Social Security earnings limit calculator 2026
If you get Social Security before your full retirement age and keep working, see how much of your benefit is withheld in 2026 and how much you keep.
Benefits withheld in 2026
$4,460
you keep $5,140 of $9,600
- Limit $24,480
- $8,920 over the limit
- About 5.6 months of benefits
Under full retirement age all year, you can earn $24,480 in 2026 without losing benefits. You earn $33,400, $8,920 over, so $1 is withheld for every $2: $4,460. You receive $5,140 of your $9,600.
Withheld benefits are not lost for good: from the month you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to give you credit for the months it withheld.
- Only wages and net self-employment profit count. Pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, veterans benefits and other government or military retirement benefits do not.
- A special rule applies in your first year of retirement: Social Security can pay a full benefit for any whole month you are considered retired, whatever you earn over the year.
Your benefits for the months
- You receive$5,14054%
- Withheld$4,46046%
I’m not an accountant or a financial advisor. This is an estimate, for information only. Check with a professional before you decide.
Show the detailsHide the details
| Yearly limit | $24,480 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you earn | $33,400 | |
| Over the limit | $8,920 | |
| Withheld | $1 for every $2 | |
| Benefits for the months | $9,600 | |
| Benefits withheld | $4,460 | |
| Benefits you receive | $5,140 |
How it works
- Under full retirement age all year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above the yearly limit, $24,480 in 2026.
- In the year you reach full retirement age, it deducts $1 for every $3 you earn above a higher limit, $65,160 in 2026, and counts only your earnings up to the month before you reach that age.
- The amount withheld cannot be more than the benefits for those months. From the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits.
Worked example
$800 a month for the whole year and $33,400 earned: $8,920 over the $24,480 limit, so $4,460 is withheld and you receive $5,140 of $9,600. Full retirement age in August, $66,000 earned from January to July: $840 over $65,160, so $280 is withheld and you receive $5,320 of $5,600.
Sources
Text checked on October 13, 2026
Good to know
- Working before full retirement age does not forfeit the benefit: the withheld months are credited back when you reach full retirement age, so your monthly benefit is recalculated upward.
- Only earnings from a job or your net profit from self-employment are counted. Money from savings, investments or a pension does not reduce your Social Security.
- The limits change every year. The figures here are SSA’s for 2026.
- A year of high earnings can also raise your benefit: if your latest year is one of your highest, Social Security recalculates your benefit and pays the increase.
- This is an estimate. Social Security’s own earnings test calculator and your award letter give the official figure.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn and still get full Social Security in 2026?
Under full retirement age all year, $24,480. In the year you reach full retirement age, $65,160 for the months before you reach it. From that month there is no limit.
How much is withheld if I earn more?
$1 for every $2 over $24,480 if you are under full retirement age all year, and $1 for every $3 over $65,160 in the year you reach it. For example, $33,400 earned costs $4,460.
Do I get the withheld money back?
In effect yes: when you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to credit the months it withheld, so your monthly amount rises.
What counts as earnings for this limit?
Wages, bonuses, commissions and vacation pay, or your net profit if you are self-employed. Pensions, annuities, investment income, interest and veterans benefits do not count.
Does the limit apply after full retirement age?
No. From the month you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn.
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