Will my final paycheck count against SS earnings limit if paid after retirement date?

Social Security counts earnings when they're earned, not when they're paid. So if you worked through March 25th, those earnings count for March - even if the check arrives in April. This is really important for the earnings test! As for your payment date, you're almost right. Since your birthday is on the 15th, you fall into the "second payment group" - people born between the 11th and 20th get paid on the third Wednesday of each month. So yes, your first payment would arrive Wednesday, May 21st, 2025 (for April benefits).

I was in almost exactly your situation last year! The way SS counts earnings is based on when you EARNED the money, not when you got paid. My last day was Feb 15th but I got paid March 1st, and it counted for February. BUT - be really careful with vacation/sick time payouts! If they pay out unused vacation time in that final check, it counts for the period when you receive it, not when you earned it. That almost messed me up! For payment dates, they're based on your birthday. Since yours is the 15th, you'll get paid on the third Wednesday of each month.

SSA paying ur benefit on like the 3rd wed is right... i get mine on 2nd wed cause my bday is the 5th... but careful bout the earnings thing man they r super strict about that i went over by $275 last year and they made me pay back over $1000!!!

There seems to be some confusion here that I'd like to clarify. Social Security counts wages when they are earned, not when they are paid. For the earnings test, what matters is when you performed the work. If your last day working is March 25, 2025, and your paycheck for that work arrives April 8, 2025, those earnings count for MARCH, not April. This is straight from SSA's operating procedures. However, there's an important distinction: - Regular wages = counted when earned - Special payments (bonuses, vacation payouts, etc.) = may be treated differently For your payment schedule question - birth date on the 15th means you'll receive payments on the third Wednesday of each month. Your first check would arrive Wednesday, May 21, 2025 for your April benefits.

My sister went through something like this and trying to get a straight answer from Social Security was IMPOSSIBLE!!! She called for 3 weeks and got disconnected every time or was on hold for hours!!!! So frustrating!!!!

Ive been getting social security for 3 years now and the rules are so confusing!! I thought they count money when you get paid NOT when you earned it?? My brother just had problems with this exactly!!! Someone needs to call SSA directly to get the right answer because people here are saying opposite things!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I just called SSA to confirm (was on hold forever but finally got through). The agent confirmed that my final paycheck will count for MARCH earnings since that's when I did the work, even though I'll receive it in April. This is a huge relief since I'll be starting a part-time job in April and need to stay under the monthly limit. The agent also confirmed my payment will arrive on the third Wednesday of each month since my birthday is on the 15th. One final tip they gave me - I should notify SSA of my estimated earnings for 2025 when I apply so they can withhold the appropriate amount upfront rather than having an overpayment issue later. Apparently they can adjust my withholding if my earnings change during the year.

bout the paying back thing u asked... they said i went over by $275 but then they took back like a whole month of benefits which was over $1000! they told me its because they have some weird formula where if u go over they take back $1 for every $2 u earn over the limit or something... it was a mess to fix

My friend's husband just took SS early and they messed up his payments THREE TIMES!!! He kept having to go to the office and waste whole days sitting there!! The government is so incompetent sometimes it makes me CRAZY!!!!

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm what others have said - SSA counts wages when earned, not when paid. I retired in February but got my last paycheck in March, and it counted for February earnings. One thing I'd add that might help - when you call to report your estimated earnings for 2025, ask them to send you a written confirmation of what they have on file. I learned this the hard way when there was a discrepancy later and having that documentation saved me weeks of back-and-forth. Also, since you're planning to work part-time after April, consider asking SSA about the "special monthly test" for your first year of retirement. It can be really helpful if you have any months where you earn less than the monthly limit, even if your total yearly earnings would put you over the annual limit. Good luck with your transition to retirement!

Great question about the special monthly test! In your first year of retirement (the year you start receiving Social Security benefits), SSA automatically applies whichever test is more favorable to you - either the annual earnings test or the monthly test. The monthly test allows you to receive your full Social Security payment for any month where you earn less than the monthly limit ($2,450 for 2025 if you're under FRA), regardless of how much you earned for the entire year. This is especially helpful for people who retire mid-year after earning a lot in the first part of the year. Since you're retiring in March and starting a part-time job in April, this could definitely work in your favor. As long as your monthly earnings from the part-time job stay under $2,450, you should receive your full Social Security payment for those months, even if your total 2025 earnings (including your full-time job from January-March) exceed the annual limit. After your first year of retirement, only the annual earnings test applies. So it's really important to take advantage of this special rule while you can!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation - planning to retire mid-year and was really worried about how the earnings test would work. The clarification about wages being counted when earned (not when paid) is huge, and I had no idea about the special monthly test for the first year of retirement. One quick question for those who have been through this - when you called SSA to report your estimated earnings, did they ask for any documentation upfront, or do they just take your word for it initially? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I make that call. Also, @Ryder Ross, thanks for sharing your experience with calling SSA directly to confirm everything. It's really helpful to see someone actually get through and get clear answers!

This has been such a helpful thread! As someone who's been navigating Social Security for a few years now, I wanted to add one more tip that might be useful for anyone taking benefits before FRA. If you're planning to work part-time after starting benefits, consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can report changes in your work status and estimated earnings through the portal, which is often faster than calling. Plus, you can download copies of all your correspondence with SSA, which gives you that paper trail everyone's been talking about. Also, the online account shows your payment history and any adjustments, so you can catch discrepancies early rather than waiting for an annual notice. It's been a lifesaver for me in staying on top of everything! The special monthly test information shared here is gold - I wish I had known about that when I first retired. It really can make a huge difference in that first year.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm still a few years away from retirement but started researching early since I'm considering taking benefits before my FRA. The distinction between when wages are earned vs. when they're paid is something I never would have thought about - that could have caused me major problems down the road. The special monthly test for the first year of retirement is a game-changer too. I had been assuming I'd have to either delay benefits or severely limit my work options, but knowing about that monthly flexibility makes early retirement much more feasible. One question for those who've been through this - do you find that SSA agents are generally knowledgeable about these nuances, or did you sometimes get conflicting information when calling? I've heard mixed things about consistency in their responses, and with something this important, I want to make sure I'm getting accurate guidance. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find in the official SSA publications!

This thread has been absolutely fantastic! As someone who works in retirement planning, I see so many people get tripped up by the earnings test rules, especially that crucial distinction between when wages are earned vs. when they're paid. I wanted to emphasize something that came up here - the importance of keeping meticulous records. I always tell my clients to create a simple spreadsheet tracking monthly earnings, especially in that first year when the special monthly test applies. Include the dates you worked, amounts earned, and dates paid. This becomes crucial if SSA ever questions your reported earnings. One additional tip: if you're switching from full-time to part-time work like many people here, make sure your new employer understands your situation. Some employers can be flexible about scheduling to help you stay under the monthly limit when needed. The advice about getting everything in writing from SSA cannot be overstated. I've seen too many cases where verbal confirmations led to problems later. Always follow up important phone calls with a secure message through your online account summarizing what was discussed.