Social security at full retirement age and still working

You can earn any amount and not be affected by the Social Security earnings test once you reach full retirement age, or FRA. That's 66 and 2 months if you were born in 1955, 66 and 4 months for people born in 1956, and gradually increasing to 67 for people born in 1960 and later.

In 2022, if you collect benefits before full retirement age and continue to work, the Social Security Administration will temporarily withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over $19,560. If you will reach FRA in 2022, the earnings limit goes up to $51,960, and $1 is deducted from your benefits for every $3 you earn over that. Once you actually attain full retirement age, the earnings limit goes away.

The only Social Security benefits affected by working after reaching full retirement age are benefits paid to disabled adult children collecting on a parent’s earnings record.

Keep in mind

If you did have benefits withheld before reaching full retirement age due to work income, you can recoup them afterward. When you hit full retirement age, Social Security bumps up your monthly benefit to make up, over time, for the withholding.

Updated December 23, 2021

Yes. You don't have to hand in your notice when you start getting retirement benefits.

But continuing to draw income from work might reduce the amount of your benefit if you claim Social Security before you reach full retirement age (FRA), the age when you qualify to collect 100 percent of the maximum benefit allowed from your earnings history.

Full retirement age is 66 and 4 months for those born in 1956 and will gradually rise over the next few years to 67. Prior to FRA, Social Security doesn’t consider you fully “retired” if you make more than a certain amount from work, and it will deduct a portion of your benefits if your earnings exceed that limit. 

The earnings caps are adjusted annually for national wage trends, and they differ depending on how close you are to full retirement age.

If you are receiving benefits and working in 2022 but not due to hit FRA until a later year, the earnings limit is $19,560. You lose $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over the cap. So, if you have a part-time job that pays $25,000 a year — $5,440 over the limit — Social Security will deduct $2,720 in benefits.

Suppose you will reach full retirement age in 2022. In that case, the earnings limit is $51,960, with $1 in benefits withheld for every $3 earned over the limit. That applies until the date you hit FRA: past that, there is no benefit reduction, no matter much you earn. In fact, Social Security increases your monthly benefit at that point so that over time you recoup benefits you lost to the prior withholding.

If you receive wages, earnings-limit calculations are based on your gross pay; if you’re self-employed, Social Security counts your net income only. The Social Security pamphlet “How Work Affects Your Benefits” and its Retirement Earnings Test Calculator can provide more details.

Keep in mind

  • The earnings cap applies only to income from work. It does not count investments, pensions, annuities or capital gains.
  • If your Social Security payments are reduced because you earned income above the limit, spouses and children receiving benefits on your work record will have their payments reduced as well.
  • The earnings cap and rules also apply to the work income of people receiving spousal, children's and survivor benefits.
  • Your monthly Social Security payments may be subject to federal, state and local income taxes. If you are collecting both benefits and work income, you may want to increase your withholding to avoid a big tax bill and penalties in April.

Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early (En español)

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

If you start receiving benefits early, your benefits are reduced a small percent for each month before your full retirement age.

To find out how much your benefit will be reduced if you begin receiving benefits from age 62 up to your full retirement age, use the chart below and select your year of birth. This example is based on an estimated monthly benefit of $1000 at full retirement age.

Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

Year of Birth 1.Full (normal) Retirement AgeMonths between age 62 and full retirement age 2.At Age 62 3.
A $1000 retirement benefit would be reduced toThe retirement benefit is reduced by 4.A $500 spouse's benefit would be reduced toThe spouse's benefit is reduced by 5.
1943-1954 66 48 $750 25.00% $350 30.00%
1955 66 and 2 months 50 $741 25.83% $345 30.83%
1956 66 and 4 months 52 $733 26.67% $341 31.67%
1957 66 and 6 months 54 $725 27.50% $337 32.50%
1958 66 and 8 months 56 $716 28.33% $333 33.33%
1959 66 and 10 months 58 $708 29.17% $329 34.17%
1960 and later 67 60 $700 30.00% $325 35.00%
  1. If you were born on January 1st, you should refer to the previous year.
  2. If you were born on the 1st of the month, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in the previous month. If you were born on January 1st, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in December of the previous year.
  3. You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits.
  4. Percentages are approximate due to rounding.
  5. The maximum benefit for the spouse is 50 percent of the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age. The percent reduction for the spouse should be applied after the automatic 50 percent reduction. Percentages are approximate due to rounding.

Before You Make Your Decision

There are advantages and disadvantages to taking your benefit before your full retirement age. The advantage is that you collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is your benefit will be reduced. Each person's situation is different. It is important to remember:

  • If you delay your benefits until after full retirement age, you will be eligible for delayed retirement credits that would increase your monthly benefit.
  • That there are other things to consider when making the decision about when to begin receiving your retirement benefits.

If you decide to delay your benefits until after age 65, you should still apply for Medicare benefits within three months of your 65th birthday. If you wait longer, your Medicare medical insurance (Part B) and prescription drug coverage (Part D) may cost you more money.

How much money can you earn after you reach full retirement age?

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 I collect Social Security while I'm still working?

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced. The amount that your benefits are reduced, however, isn't truly lost.