Ask Larry

What's Going On?

My brother, who lives in Texas and is 66,(he took social security at 62), his social security has been denied him for the last four months because they say he's making too much money. But he's still paying in! I thought social security amount was last amount you made when you signed on for social security at proper age and the amount stayed the same. Always. Wjat is going on?!

Hi,

Assuming that your brother qualifies for Social Security, he would be eligible to receive benefits starting at age 66 regardless of how much he earns. However, until he reached age 66 his benefits would have been subject to withholding based on the Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html).

If your brother is at least age 66 and isn't being paid benefits, and if Social Security says it's because he makes too much money, it probably means that he earned above the earnings test limits prior to when he turned age 66 and the proper amount of his benefits weren't withheld. Social Security would refer to that as an overpayment, and they could withhold your brother's current and future benefits for as long as it takes to recover the overpayment. Obviously, though, since I don't know the facts of your brother's case I'm just surmising.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Oct 23 2017 - 4:48am
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