5. Social Security earnings test<\/p>\n
Social Security applies an earnings test<\/a> to beneficiaries who have not yet reached full retirement age (FRA)<\/a>, which is currently between 66 and 67, depending on birth year. People who collect retirement, survivor or family benefits before reaching that milestone\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad \u2013 and who continue to work\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad \u2013 may temporarily lose a share of their Social Security payments if their earnings exceed a certain level.\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad<\/p>\n That threshold changes annually, tracking wage trends. In 2026, beneficiaries who will not reach FRA until a later year have $1 withheld from their Social Security payment for every $2 in work income above $24,480 (up from $23,400 in 2025). For example, if you earn $40,000 from work in 2026, your benefits for the year would be reduced by $7,760 \u2014 half the difference between $24,480 and $40,000.<\/p>\n Join Our Fight to Protect Social Security\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n You\u2019ve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. Here\u2019s what you can do to help keep Social Security strong:<\/p>\n The earnings test eases in the year you reach your FRA: Social Security holds back $1 in benefits for every $3 in earnings above $65,160 (up from $62,160 in 2025) until the month when you hit the milestone. At that point, the test goes away<\/a>: There\u2019s no longer any benefit deduction, no matter how much you earn, and the SSA adjusts your monthly payment upward so that, over time, you recoup the prior withholding<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are different income rules for people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance <\/a>(SSDI). Because disability benefits are intended for people who are largely unable to work for an extended period due to a serious medical condition<\/a>, you can lose them if your earnings reflect what the SSA calls \u201csubstantial gainful activity<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2026, that threshold is $1,690 a month for most SSDI beneficiaries, a $70 increase from the 2025 level of $1,620. People receiving SSDI due to blindness are subject to a higher income limit: $2,830 in 2026, $130 more than in 2025.<\/p>\n 6. Qualifying for benefits<\/p>\n