Will my Social Security survivor benefits be reduced for income I earned before applying in July?

they only count what u make AFTER u start getting the checks so ur fine dont worry about it

For survivor benefits, the earnings test works like this: SSA looks at your annual earnings for the whole calendar year and compares it to the annual limit ($22,320 in 2025 if you're under FRA). They don't just count earnings after you apply. HOWEVER, there is a special rule for the first year you receive benefits called the "monthly earnings test." In the first year, you can receive full benefits for any month you're considered "retired" - meaning you earn under the monthly limit ($1,860 in 2025) AND don't perform substantial services in self-employment. So even if your annual earnings exceed the limit, you could still get full benefits for the months where your earnings were below the monthly threshold. When you respond to the letter, make sure to provide your monthly earnings breakdown, not just the annual total.

Yes, exactly! For months you've already received benefits (July onward), if your earnings are under $1,860 for that month AND you're not doing substantial self-employment work, they shouldn't count your earnings from earlier in the year against you for those specific months. When you respond to their income verification request, include a month-by-month breakdown of your 2025 earnings. Make it very clear which months are under the monthly limit after you started receiving benefits. Also important: if your earnings for the rest of the year stay under the monthly limit, contact SSA in January to make sure they apply this special rule correctly. Sometimes they don't automatically apply it unless you remind them.

OMG I went through EXACTLY this when I started getting survivor benefits! I was working full-time when my wife died, then went part-time after I started benefits. They sent me that same letter! I just sent in my pay stubs showing my reduced hours after I started getting benefits and everything worked out fine. Don't stress too much about it!

They're going to take back every penny you got if your annual income is over the limit! The SSA doesn't care when you earned it - January or December makes no difference. I had to pay back $9,400 because no one explained this to me. Their whole system is designed to trick people into overpayments so they can claw money back. I would IMMEDIATELY call them and straighten this out before it gets worse!!!!

I think there's some confusion here about how the earnings test works in the first year of benefits. The monthly earnings test is specifically designed for situations like yours where you have higher earnings earlier in the year before you began collecting benefits. SSA Publication No. 05-10069 explains this special rule: "In the year you reach full retirement age, we deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but we only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age." So while they do look at the entire calendar year, they have this special provision for the first year. Make sure when you talk to them that you specifically ask about the "first year monthly earnings test" - some representatives might not apply it unless you ask.

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to clarify about the monthly earnings test for first-year benefits. I'll definitely have all my monthly paystubs ready when I respond to their letter. This is all so much more complicated than I expected, but I feel better knowing there are special provisions for the first year.

Just remembered something important - when I was dealing with this, I also had to fill out an SSA-131 form (Statement of Employer). My employer had to verify my reduced work schedule. Ask them if you need this form too if you're still working for the same employer but with reduced hours!

To definitively answer your question: The earnings test applies to the full calendar year, BUT the monthly earnings test for the first year of benefits allows you to receive benefits for any month you earn under the monthly limit ($1,860) and don't perform substantial services in self-employment. What this means in practice: If your monthly earnings from July-December stay under $1,860 per month, you should receive full survivor benefits for those months despite your higher earnings from January-June. Make sure to: 1. Provide a month-by-month breakdown of earnings 2. Specifically mention the "first year monthly earnings test" in your correspondence 3. Keep copies of all pay stubs and documentation 4. Follow up in January to ensure correct application of the rule And yes, you'll need to report earnings annually until you reach FRA, but the special monthly rule only applies to this first year.