Will my husband's Social Security benefits be reduced if he works after filing at FRA?

Good news! Once your husband reaches his full retirement age (FRA), he can work and earn as much as he wants without any reduction in his Social Security benefits. The earnings test only applies to people who are collecting Social Security before their FRA. However, there are a couple things to consider: 1. His continued earnings could actually INCREASE his benefit amount over time. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate benefits, so if he's earning more now than in some past years, his benefit could be recalculated and increased. 2. His earnings will still be subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. 3. Working while collecting might cause up to 85% of his Social Security benefits to be taxable if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. So work away after FRA with no reduction concerns!

The previous answer is spot on. The only thing I'd add is that the benefit recalculations are done automatically by SSA every year after your husband files his tax return. They compare his new earnings with his previous 35 highest years and make adjustments if needed. One thing to consider though - since your husband will be past his FRA when he files, he'll have already accumulated some delayed retirement credits. But once he files, he stops earning those credits (which are worth 8% per year). So if he's a high earner, sometimes it makes financial sense to delay filing until 70 to maximize those credits, especially if longevity runs in his family. You might want to run some calculations comparing: 1) filing at FRA while working vs 2) delaying until 70. For some couples, the optimal strategy isn't always obvious!

I had this EXACT same question last year!!! The SSA people told me so many confusing things when I called, I could never get a straight answer!!! I finally got through to someone who knew what they were talking about after trying for THREE WEEKS. The rules are different before and after FRA and it makes a HUGE difference! Before FRA: They take away $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit (which is like $21,000-ish for 2023) At FRA: They take away NOTHING no matter how much you earn!!!! The system is so complicated and the phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE. I spent hours listening to that horrible hold music just to get disconnected.

I went through something similar with my husband last year. After spending days trying to reach SSA about a similar question, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in under 20 minutes! You just go to claimyr.com and they basically hold your place in line and call you when they have an agent. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding your specific question - yes, once at FRA your husband can earn unlimited income without reduction. But something to consider that others didn't mention - if you're both still working, your combined income might push your Social Security into a higher tax bracket, so you might want to talk to a tax advisor about that aspect.

my wife and i did the same thing. i kept working till 75 and it increased my check by about $200. they do it automatic you dont have to ask for nuthin

ATTENTION! Dont forget that working while on SS can affect your Medicare IRMAA surcharges too!! My husband and I got hit with HUGE increases in our Medicare premiums because his income from working pushed us into a higher bracket. Nobody told us about this until the bill came! Make sure you factor that in when deciding!!

My sister-in-law was told that her husband working would DECREASE her spousal benefits!!! Is that even TRUE??? The whole system is designed to CONFUSE people!!!!

Not directly related to your question, but have you checked if you're eligible for spousal benefits on your husband's record? Sometimes it's better to take spousal benefits and let your own benefit grow until 70. Just something to consider in your planning!

have you checked the social security calculator on ssa.gov? my husband and i found it super helpful when we were planning our benefits. it doesnt tell you everything but at least gives you basic numbers to work with!!

One additional consideration - your husband's earnings after claiming might increase his benefit amount, but these increases are typically small and applied once per year. In my husband's case, he saw about a 1.5% increase annually from continued work. Something to factor into your calculations when deciding on timing. Also, make sure both of you have created your my Social Security accounts online. That way you can see your exact estimated benefits at different ages, which helps tremendously with planning.