#6 Higher Earnings Test Thresholds for Working Beneficiaries
If you work while collecting Social Security before reaching full retirement age, your benefits are temporarily reduced if your wages exceed annual exempt limits. For 2027, beneficiaries who are under full retirement age all year can earn up to $25,560 ($2,130 per month), up from $24,480 in 2026, before the SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the limit.
For those reaching full retirement age in 2027, the earnings limit rises to $67,920 ($5,660 per month), up from $65,160 in 2026, with $1 withheld for every $3 earned above the cap in the months prior to reaching full retirement age.
Once you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn, and the SSA recalculates your monthly benefit upward to credit you for any previously withheld payments. Estimating your 2027 wages ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected benefit withholdings if you plan to work while claiming early.
