Last fact-check: July 27, 2026 · Primary source: Social Security Administration · General information, not claiming advice
Quick answer
In 2026, if you collect Social Security before full retirement age and keep working, SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above $24,480 a year. In the calendar year you reach full retirement age, the limit rises to $65,160 with $1 withheld per $3 over, counting only earnings in the months before your FRA month. From the month you reach FRA, there is no earnings limit.
Key takeaways
- The limit applies only before full retirement age; it ends the month you reach FRA.
- Withheld benefits are not lost: SSA recalculates your benefit at FRA to credit the withheld months.
- Only wages and self-employment earnings count; pensions, investments and withdrawals do not.
2026 earnings-limit amounts
| Situation | 2026 limit | Withholding |
|---|---|---|
| Under FRA all year | $24,480/year ($2,040/month) | $1 withheld per $2 over |
| Year you reach FRA | $65,160/year ($5,430/month), months before FRA only | $1 withheld per $3 over |
| From your FRA month | No limit | None |
How withholding works
SSA compares your expected annual earnings with the exempt amount and withholds full monthly checks until the required amount is covered, rather than trimming every check. In the first year you retire mid-year, a monthly test ($2,040 in 2026 under FRA) can pay you for any month you earn under the monthly limit regardless of annual totals.
Withheld money comes back
When you reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefit and leaves out the months in which benefits were withheld, permanently increasing your monthly amount. Over time this offsets the earlier withholding.
Report earnings changes: if your expected earnings change mid-year, tell SSA promptly. Waiting can create an overpayment SSA later collects.
What counts as earnings
Wages from a job and net self-employment earnings count toward the limit. Government benefits, investment income, interest, pensions, annuities and capital gains do not count.
Related guides
- Full retirement age and when to claim
- Check your Social Security estimate
- Social Security 2026: the complete guide
Official sources
- SSA — Retirement earnings test exempt amounts
- SSA — Exempt amount determination
- SSA — Working while collecting benefits
Editorial status: This guide has been checked against the cited official sources. Independent subject-matter review has not been completed. The 2026 exempt amounts, withholding ratios and recomputation rule were checked against the linked SSA pages on July 27, 2026. SSA applies the test to your specific record. The Guru Gazette is independent and is not affiliated with SSA.