I am on widow benefits I started working on Jan 2022 I would like to know how much I can make before it effects my benefits and do I look at the gross amount or year to date and do I have to quit when I get to that limit or tell my boss I can’t go over this amount

Hi. The amount that you can earn without losing any of your benefits depends on your age. If you are full retirement age (FRA) or older (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html), then there would be no limit on how much you are allowed to earn. But, if you will be under FRA throughout 2022, then you could earn up to $19,560 this year without losing any of your benefits. If you exceed that amount, then Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your 2022 benefits for each $2 that you earn in excess of $19,560. People who reach FRA in 2022 can earn up to $51,960 without losing any benefits this year (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html).

Social Security counts the gross amount of your earnings if you are working for wages. For people who are self-employed, their net earnings are counted.

Best, Jerry