Working While on Social Security? Know the New Numbers.
If you’re collecting Social Security benefits and still working, there’s a limit to how much you can earn before the government starts reducing your monthly check. That limit changes every year — and in 2026, it went up.
The 2026 Earnings Limits
If you’re under full retirement age for the entire year: You can earn up to $24,480 in 2026 (up from $23,400 in 2025). For every $2 you earn above that amount, Social Security withholds $1 from your benefits.
If you reach full retirement age during 2026: The limit is $65,160 for the months before you reach FRA. Social Security withholds $1 for every $3 earned above that limit. Only earnings from months before your birthday month are counted.
Once you reach full retirement age: There is no earnings limit. You can earn as much as you want without any reduction in benefits.
What Is Full Retirement Age?
For people born in 1960 or later, full retirement age (FRA) is 67. This is the final step in a gradual increase that has been phased in since the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act. The first people to reach FRA at exactly 67 will do so beginning in November 2026.
Here’s the Good News Most People Miss
The money withheld under the earnings test is not lost forever. When you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to credit you for the months when benefits were withheld. Your monthly payment increases to account for the withheld amount.
In other words, working before FRA doesn’t permanently reduce your lifetime benefits — it temporarily delays some of them.
Should You Keep Working?
For many people, the answer is yes. Working longer can increase your eventual benefit if your recent earnings are higher than some of your earlier years (Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate benefits). And the earnings test money comes back to you after FRA.
However, the temporary reduction can create cash flow challenges if you depend on your full Social Security check. Plan accordingly.
Sources: SSA.gov/cola; SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking; Kiplinger “Six Changes to Social Security in 2026.” This article is for informational purposes only.
