly is your best option. I wasted WEEKS trying to figure this out on my own. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at Social Security without the endless hold times. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent explained that my situation (similar to yours - working for a few months before FRA) meant I needed to report my expected earnings for that period when I applied. They calculated everything for me and told me exactly what to expect. Saved me so much stress!

I think everyone is over complicating this. When you reach full retirement age the earnings test goes away COMPLETELY! It doesn't matter if you make a million dollars after FRA. Before FRA in 2026, the limit will probably be around $60,000 for the year. So if you're only working Jan-June and making half your annual salary ($42,500), you should be totally fine and not have any reduction.

To clarify on some confusion in this thread: In the year you reach FRA, the earnings limit is higher ($56,520 in 2025) AND they only count earnings in the months BEFORE your FRA month. Also, in that year, they withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above the limit (not the usual $1 for $2). For the original poster: With a July 2026 FRA and working January-June making approximately $42,500 for those six months, you would likely be under the 2026 limit (which will be higher than the 2025 limit of $56,520). But remember, bonuses and other special payments count too, so factor those in.

To clarify for everyone confused about the rules: 1. In the year you reach FRA, SSA only counts earnings in the months BEFORE your FRA month 2. A higher earnings limit applies in that year ($56,520 in 2025, will be higher in 2026) 3. The reduction is $1 for every $3 above the limit (not $1 for $2) 4. Once you reach your FRA month, there is NO earnings limit ever again For the original poster: Based on your $85K annual salary ($42.5K for Jan-June), you'll likely be under the 2026 earnings limit. But if you get any bonuses or have higher earnings that push you over the limit, you'll face some benefit withholding until you reach your FRA in July.

my sister went thru this last yr. the SSA took 3 whole payments from her becuz she was over the limit by just a little bit. make sure u know EXACTLY what ur gonna make those months. they dont just reduce ur payment, they SKIP whole months of payment if ur over!!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I called Social Security today using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through in about 10 minutes. The agent confirmed what most of you said - they'll only look at my January-June 2026 earnings (since July is my FRA month), and the 2026 limit will likely be around $59,000 for people reaching FRA that year. My 6-month income will be well under that, so I shouldn't face any benefit reductions. The agent also mentioned I should still report my earnings early in the year just to be safe, and they'll adjust if needed. I feel much better about my plan now!

That's great news! I'm so glad you got through to someone at SSA who could give you the clarity you needed. It sounds like you're in a really good position with your timing and earnings projections. Just wanted to add one more tip - when you do file in February 2026, make sure to give them your best estimate of your January-June earnings on the application. Even though you'll likely be under the limit, being upfront about your expected earnings helps avoid any surprises later. And definitely keep good records of your actual monthly earnings just in case they need verification down the road. Congratulations on getting your retirement planning sorted out!

I'm new to this community but have been following Social Security rules closely as I approach my own retirement. Just wanted to add that it's worth mentioning the "grace year" rule for anyone in a similar situation. In your first year of retirement (which would be 2026 for you), there's a monthly earnings test that can work in your favor. If you have any month where you earn less than 1/12th of the annual earnings limit AND you're not performing substantial services in self-employment, that month is exempt from the earnings test regardless of your annual total. Since you're planning to work until June 2026, this probably won't apply to your situation, but it's good to know about for anyone who might retire mid-year and have some months with lower or no earnings. The SSA agent you spoke with should have mentioned this, but sometimes they focus on the main rules and skip the exceptions. Sounds like you've got everything well planned out though! It's smart that you used that service to get through to SSA directly - I've had similar struggles with their phone system.

Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing such detailed information about your retirement planning journey! Your situation is actually quite common - many people born in 1959 are navigating this exact scenario right now. I'm glad you were able to get through to SSA and get clarity on your specific situation. For other members who might be in similar circumstances, it's worth emphasizing a few key points from your experience: 1. The earnings limit only applies to months BEFORE your FRA month (January-June 2026 in your case) 2. The higher earnings limit applies in the year you reach FRA (~$59,000 for 2026 as the agent told you) 3. Getting an official confirmation from SSA is invaluable - much better than trying to piece together information from various online sources Your plan to report your expected earnings upfront when you file in February is smart. Even though you'll likely be well under the limit, transparency with SSA from the start helps avoid any potential complications later. One small additional tip: if your employer gives you any flexibility on timing of bonuses or other lump sum payments, you might want to consider whether receiving them before or after July 2026 makes more sense for your situation. After July, there's no earnings limit at all! Best of luck with your retirement - it sounds like you've done excellent planning!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation (born in 1960, so FRA is 67) and have been trying to figure out the earnings limit rules. Reading through everyone's experiences and the clarifications about the $1 for every $3 reduction in the FRA year vs the usual $1 for every $2 really helps. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this - I learned from my financial advisor that you can also request to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits when you apply. Since you'll still have significant earnings from work during those first few months, you might want to consider this to avoid a big tax bill in April 2027. The withholding rates are 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, Amara, your point about tracking everything carefully is so important. I've started keeping a monthly spreadsheet of my gross earnings specifically for this purpose. Better to be over-prepared than scramble to reconstruct earnings records later if SSA has questions!

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone approaching my own retirement decisions, I've learned so much from reading through everyone's experiences. A few key takeaways that might help others in similar situations: 1. The Claimyr service mentioned seems like a game-changer for actually reaching SSA by phone - I've had the same frustrating experience with long hold times and disconnections. 2. The distinction between the regular earnings limit and the higher limit in your FRA year is crucial - I didn't realize there were two different thresholds. 3. The advice about being proactive with earnings estimates when filing is excellent - transparency upfront seems much better than dealing with overpayments later. For anyone else navigating this transition, it sounds like the key is getting official confirmation from SSA rather than trying to piece together information from multiple sources. The rules are complex enough that even well-meaning advice can sometimes miss important nuances. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - communities like this are invaluable for navigating these complicated government programs!