What's the earning limit after reaching FRA with Social Security benefits in 2025?
I've been trying to plan my retirement and I'm confused about the rules on working while collecting Social Security. I turn 67 (my full retirement age) next March and plan to file for benefits then, but I want to keep working at my current job. I've heard different things about how much I can earn without penalties once I hit FRA. Some coworkers say there's no limit after FRA, but my brother-in-law insists there's still some kind of reduction if I make too much. Can someone clarify this for me? Do I need to stay under a certain income threshold even after reaching my full retirement age? My company might offer me a promotion around the same time and I don't want to mess up my SS benefits.
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Brooklyn Foley
Once you reach your full retirement age (FRA), there is NO earnings limit. You can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your Social Security retirement benefits. The earnings test only applies before you reach your FRA. If you're still working in the months before reaching your FRA in 2025, there is an earnings limit that applies - but it's fairly generous. For 2024 it's $59,520/year in the months before reaching FRA (and will likely be higher for 2025), and they only deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above that limit. But again, once you hit your FRA of 67, you're completely free to earn any amount without penalties. Take that promotion without worrying about your SS benefits!
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Elijah Knight
•Thank you! That's such a relief to hear. So to be absolutely clear - the month I turn 67, all restrictions are completely gone and I can earn any amount? My benefits won't be reduced at all regardless of my salary?
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Jay Lincoln
yep what happyguidance said is right. i was worried bout the same thing last yr but theres NO limit after FRA. before that its complicated but after ur golden. i make like 70k now on top of my SS and they dont touch my benefits at all.
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Elijah Knight
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It helps to hear from someone actually doing this. Did you have any issues with the SSA when you first started working after claiming? Did they need any special notification?
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Jessica Suarez
My sister said there's still a limit even after FRA. She had her benefits cut when she made too much last year. Are you sure the rules haven't changed recently??
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Marcus Williams
•Your sister is confusing the rules. There has NEVER been an earnings limit after reaching Full Retirement Age - this has been the rule for decades. She either 1) hadn't actually reached her FRA yet when working, 2) experienced a reduction for something completely different (like Medicare IRMAA surcharges, which aren't benefit cuts but higher premiums), or 3) misunderstood what happened. I'd suggest she contact SSA directly to clarify what actually occurred with her benefits, because it definitely wasn't an earnings limit if she was past her FRA.
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Lily Young
Let me give you the official info straight from SSA (I'm a retired benefits counselor): 1. BEFORE Full Retirement Age: There are strict earnings limits that will reduce your benefits if exceeded. 2. The year you REACH FRA: There's a much higher limit that only applies in the months before your birthday month. 3. AFTER reaching FRA: There is absolutely NO earnings limit. You can earn millions and it won't affect your Social Security benefit amount at all. The only thing that might be confusing your brother-in-law is that working after FRA might increase your future benefits slightly (if your recent earnings are higher than what was used in your original calculation), and higher income can make more of your Social Security taxable on your income tax return. But these aren't penalties - higher taxes just mean you're making good money!
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Elijah Knight
•This is extremely helpful, thank you! I didn't realize working could actually INCREASE my benefits. That plus the promotion sounds like a win-win. One last question - do I need to notify the SSA when I start making more money after FRA, or do they automatically adjust everything?
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Kennedy Morrison
WHY does NOBODY mention that Social Security BENEFITS ARE STILL TAXED?!?!? Yeah, no "earnings limit" after FRA but the IRS will still take up to 85% of your benefits in taxes if you make too much! The govt gives with one hand and TAKES with the other! This happened to me - made $80K after FRA and BOOM - most of my SS benefits got eaten by taxes. Just warning you!!
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Brooklyn Foley
•You're talking about something different. Yes, up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be *subject to income tax* if your combined income is high enough, but that's a tax issue unrelated to the earnings test the OP was asking about. And to clarify, it's not that 85% is taken in taxes - it means up to 85% of your benefit amount becomes part of your taxable income, then taxed at your regular tax rate. For many people, the effective tax impact is much lower.
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Wesley Hallow
Been trying to reach SSA for WEEKS about this exact question and can't get through. Their phone system is a joke - wait for hours then get disconnected! Tried making an appointment at my local office and they're booked 4 months out. How is anyone supposed to get answers to plan their retirement??
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Lily Young
•I totally understand your frustration with the phone system - it's definitely overwhelmed. If you need to speak with someone at SSA directly to discuss your specific situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you skip the SSA phone wait. I've had multiple clients use it successfully to get through quickly instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Otherwise, for general questions like the earnings limit after FRA, the MySocialSecurity online account is actually pretty good now for managing benefits without needing to call.
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Jessica Suarez
My friend waited until 70 to claim and said that was better than taking it at FRA even if you're still working. Is that true? I'm confused about all the different ages now.
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Brooklyn Foley
•The question about claiming at 70 vs. FRA is separate from the earnings limit question. Delaying from FRA (67) to 70 increases your benefit amount by 8% per year - so you'd get 24% more monthly if you wait until 70. Whether that's "better" depends on your personal situation, health, and financial needs. But regarding earnings: there's no limit after FRA regardless of whether you claim at 67 or 70. You can work and earn any amount without SS reductions once you reach FRA, no matter when you actually start your benefits.
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Elijah Knight
I want to thank everyone for all this helpful information! I was really confused and worried about this, but now I understand that: 1. After reaching my FRA at 67, there is NO earnings limit whatsoever 2. I can take that promotion without any reduction to my SS benefits 3. The only consideration is that more income might mean more of my SS is taxable 4. I might even see my benefits increase slightly if my new earnings are higher This is a huge relief and helps me plan better. I think I'll go ahead with claiming at FRA and taking the promotion if offered!
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Lily Young
•Sounds like a great plan! And yes, you've summed it up perfectly. The earnings test disappears completely once you reach FRA. Best of luck with the promotion!
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