Social Security earnings limit calculator 2026

This Social Security earnings limit calculator shows how much of your benefit is withheld in 2026 if you work while collecting before full retirement age. Enter your date of birth, your 2026 earnings and your monthly benefit: you see the limit that applies ($24,480 or $65,160), the amount withheld, how many monthly checks Social Security holds back and what you still receive.

Example: Year of birth 1,964 · Month of birth: June · Earnings in 2026 (wages or net self-employment) 40,000 $ · Monthly Social Security benefit 1,800 $ · Months with benefits in 2026 12 months → Benefits withheld in 2026: US$7,760.00. Source: Social Security Act §203(b), (f), SSA Office of the Chief Actuary – Exempt amounts under the earnings test: $24,480 and $65,160 for 2026, $1 for $2 / $1 for $3 (read 09.10.2026). Updated: 9 October 2026.

Year of birth

Month of birth

I was born on the 1st of the month

Earnings in 2026 (wages or net self-employment)

in the year you reach full retirement age: only earnings before that month

Monthly Social Security benefit

Months with benefits in 2026

months

12 if you already collect benefits all year

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Result

Benefits withheld in 2026: US$7,760.00
Result: 5 monthly checks withheld, US$12,600.00 paid in 2026
Calculation: Item Amount Basis
Full retirement age reached June 2031 67 years 0 months
Earnings limit 2026 US$24,480 lower limit: years before full retirement age
Your earnings US$40,000 2026
Earnings over the limit US$15,520
Benefits withheld US$7,760.00 $1 for every $2 over the limit
Monthly checks withheld 5 whole checks of US$1,800.00, out of 12 months
Benefits you still receive in 2026 US$12,600.00 out of US$21,600.00
Earnings at which all benefits are withheld US$67,680 limit + withholding ratio × yearly benefit; Social Security withholds whole monthly checks, so US$1,240.00 more is held back than the earnings test requires. That amount is paid back to you the following year. Estimate. Withheld benefits are not lost: at full retirement age Social Security raises your monthly benefit for the months withheld. In your first year of benefits a monthly test can apply instead (no withholding for months without substantial work). Disability (SSDI) has different rules.

Item	Amount	Basis
Full retirement age reached	June 2031	67 years 0 months
Earnings limit 2026	US$24,480	lower limit: years before full retirement age
Your earnings	US$40,000	2026
Earnings over the limit	US$15,520
Benefits withheld	US$7,760.00	$1 for every $2 over the limit
Monthly checks withheld	5	whole checks of US$1,800.00, out of 12 months
Benefits you still receive in 2026	US$12,600.00	out of US$21,600.00
Earnings at which all benefits are withheld	US$67,680	limit + withholding ratio × yearly benefit

How it is calculated

In 2026 Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $24,480 if you are under full retirement age all year. In the year you reach full retirement age the limit is $65,160 and $1 is withheld for every $3 – counting only earnings before that month. From the month you reach full retirement age there is no limit.

Earnings limits 2026

Situation	Limit	Withholding
Under full retirement age for all of 2026	$24,480 a year	$1 for every $2 over
Reaching full retirement age in 2026	$65,160 (earnings before that month)	$1 for every $3 over
From the month of full retirement age	no limit	none

How the calculator works

Full retirement age: 66 and 2 to 10 months for people born 1955–1959, 67 for 1960 and later. Born on the 1st? Social Security treats you as born in the previous month.
Limit: $24,480 if you reach full retirement age after 2026, $65,160 if you reach it in 2026.
Amount withheld: earnings over the limit ÷ 2 (or ÷ 3), at most your benefits for the year.
Checks withheld: Social Security holds back whole monthly checks from the start of the year until the amount is covered.

Examples

Born June 1964, earning $40,000, benefit $1,800: $15,520 over the limit → $7,760 withheld. That is 5 checks ($9,000); the extra $1,240 is paid back in 2027. You still get $12,600 in 2026.
Earning $30,000, benefit $1,500: $5,520 over → $2,760 withheld → 2 checks ($3,000), $240 paid back later.
Earning $24,000: under the limit – nothing withheld; you could earn $480 more.
Born October 1959, full retirement age August 2026, earning $80,000 from January to July, benefit $2,500: $14,840 over $65,160 → $14,840 ÷ 3 = $4,946.67 → 2 checks ($5,000). Of $17,500 for January–July you still get $12,500.
Born 1964, benefit $1,800: from $67,680 of earnings all 12 checks are withheld ($24,480 + 2 × $21,600).
Born 1958: full retirement age was reached in 2024 or 2025 – no limit in 2026.

To estimate the benefit itself, use the Social Security benefits calculator; for a spouse’s benefit the spousal benefit calculator.

Limits

Only wages and net self-employment earnings count – not pensions, investment income, interest or Social Security itself. The calculator applies the annual test. In the first year you receive benefits, a special monthly rule can pay a full check for any month in which you earn under $2,040 (1/12 of $24,480) and do not perform substantial self-employment. Withheld benefits are not lost: at full retirement age your benefit is recalculated to credit the months withheld. This is an estimate – Social Security decides from your annual report of earnings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2026?

$24,480 a year if you are under full retirement age all year ($1 withheld for every $2 above it), and $65,160 in the year you reach full retirement age ($1 for every $3, earnings before that month only).

How much can I earn at 62 while on Social Security?

Up to $24,480 in 2026 without any reduction. Above that, half of the excess is withheld from your benefits.

Is there an earnings limit after full retirement age?

No. From the month you reach full retirement age you can earn any amount without losing benefits.

Do I lose the withheld benefits?

No. At full retirement age Social Security increases your monthly benefit to account for the months in which benefits were withheld.

What income counts toward the earnings test?

Gross wages and net earnings from self-employment. Pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains and government benefits do not count.

How does Social Security withhold the money?

It holds back entire monthly checks from the beginning of the year until the amount due is covered. If that is more than required, the difference is paid back the following year.

Sources and legal basis

Social Security Act §203(b), (f): SSA Office of the Chief Actuary – Exempt amounts under the earnings test: $24,480 and $65,160 for 2026, $1 for $2 / $1 for $3 (read 09.10.2026)
Social Security Act §216(l): SSA Office of the Chief Actuary – Normal retirement age by year of birth (read 09.10.2026)

As of: 9 October 2026 · Editorial policy