Earnings Test

i have reached my retirement age how much can i earn if i still work full time

Hi,

Hi Larry I started receiving widow's social security benefits January 2019. I just received a letter stating that they cannot pay my benefits from January 2019 through April 2019 because I was working. I was not working. I was on temporary disability collecting New Jersey short term disability and disability through the company that I worked for. I was given severance compensation, paid PTO & vaca and am wondering if this can show as earned income?

Hi Larry, I was told if you earn over the allowed amount there is a penalty of $1.00 for every $2.00 over the allowed amount. Then i was told that penalty amount collected is returned once you reach your full retirement age. This doesn't seem correct

Hi,

I turned 62 mid January 2020 and started SS in Feb (first payment in March). In April I started a job (no earnings before that) and will earn about $28,000 for the 8 months at about $3500 per month. Since I will be over the $1520 for those 8 months will I be eligible for any benefits? Do they use the annual earnings test if more advantageous meaning I would only have to pay back about half of the approx $10k I will be over?

Hi,

Hi Larry,

FRA is 66 and 2 months if you were born in 1955 but it also says if you are a survivor born in 1955 then you FRA is only 66 which. age applies to the earnings test I am currently collecting widows benefits and turn 66 on 11/15/2021 so I want to know if I can return to work full time on 1/1/21 and not be subject to the earnings test or do I have to wait until my birthday Thanks Judi

Hi Judi,

I turn 62 in a few weeks and am retired and am contemplating filing for SS. I work part time and will make a bit more, say $6000, than I can make without it affecting my social security. If I make $6000 more than the allowed amount for 2020 and therefore have a $3000 decrease of social security payments, what happens to that $3000? I thought I read that it gets added back into the calculation at full retirement age but an SSA rep just told me it goes away sort of as a penalty for still working.

Hi,

My husband (67) is collecting spousal on my record, I filed when I was 63. Is I go back to work, I know my benefit will be reduced 1 for each 2 I earn over the annual limit. Will my husbands be reduced. Thank you

Hi,

Yes, if you earn enough to cause your benefits to be withheld then your husband's spousal benefits would also be withheld.

Mr. Kotlikoff,

In 2016 I received 8 months of benefits 10,544 suspending the last 4 months equal to 5,272 due to returning to work. The threshold for other income in 2016 was 15,720. My net income at end of year was 23,118. What would be the amount I would have to repay SSA keeping in mind that I did not receive the full year of benefits which would have been $15,816. My income was 7399 over threshold and payback would be 3699. But that would be the same amount of payback if I had received all my benefits for the year.