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April 14, 2015 at 05:02 AM
If you are under full retirement age (FRA), there is a limit to what you can earn before some or all of your benefits are withheld. This is true whether you are receiving Social Security retirement or a survivor benefit. Once you reach FRA, you can make as much as you want. It’s important to note, this is not a tax. If the earnings penalty applies to you, Social Security will adjust your benefit formula at FRA to treat the months you did not receive a check as if you had not elected benefits for that month.
If you are employed by someone else, only wages are considered earned income and would apply to the earnings test. For those who are self employed, only net earnings are considered. It is important to note, employee contributions to a pension or retirement plan are included in the employee’s gross wages. Income that is not counted as earnings include:
- Government benefits
- Investment earnings
- Interest
- Pensions
- Annuities
- Capital gains
Self employment income is counted during the year in which the earnings are received while W-2 income counts when it was earned.
How Much I Can Earn
If you are below full retirement age, Social Security will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above the exempt amount. In 2015 that amount is $15,720. This applies to all years leading up to the year in which you attain your full retirement age. If you turn age 66 in 2015, the exempt amount increases to $41,880 and $1 will be withheld for every $3 you earn above the exempt amount.
Example: Sam files for Social Security in January 2015 and his payment will be $800 a month ($9,600/year). During 2015, he plans to work and earn $22,120 ($6,400 above the $15,720 limit). Social Security will withhold $3,200 of his benefits ($1 for every $2 earned over the limit). From January 2015 through April no payment will sent. Starting in May, Sam would receive his first payment of $800.
If you don’t provide the Social Security Administration with an earnings estimate they will pay you all benefits for the year that you work. All benefits will be withheld in the following year until the full value of the overpayment is paid back.
Special Rule
For people who file for benefits mid-year and have already earned more than the exempt amount, the monthly earnings test is applied. For any month during that first year that you earn under the monthly exempt amount, you will receive your full benefit for that month, regardless of your earnings before you filed for benefits.
