Social Security Earnings Test Calculator
See how much Social Security is withheld if you work while claiming benefits before full retirement age.
About the Social Security Earnings Test Calculator
If you claim Social Security before full retirement age (FRA) and keep working, the retirement earnings test applies. In 2026, $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above $24,480; in the calendar year you reach FRA, $1 for every $3 above $65,160, counting only earnings before the month you reach FRA. Only wages and net self-employment income count, not pensions, investment income or annuities. Benefits withheld are added back by raising your benefit once you reach FRA.
The formula
Withheld = (earnings − limit) ÷ 2 (or ÷ 3 in the FRA year)
2026 exempt amounts (SSA)
| Situation | Annual limit | Withholding |
|---|---|---|
| Under FRA all year | $24,480 | $1 for every $2 over |
| Year you reach FRA | $65,160 | $1 for every $3 over |
| From the FRA month | No limit | None |
Worked example
Example: Benefits withheld in 2026 = $9,760
- Inputs: In 2026 you are: Under full retirement age all year; Expected earnings from work in 2026: $44,000; Your monthly Social Security benefit: $2,000.
- Formula: Withheld = (earnings − limit) ÷ 2 (or ÷ 3 in the FRA year)
- Result: Benefits withheld in 2026 = $9,760
- Annual limit: $24,480
- Earnings over the limit: $19,520
- Benefits you'd keep: $14,240
Questions people ask
Is the money gone for good?
No; SSA increases your monthly benefit at FRA to account for withheld months.
Is there a monthly rule?
In your first year of retirement, a monthly limit can let you get benefits for months you don't work much.
Sources
The rules and rates this calculator uses come from the official pages below. Its results are estimates, not an official determination, and rules change, so check the latest figures there before you act on them.