Hi Larry my question is I retired at 63 mid year but due to pto time etc I made more than I thought so my check is suspended nov and Dec pay back is dec.check restart is February 2022 if I'm not receiving Nov and December do I have constraints on income those mths

Hi. I can't give you a proper answer without more information. The first thing you should know is that there are 2 different earnings tests that can be used in the first year that a person starts drawing benefits. One of them is the annual earnings test, which is based on calendar year earnings. Based on the annual test this year, Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for each $2 that you earn in excess of $18,960. And, since the annual test goes by your calendar year earnings, even if your benefits are being withheld in November and December if you work in those months and if your calendar year earnings are higher than $18,960 as a result then even more of your benefits might need to be withheld or repaid.

The other earnings test that can be used in the first year of a person's benefit entitlement is the monthly earnings test. Assuming that you started drawing benefits this year, based on the monthly test this year you could be paid benefits for any months in which you earn less than $1580 regardless of how much you earn in any other months. For purposes of the monthly earnings test, your PTO earnings would likely count as having been earned in the month you last worked for your former employer.

What I would advise you to do is to call Social Security and tell them how much your total earnings will be this year, and which months you didn't and won't earn more than $1580. They should then be able to tell you which of the 2 earnings tests is more advantageous for you, and for which months you're eligible for payments.

Best, Jerry