Social Security earnings limit when starting benefits mid-year in June - how does it work?

For the year you first begin receiving benefits, Social Security uses a monthly earnings test rather than the annual one. Since you're starting in June, you'd get a full benefit for any month your earnings are under the monthly limit (which is the annual limit divided by 12), regardless of your total earnings for the year before you started benefits. For 2025, if you're under FRA the annual limit is $23,400, so the monthly limit would be $1,950. Since you earn $1,900/month, you should be under the monthly limit and not have benefits reduced. After this first "grace year," they'll switch to the annual test.

the $$ limit is completly different when your in your first year recieving. check my situation - i started bennefits in october last year and was freaking out because id already made like $45000 before october but the SSA rep told me only my earnings starting in OCT counted toward the limit and only for oct-dec!!! so your ok for jan-may earnings i think

my brother got himself in a mess with this last year. he didn't understand the monthly limit vs yearly limit thing and ended up having to pay back some benefits. make sure you really understand it before you start!

I WENT THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE LAST YEAR!! The SS office gave me WRONG information about the limits and then took back $4,300 from my benefits because they said I earned too much!!! I tried calling them 23 TIMES to explain but couldn't get through. Their system is totally BROKEN and they don't care about us at all.

Another thing to keep in mind - the earnings limit is different depending on whether you're reaching full retirement age (FRA) this year or not. Since you're 64, I'm assuming you're not hitting FRA until sometime after 2025? The monthly test only applies for months before you reach FRA. Once you hit FRA, there's no more earnings test at all and you can earn as much as you want with no reduction in benefits.

One more important detail: The earnings limit only applies to wages or self-employment income. It does NOT apply to investment income, pension payments, government benefits, or interest. So those other income sources won't affect your benefits at all, regardless of amount.

Congrats on starting your benefits soon! My mom just started hers and she said the whole process was easier than she expected. Just make sure you keep track of your earnings each month after you start benefits.

also remember they take back $1 in benefits for every $2 you go over the limit so if you go a little over its not the end of the world lol

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This is much clearer now. I'll make sure to stay under the $1,950 monthly limit after I start collecting in June, and I won't worry about what I earned earlier in the year. I really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add that it's a good idea to keep detailed records of your monthly earnings after you start benefits. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or using a notebook to track your gross wages each month - this will help you stay under the $1,950 limit and give you documentation if SSA ever questions your earnings. Also, if you have any months where you might go over (like if you get overtime or a bonus), you can always reduce your hours that month to stay under the limit. The key is being proactive about monitoring it!