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What Happens Now That I Exceeded The Earnings Test Limits?

2021, started collecting retirement benefits. However, I exceeded income and monthly maximum limits. I started at 63 February
What happens now that I e exceeded both limitations? I cannot withdraw my application as it is more than a year

Hi. Given you description, if none of your benefits were withheld last year then you were overpaid. Once Social Security finds out that you earned too much, they'll notify you of the overpayment and propose suspending your benefits for as long as it takes to recover the overpayment. Social Security will eventually find out that you earned too much, but you are supposed to notify them yourself.

Since it's too late for you to withdraw your application, you're stuck with the status quo. Once you're notified of the overpayment you could ask Social Security to only withhold a portion of your check each month rather than the whole check, but then it will take longer to repay the overpayment. You could appeal the overpayment or file for a waiver (i.e. forgiveness from repayment), but that won't do any good if the overpayment amount is correct and if you aren't without fault in causing the overpayment. And, since you apparently told Social Security that you would earn less than you actually did, they're likely to consider you at fault for causing the overpayment.

If you're still working, you'll want to be sure to let Social Security know if you will earn too much again this year. Otherwise, you'll just be adding to the problem. The current exempt amount for 2022 is $19,560, and if you earn more than that this year then $1 of your 2022 benefits would need to be withheld for each $2 that you earn in excess of $19,560.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
May 9 2022 - 2:23pm
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