How much can I earn and not lose Social Security benefits?

You can earn unlimited money without affecting Social Security once you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), but if you're collecting early, there are limits: in 2026, earning over $24,480 (under FRA) means $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above that, and if you reach FRA in 2026, a higher limit of $65,160 applies only to earnings before your FRA month, with $1 withheld for every $3 earned over that amount.

How much money can I earn without affecting my social security?

How We Deduct Earnings From Benefits. In 2026, if you're under full retirement age, the annual earnings limit is $24,480. If you will reach full retirement age in 2026, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $65,160.

How much money can you earn if you're receiving social security?

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn and still receive your benefits.

Can you work 40 hours and still get Social Security?

If you work, and are at full retirement age or older, you may keep all of your benefits, no matter how much you earn. If you're younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full Social Security benefits.

How do I avoid a Social Security clawback?

If you do receive an overpayment notification, you have several options.

1. You can repay the full amount by check or online.
2. Set up a payment plan if you can't pay it all at once.
3. Appeal the decision if you believe the overpayment is incorrect or request a waiver if you cannot afford to repay it.*

This Week’s SSA Letters Reveal What’s Happening to Deposits

What happens if you make too much money while receiving Social Security?

If you earn over the Social Security limit before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), your benefits are temporarily reduced (you lose $1 for every $2 or $3 over the limit for 2025), but the money isn't lost forever; it's added back later as a higher monthly payment when you reach FRA, meaning you get credit for withheld amounts. Once you hit FRA, there's no limit on earnings, and you get your full benefit plus any recalculations for earlier reductions. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

Can I draw Social Security at 62 and still work full time after?

Yes, you can draw Social Security at 62 and work full-time, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) will temporarily reduce your benefits if your earnings exceed yearly limits until you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), after which there's no earnings limit, and your benefit amount will increase to account for past deductions. For example, in 2025, if you're under FRA, the SSA deducts $1 for every $2 you earn over $23,400; this stops when you hit your FRA (age 67 for those born 1960+), and you get credit for withheld benefits. 

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67?

It's generally better to wait until age 67 (your Full Retirement Age - FRA) for a higher, permanent monthly benefit, as claiming at 62 results in a 30% reduction; however, taking it at 62 can be better if you need money immediately, have a shorter life expectancy due to health, or coordinate with a higher-earning spouse, while waiting past 67 (until 70) offers even larger increases, but depends heavily on your life expectancy and financial needs. 

Can I work full time and claim Social Security?

You can continue to work and still receive retirement benefits. Your earnings in (or after) the month you reach your full retirement age won't reduce your Social Security benefits. We'll reduce your benefits, however, if your earnings exceed certain limits for the months before you reach full retirement age.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month retirement rule is a simple guideline stating you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want from your investments in retirement, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240k x 0.05 / 12 = $1k/month). It's a motivational tool to estimate savings goals (e.g., $3,000/month needs $720k), but it's one-dimensional, doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, and assumes steady 5% returns, making a personalized plan essential. 

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security benefits?

You can lose Social Security benefits by working while collecting early, leading to earnings limits; incarceration, which suspends payments; or through garnishment for federal debts like taxes, student loans, or child support, along with other factors like remarriage or changes in disability status. 

What are the 13 retirement blunders to avoid?

To avoid common retirement blunders, focus on strategic withdrawals (not just account balance), diversify investments (including international), don't be too conservative or time the market, plan for taxes, control fees, maximize employer matches, manage debt, claim Social Security wisely, and plan for non-financial aspects like purpose and social connection. Key financial mistakes include underestimating expenses (especially healthcare), overspending early, and failing to adapt your investment strategy for income generation. 

How to avoid overpaying Social Security?

If you have been overpaid, you are responsible for paying it back to Social Security. Reporting your wages to Social Security every month helps you to avoid being overpaid.

Why will some Social Security recipients get two checks in December?

Some Social Security recipients, specifically those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), got two checks in December 2025 because January 1st, New Year's Day, is a federal holiday, causing the January 2026 payment to be moved up to December 31st, resulting in December's payment (Dec 1st) and January's payment (Dec 31st) both landing in December. This is a standard Social Security Administration (SSA) practice for SSI payments, not a bonus, ensuring funds are available before holidays or weekends. 

What disqualifies you from Social Security?

You can be disqualified from Social Security for insufficient work history (not enough credits), earning too much income (especially for SSI/Disability), having a non-disabling condition, failing to follow prescribed treatment, substance abuse as the primary cause of disability, incarceration, or moving to certain countries. Eligibility depends on the benefit type (retirement, disability, SSI), but common disqualifiers involve not meeting work credits or income/resource limits. 

Do you lose Social Security benefits if you make too much money?

If you earn too much money before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the Social Security Administration (SSA) will temporarily reduce or withhold your benefits, but you don't permanently lose them; they're recalculated later, and once you hit FRA, there's no limit on earnings for your benefits to be reduced. High earners pay more in taxes (up to a point), but the benefit formula itself favors lower earners, meaning high earners get less relative to taxes paid, but the earnings test only affects those collecting benefits before FRA. 

What are the changes for Social Security in 2025?

The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

How to avoid losing Social Security benefits?

How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

1. Delay your Social Security benefits. ...
2. Max out your earnings. ...
3. Limit Social Security taxes. ...
4. If you're married, coordinate benefit claims. ...
5. Consider working in retirement. ...
6. In sum: how to boost your Social Security payments.

Is $5000 a month a good retirement income?

With $5,000 per month in retirement, you can afford to live in many locations, coast to coast and beyond. As long as you pay close attention to your savings and stick to a reasonable budget, you can turn that $5,000 monthly retirement budget into a dream lifestyle for your golden years.

How long will $500,000 last you in retirement?

$500,000 in retirement can last anywhere from under 15 years to over 30 years, depending heavily on your annual spending, investment returns, inflation, taxes, and other income (like Social Security). With a modest $30,000/year spending (plus Social Security), it could last 30+ years, while higher spending ($45k+) might deplete it in 15-20 years, highlighting the need for personalized planning. 

Can you work 40 hours a week and still get Social Security?

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefits. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.

What are common retirement mistakes?

Among the biggest mistakes retirees make is not adjusting their expenses to their new budget in retirement. Those who have worked for many years need to realize that dining out, clothing and entertainment expenses should be reduced because they are no longer earning the same amount of money as they were while working.