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Social Security Earnings Test Rules (2026)

If you have already reached your Full Retirement Age (FRA)—which is age 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later—you can earn unlimited wage or self-employment income without any reduction to your monthly benefit, according to the Social Security Administration (2026).

However, if you claim benefits before reaching your FRA, federal earnings caps apply:

• Under Full Retirement Age all year: You can earn up to $24,480 in 2026. If your net earnings exceed this threshold, the SSA withholds $1 from your benefit checks for every $2 earned above the limit.
• Reaching Full Retirement Age during 2026: The cap rises to $65,160 for the months leading up to your birthday month. The SSA withholds $1 for every $3 earned above this limit.

Remember that withheld benefits are not permanently lost; upon reaching FRA, the SSA recalculates your monthly benefit upward to credit back the withheld amounts over your lifetime.