Social Security earnings limit gone after FRA? Need clarification on working while collecting SS benefits

Yes, this is absolutely true. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test disappears completely. You can earn unlimited income without any reduction to your Social Security retirement benefits. The earnings limit only applies to people who collect benefits before reaching their FRA. Your neighbor is probably confusing this with taxation of benefits, which is different - if your combined income (including half your SS benefits) is over certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits might be subject to income tax, but that's not the same as having your benefits reduced.

Yep once ur at FRA ur good to go! My dad works full time and gets his ss check no problem, hes 68

The previous posters are mostly correct. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, the earnings test no longer applies, and you can earn unlimited income without your Social Security benefits being reduced. This is clearly stated on the SSA website. However, there are two things to be aware of: 1) If you're collecting benefits in the year you reach FRA, there's a special rule for the months before your birthday month. During those months, you're still subject to an earnings limit, but it's higher than the regular pre-FRA limit. In 2025, you can earn up to $59,520 in the months before your birthday month without penalty (divided by the number of months). 2) As mentioned, taxation is a separate issue. Depending on your combined income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may become subject to income tax. You can show your neighbor this official SSA page: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html

just wanted to say congrats on reaching FRA! im still 5 yrs away and trying to figure all this stuff out too. did you decide to wait until exactly FRA or did you consider waiting longer for the delayed credits? i keep going back and forth on what to do

My sister got her benefits reduced AFTER her FRA and she was 68, so don't believe everything you read here!! She was making about $40,000 a year and they took almost $300 a month from her SS check. When she called they said something about a "combined income threshold" and "tax withholding" but it was basically the same thing - LESS MONEY IN HER POCKET!! The government doesn't want seniors to work, they just want us dependent on them!!!

I just went through this exact situation last year. Once you hit your Full Retirement Age, you can earn as much as you want without ANY reduction to your monthly SS benefit amount. I was skeptical too, so I called SSA directly to confirm. Spent 3 hours trying to get through to a human being, kept getting disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed that after FRA, there is absolutely no earnings limit. Your neighbor is confusing two different things: benefit REDUCTION (which doesn't happen after FRA) vs. benefit TAXATION (which can happen at any age depending on your total income).

The thing no one tells you is that even though they don't reduce your benefits after FRA, they WILL tax them if you make too much! My husband and I are both over FRA, and we're still working part-time. Between our jobs, some investments, and our SS benefits, we ended up having to pay taxes on 85% of our SS benefits last year. So technically yes, you can earn as much as you want, but Uncle Sam will still take his cut if your "combined income" is over certain thresholds. Just something to be prepared for come tax time!

my grandma said her friend lost benefits after FRA but turns out she was actually on SSI not retirement benefits!! thats different rules cuz its need-based. if ur talking about regular retirement benefits ur good after FRA

To summarize the correct information for you: 1. After reaching Full Retirement Age (FRA), there is NO earnings limit for Social Security retirement benefits. You can earn unlimited income without any reduction to your monthly benefit amount. 2. This applies specifically to retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits. SSI has different rules since it's a needs-based program. 3. The earnings test only applies BEFORE you reach FRA. In 2025, if you're under FRA for the full year, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 you earn above $22,320. In the year you reach FRA, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $3 you earn above $59,520 in the months before your birthday month. 4. Taxation is separate from the earnings test. Regardless of age, your benefits may be subject to federal income tax if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. I hope this clears up any confusion on the matter!