Will Social Security withhold my first retirement check due to earnings over $1850 in November? Special monthly rule vs annual rule confusion
Just started my Social Security retirement in November 2025 (right after my 65th birthday), but I'm still working part-time at my accounting job. I earned about $2,200 in November, which is over the $1,850 monthly limit I read about somewhere. My first SS payment is supposed to arrive next week, but I'm worried it won't come because I exceeded this 'special monthly rule' amount. Does this mean I won't get my first check at all? Also confused about what happens in January - does the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025, I think?) start applying to December earnings instead of these monthly limits? The SSA rep I talked to briefly seemed rushed and I'm still confused. Anyone deal with this recently?
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Oliver Cheng
You're correct about the special monthly rule. Since you earned over $1,850 in November, you won't receive a benefit for that month. This special rule only applies during the first year you retire. Starting in January, the annual earnings test will apply to your 2026 earnings. So December 2025 earnings will still be evaluated under the special monthly rule, but January 2026 onward will use the annual limit. Remember that if you're still working at 65, you haven't actually reached your Full Retirement Age (FRA) yet, which is likely 67 for you. Until you reach FRA, SSA will deduct $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.
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Ashley Simian
•Thank you! So just to be clear - I won't get any payment at all for November? But if I earn under $1,850 in December, I would get that month's payment? I'm confused because I thought they paid a month behind (November payment comes in December). Also, are you 100% sure the monthly rule still applies in December? I really need to plan my hours for the rest of the year.
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Taylor To
The SSA is AWFUL at explaining these rules!!! I went through this last year and got hit with a surprise when they withheld THREE checks because I didn't understand the monthly earnings test. They don't make it clear AT ALL that the special monthly rule applies to the REST of the calendar year you retire in, not just the month you claim benefits!!! You need to watch your December earnings too or they'll withhold that check as well!!!
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Ella Cofer
•same here they never explained it to me either. and then they said i owed them money back! i had to pay back like $4000 because i didnt know about the rules
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Kevin Bell
The special monthly rule is confusing but here's how it works: 1. It only applies during the first year you receive benefits 2. You're considered "retired" in any month you earn less than $1,850 (2025 amount) 3. You DON'T get benefits for months you earn over that amount 4. This rule applies for the remainder of the calendar year you claim benefits 5. Starting January of the next year, only the annual earnings test applies So yes, your November payment (which would arrive in December) will be withheld. If you earn under $1,850 in December, you'll receive that payment (in January). Starting in January 2026, the monthly test no longer applies. Instead, SSA will look at your total annual earnings for 2026. If you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2025, probably slightly higher for 2026), they'll withhold $1 for every $2 above the limit, spread across your payments throughout the year.
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Ashley Simian
•This is extremely helpful, thank you for breaking it down so clearly. So I need to keep December under $1,850 if I want to receive any payment for that month. I'll talk to my boss about reducing my hours. One more question - how does SSA know what I earned each month? Do I need to report it somewhere or do they get that information automatically?
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Savannah Glover
you might want to try Claimyr to get through to a real ssa person and get this totally clarified. i was in a similar situation last year and couldnt get anyone on the phone. claimyr.com got me through to a person in like 20 minutes when i had been trying for days. they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. the agent i talked to was able to look at my specific situation and tell me exactly how the earnings test would work with my varying monthly income. worth it to get a clear answer instead of guessing.
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Felix Grigori
•Does that service actually work? I spent 3 hours on hold last time I called SSA and finally just hung up.
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Savannah Glover
•yea it worked for me. i was skeptical too but i was desperate after trying to get through for a whole week. got connected to an agent who actually knew what she was talking about and she explained exactly how my benefits would be affected by my part time job
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Ashley Simian
I called SSA again today and finally got through after being on hold for over an hour. The rep confirmed what everyone here said - I won't get my November payment because I earned over the limit. I've adjusted my December hours to stay under $1,850 so I should get that payment. Starting January, they'll look at my annual earnings instead of monthly. Thank you all for your help! The SSA website really doesn't explain this clearly at all.
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Felicity Bud
•Glad you got it figured out! Just a heads up that if you're planning to keep working next year, you might want to project your annual earnings for 2026 and see if you'll be over the annual limit. If so, SSA might withhold some benefits throughout the year. They do an estimate based on what you tell them you'll earn. Then they adjust later when they get your actual earnings from tax returns.
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Ella Cofer
can i ask something related? if someone turns FRA in the middle of the year do they still use the monthly test for the months before FRA? my husband turns 67 in august and we dont know if we should be tracking monthly or annual
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Oliver Cheng
•Good question! In the year you reach FRA, a different rule applies. For the months BEFORE the month you reach FRA, SSA uses a higher annual limit ($59,520 for 2025), and they deduct $1 for every $3 (not $2) you earn above that limit. Once you reach the month of your FRA, there's no limit on earnings.
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Ella Cofer
•omg thank you!!! thats much better than i thought it would be
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Felix Grigori
I thought the earnings limit was $1,800 not $1,850? Did they raise it or something?
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Kevin Bell
•Yes, the monthly limit for 2025 is $1,850. It was $1,800 in 2024. Both the monthly and annual limits typically increase each year with the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).
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