How Many Hours Can You Work When on Social Security?

Understanding how your earnings might affect your Social Security benefits is important, as the rules can seem complex. A common misunderstanding involves the idea of “hours worked,” but Social Security regulations are not based on the number of hours you work. Instead, they focus on your “earnings” or the amount of income you receive from employment or self-employment.

Understanding Social Security Earnings Limits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) imposes annual earnings limits, which are specific thresholds of income that can impact the amount of benefits received. These limits are tied to earned income from employment or self-employment, not from other sources such as pensions, investments, or annuities.

These earnings limits are not static; they are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the national average wage index. If your earnings exceed the set limit, a portion of your Social Security benefits will be temporarily withheld. The specific amount withheld depends on which earnings limit applies to your situation and how much you earn above it.

In 2025, there are different thresholds depending on your age relative to your full retirement age. If you are under your full retirement age for the entire year, a certain amount of your benefits will be deducted for every dollar you earn above the annual limit.

Working Before Full Retirement Age

For individuals who begin receiving Social Security benefits before reaching their full retirement age (FRA), specific earnings limits apply that can reduce monthly payments. The full retirement age varies depending on your birth year, gradually increasing from 66 to 67.

In 2025, if you are under your full retirement age for the entire year, you can earn up to $23,400 without any reduction in benefits. If your earnings exceed this amount, the Social Security Administration will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. For example, if you earn $25,400, which is $2,000 over the limit, your benefits would be reduced by $1,000 ($2,000 divided by 2). This reduction is applied to your total annual benefits.

A different, higher earnings limit applies in the calendar year you reach your full retirement age, but only for the months before your birth month. In 2025, this limit is $62,160. For every $3 earned above this higher limit, $1 in benefits will be withheld. Only earnings accumulated prior to the month you attain your full retirement age count towards this limit.

Working At or After Full Retirement Age

Once you reach your full retirement age (FRA), the rules regarding working while receiving Social Security benefits change significantly. There is no longer any limit on how much you can earn from work. You can earn any amount, and your Social Security benefits will not be reduced due to your income.

Any benefits that may have been withheld due to earning over the limits in previous years, before reaching FRA, are not permanently lost. Instead, the Social Security Administration recalculates your benefit amount at your full retirement age. This recalculation gives you credit for the months when benefits were withheld, potentially increasing your monthly payment going forward. The increase in your monthly benefit at FRA compensates for the benefits that were previously withheld. This adjustment essentially accounts for the fact that you received fewer payments earlier than anticipated.

Working with Other Social Security Benefits

Earnings limits apply to other types of Social Security benefits, with different specific thresholds and rules. For individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, the Social Security Administration uses a measure called “Substantial Gainful Activity” (SGA). If your earnings demonstrate that you are engaging in SGA, your disability benefits may cease.

For 2025, the monthly SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,620. For individuals who are statutorily blind, a higher SGA limit applies, which is $2,700 per month in 2025. Earning above these amounts generally indicates that an individual is capable of performing substantial work, which can lead to the termination of disability benefits. However, the SSA also provides work incentives, such as a Trial Work Period, allowing beneficiaries to test their ability to work for a certain number of months without losing benefits.

Survivor benefits, paid to eligible family members of a deceased worker, are also subject to earnings limits if the beneficiary has not reached their full retirement age. The same earnings test rules that apply to retirement benefits for those under FRA generally apply to survivor benefits. Once the survivor reaches their own full retirement age, these earnings limits no longer apply.

Reporting Your Earnings and Benefit Adjustments

Reporting your earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA) is important when receiving benefits and working. This helps the SSA determine the correct benefit amount and avoid overpayments or underpayments. You should report any changes in your work activity or earnings promptly, including when you start or stop working, or when your income changes.

For those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), monthly reporting of wages is often required. SSI recipients should report their wages by the 6th day of the month after they get paid. SSDI beneficiaries can report wages at any time, up to 24 months in the past. Various methods are available for reporting:
Online through your personal “my Social Security” account
By mail
By phone
In person at a local Social Security office

After you report your earnings, the SSA will adjust your benefits based on the earnings limits that apply to your situation. If your earnings exceed the limit, the SSA will withhold benefits to recover the excess amount. In cases of overpayment, the SSA will send a notice explaining the situation and the amount owed. You may have options to repay the overpayment, such as a payment plan or requesting a waiver. The SSA also conducts an annual review, reconciling reported earnings with tax records to ensure benefit accuracy.