What's the earning limit after reaching FRA with Social Security benefits in 2025?

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!

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.

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??

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!

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!!

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??

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.

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!

Great to see all this helpful discussion! Just wanted to add one small clarification for anyone else reading this thread - while there's definitely no earnings limit after FRA, it's worth noting that if you're still working and earning high wages, you might want to consider adjusting your tax withholdings or making quarterly estimated payments. The combination of salary + Social Security benefits can sometimes push people into a higher tax bracket than they expected, especially if they're not used to having Social Security income be partially taxable. It's not a penalty or reduction in benefits - just good tax planning to avoid surprises at filing time. Congratulations on your upcoming FRA and potential promotion! It's a great position to be in.

This is such a helpful thread! As someone who's approaching FRA myself, I really appreciate how everyone has broken down the earnings rules so clearly. One thing I'd add for anyone in a similar situation - if you're planning to work past FRA and claim benefits at the same time, you might want to check if your employer offers any flexibility around when you receive bonuses or other large lump sum payments. While there's no earnings limit after FRA, spreading out large income spikes across tax years can sometimes help with the tax implications that others have mentioned. Also, @Elijah Knight - since you mentioned your company might offer a promotion around the same time you reach FRA, you might want to time things so you officially reach FRA before accepting any significant salary increase. Not because of Social Security rules (since there's no limit after FRA), but just to keep your first year of benefits as simple as possible from a tax perspective while you're adjusting to the new income situation. Best of luck with your retirement planning!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact transition last year! I reached my FRA in April 2024 and was also worried about the earnings rules. Can confirm everything everyone has said - there is absolutely NO earnings limit once you hit FRA. I actually got a nice surprise too - because I kept working after claiming benefits, SSA automatically recalculated my benefit amount this past January and I got a small increase! They sent me a letter explaining that my 2024 earnings were higher than one of the years they originally used in my benefit calculation, so they substituted it in. It was only about $15 more per month, but hey, every bit helps! One practical tip: I set up direct deposit for my SS benefits to go into a separate savings account from my paycheck. It makes it much easier to track everything for tax purposes and helps me see exactly how much I'm getting from each source. Makes the year-end tax prep much simpler when you can clearly separate your work income from your SS income. Take that promotion with confidence - you've earned it!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who works in HR and helps employees navigate retirement transitions, I see this confusion about earnings limits all the time. One additional resource that might be helpful - the SSA website has a really clear earnings test calculator and FAQ section that walks through all the different scenarios. It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html. They also have examples showing exactly how the earnings test works in the months before you reach FRA vs. after. I always tell people to bookmark that page because it gets updated annually with the new earnings limits for the pre-FRA period. But as everyone has correctly stated here, once you hit your FRA, those limits become irrelevant! @Elijah Knight - sounds like you have a great plan forming. The combination of Social Security income plus continued earnings from a promotion puts you in a really strong financial position for this phase of life. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

As someone who just started receiving Social Security at my FRA last month, I can add another perspective to this great discussion. The transition was much smoother than I expected! One thing that really helped me was calling SSA about 3 months before my birthday to start the application process. Even though everyone here is right that there's no earnings limit after FRA, I wanted to make sure I understood exactly when my benefits would start and how the timing worked with my work schedule. The SSA representative confirmed everything that's been said here - once you reach FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. She also mentioned that if I continue working, they'll automatically review my earnings each year to see if my benefits should be increased based on higher recent earnings. For anyone else planning this transition, I'd recommend applying online through your MySocialSecurity account if possible. It was much easier than trying to get through on the phone, and I could do it at my own pace with all my documents handy. Great question, @Elijah Knight - you're definitely on the right track with your planning!

again. very misleading."At FRA" and "After FRA" what is the difference? how long from at FRA to After FRA?

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm also approaching my FRA next year and had similar concerns about the earnings rules. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's responses have been - there truly is NO earnings limit once you reach your Full Retirement Age. It's reassuring to see people who have actually gone through this process confirming what the official SSA guidance says. I particularly appreciated the practical tips about separate bank accounts for tax tracking, the reminder about potential benefit recalculations from continued work, and the heads up about timing any salary increases strategically. These are the kind of real-world details you don't always think about when you're just focused on the basic rules. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This thread should be bookmarked as a reference for anyone navigating the FRA transition while still working!

I've been following this discussion as someone who will reach FRA in about 18 months, and I wanted to thank everyone for such clear and consistent information. The unanimous consensus that there's NO earnings limit after FRA has really helped put my mind at ease about my own retirement planning. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have made this transition, did you notice any difference in how your employer handled things like 401k contributions or other benefits once you started collecting Social Security? I'm wondering if there are any workplace considerations I should be thinking about beyond just the Social Security earnings rules. Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where you're collecting SS but your spouse isn't yet eligible? I'm trying to figure out the best strategy when we'll have a few years where I'm getting benefits but my wife won't be (she's 3 years younger than me). This thread has been incredibly valuable - thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences!

This entire discussion has been fantastic and really reinforces what I see regularly in my work as a retirement planning advisor. The key point everyone has correctly emphasized is that there is absolutely NO earnings limit once you reach your Full Retirement Age - this is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security. @Elijah Knight - you're in a great position! Since you'll reach FRA at 67 next March, from that month forward you can earn any amount without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. Take that promotion with confidence. I'd also echo what others have said about the potential for benefit increases if your new higher earnings exceed what was used in your original calculation. SSA automatically reviews earnings each year, so continued work can actually boost your monthly benefit amount. One additional tip: consider setting up your MySocialSecurity account online now if you haven't already. It makes tracking your benefits much easier and you can see your earnings record, estimated benefits, and get official documents without having to navigate the phone system that others have mentioned struggling with. The combination of Social Security plus promotion income puts you in an excellent financial position for this phase of life. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

The most common mistake I see clients make is confusing the earnings test with taxation of Social Security benefits - they're completely different things! Many people think that because their SS benefits might become taxable at higher income levels, that means there's still an "earnings limit" after FRA. But as everyone here has correctly stated, the earnings test disappears entirely at FRA. Another frequent confusion is around the timing in the year you reach FRA. People often think they need to wait until the year AFTER they turn 67, when actually the earnings limit ends the month they reach FRA. And yes, definitely set up your MySocialSecurity account now! It's incredibly helpful for tracking your earnings record and catching any errors early. Plus you'll be familiar with the system when you're ready to apply for benefits. The fact that this thread has generated such consistent and accurate information really shows how important it is to get multiple perspectives when planning something as crucial as retirement timing!