The limits for 2026 and 2027
| Year | Under full retirement age all year | Year you reach full retirement age |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $24,480, then $1 withheld per $2 above | $65,160, then $1 withheld per $3 above |
| 2027 | $25,560, then $1 withheld per $2 above | $67,920, then $1 withheld per $3 above |
In the year you reach full retirement age, only earnings in the months before that month count. From the month you reach it, there is no limit at all. If you get survivor benefits, the test uses your full retirement age for retirement benefits, even though the survivor full retirement age may be earlier; the ages themselves are in Social Security full retirement age.
How much is withheld
Someone under full retirement age for all of 2026, entitled to $1,500 a month ($18,000 a year):
| 2026 earnings | Withheld | Benefits kept for the year |
|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $0 | $18,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,760 | $15,240 |
| $40,000 | $7,760 | $10,240 |
| $50,000 | $12,760 | $5,240 |
| $60,000 | $17,760 | $240 |
The SSA's own examples match the rule: with $800 a month and $33,400 of earnings, $4,460 is withheld. Someone reaching full retirement age in August 2026 who earned $66,000 from January through July has $280 withheld from those 7 months, then gets the full benefit from August on.
What counts as earnings
| Counts | Does not count |
|---|---|
| Wages from a job | Pensions and annuities |
| Net profit from self-employment | Investment income and interest |
| Bonuses, commissions and vacation pay | Veterans benefits, other government or military retirement benefits |
The first-year monthly rule
People who start benefits mid-year have often already earned more than the annual limit. For that first year the SSA pays a full benefit for any whole month you are considered retired: in 2026, earnings of $2,040 or less in the month if you are under full retirement age all year, or $5,430 or less if you reach it in 2026, and no substantial services in self-employment, which the SSA defines as more than 45 hours a month, or 15 to 45 hours in a highly skilled occupation. From the second year, only the annual limit applies. For 2027 the SSA lists monthly amounts of $2,130 and $5,660; the other 2027 changes are in Social Security COLA 2027.
Why withheld benefits come back
- Recalculation at full retirement age: the SSA raises your monthly benefit to credit the months it withheld.
- Higher earnings can raise the benefit: each year the SSA reviews wages reported for the previous year, and if it is one of your highest years, recalculates and pays the increase back to January of the following year.
The earnings limit also applies to spousal benefits and survivor benefits taken before full retirement age. Work income can also make more of your benefit taxable, as how Social Security benefits are taxed explains; the paycheck calculator shows the take-home side of the job.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2026?
$24,480 if you are under full retirement age for the whole year; the SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above it. In the year you reach full retirement age the limit is $65,160, counting only earnings before the month you reach it, with $1 withheld for every $3 above. For 2027 the SSA lists $25,560 and $67,920.
Is there an earnings limit after full retirement age?
No. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn, according to the SSA.
Are withheld Social Security benefits lost?
No. The SSA says benefits withheld because of work are not lost: once you reach full retirement age, your monthly benefit is recalculated and increased permanently to account for the months benefits were withheld.
What income counts toward the earnings limit?
Wages from a job, or net profit if self-employed, including bonuses, commissions and vacation pay. Pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, veterans benefits and other government or military retirement benefits do not count.
What if I retire in the middle of the year?
A special rule for the first year lets the SSA pay a full benefit for any whole month you are considered retired, whatever your annual earnings. In 2026 that means earning $2,040 or less in the month if you are under full retirement age all year, or $5,430 or less if you reach it in 2026, and not performing substantial services in self-employment.
Sources
- Social Security Administration: Receiving benefits while working (the 2026 limits of $24,480 and $65,160, $1 for every $2 and $1 for every $3, the full retirement age for retirement benefits used for survivors, no limit from full retirement age, recalculation, the $800 examples, which earnings count)
- SSA Office of the Chief Actuary: Exempt amounts under the earnings test (lower and higher exempt amounts by year, $24,480 and $65,160 for 2026, $25,560 and $67,920 for 2027; withheld benefits are not lost)
- SSA: 2027 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet (2027 earnings test amounts of $25,560 a year or $2,130 a month and $67,920 a year or $5,660 a month)
- SSA: Special earnings limit rule (a full benefit for any whole month considered retired; $2,040 and $5,430 a month in 2026; substantial services in self-employment)
General information based on the sources above, not tax, legal or financial advice.