Social Security earnings limit for married couples filing jointly in 2025 - separate or combined?

Good news - once you've reached your Full Retirement Age, there is NO earnings limit that applies to you! This is true regardless of whether you file taxes jointly or separately. The earnings test only applies to people collecting benefits who are under their FRA. Since both you and your wife have reached your FRA (66/67), you can earn as much as you want without any reduction in your Social Security benefits. This hasn't changed for 2025, and it applies to each individual separately - not as a couple.

Are you SURE about this?? I thought there was a change coming in 2025 that would affect married couples filing jointly! My sister-in-law got a letter from SSA about earnings limits changing. Now I'm worried because my husband and I are planning our finances for next year and we're both collecting SS too.

My husband and I went through this exact same thing last year! The confusion might be between the earnings limit (which stops at FRA) and how Social Security benefits are TAXED (which can be affected by joint income). Up to 85% of your SS benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income if filing jointly. Maybe that's what your neighbor was referring to?

I tried calling the SSA for 3 days straight to get clarification on this same question and kept getting disconnected or sitting on hold forever! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed what others are saying here - there's no earnings limit once you reach FRA, regardless of filing status. Saved me hours of frustration!

ok so for 2025 the rules are the same as 2024? i thought they changed something too. what about if only 1 spouse is at fra but the other isnt? does the earnings limit only apply to the younger one then?

There's some confusion in this thread that I want to clarify. The Annual Earnings Test (which limits how much you can earn while collecting Social Security before FRA) is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the income thresholds that determine how much of your Social Security is taxable. For taxation of benefits: - If filing jointly with combined income between $32,000-$44,000, up to 50% of benefits may be taxable - If combined income exceeds $44,000, up to 85% of benefits may be taxable These taxation thresholds do consider joint income. However, the earnings test for benefit reduction is applied individually and doesn't apply at all once you reach FRA.

My brother works for the SSA and says people confuse this ALL THE TIME. Once you hit your full retirement age, there is NO earnings limit whatsoever!!!! But watch out for the tax implications - that's probably what your neighbor was talking about.

Just want to add - make sure you're also paying attention to Medicare IRMAA surcharges if your income is high enough. That's another thing that can be affected by joint income and sometimes catches people by surprise. If your combined income goes over certain thresholds, you might pay higher Medicare Part B and D premiums two years later.