Working While Collecting: The 2026 Earnings Limits
If you choose to claim your divorced spouse benefit while continuing to work, you must navigate the Social Security retirement earnings test. Earning too much before reaching your Full Retirement Age triggers a temporary withholding of your benefits.
The 2026 earnings test rules are strictly enforced:
- Under Full Retirement Age for the entire year: The annual earnings limit is $24,480. For every $2 you earn above this threshold, Social Security withholds $1 from your benefit payments.
- The year you reach Full Retirement Age: In the months leading up to your birthday, the limit increases significantly to $65,160. During this window, the penalty is reduced; the SSA withholds $1 for every $3 you earn above the cap.
- After reaching Full Retirement Age: The earnings limit completely disappears. You can earn an unlimited amount of income from work without facing any benefit reductions.
It is important to note that the earnings test only applies to wages from a job or net earnings from self-employment. Investment returns, pensions, capital gains, and annuity payouts do not count toward this limit.
Once you want to claim your own benefits..can you stop 1/2 payment from your ex & start your own since it is higher?
The increase is only your benefit amount or his. Whichever is the higher. No stacking of yours & some of his. Men usually earn more then a woman. You are entitled to the higher amount & it doesn’t affect his monthly amount he gets. Call the SS administration. This is something I’ve known about since I was in my 40’s, it’s unfortunate that SS keeps it quiet. You are entitled to his monthly amount, instead of yours, if his is higher.
Could depend if you were in a common law state. Call SS admi to find out
Call SS & find out
No. Just your own benefits. Gotta have 10 yrs of marriage to collect off of a spouse
Not some of his. It’s about if his amount would be higher then yours, you could draw his higher amount. Not your own. And it doesn’t affect his monthly amount either.
What benefits am I entitled to if i divorced my husband after 10 years then remarry at 32 years, both spouses die. I am 77 years old
I wasn’t married for ten years can I claim anything?
I lived with my spouse for 40 years but we never married, am I entitled to anything??
Suppose my Ex got married again?