Social Security Earnings Limit for 2026

Published September 3, 2026 · Updated September 3, 2026

The 2026 statutory earnings limits

The Social Security Administration sets two separate annual exempt amounts for people who work while collecting benefits before their Full Retirement Age:

• Beneficiaries under FRA all year: The 2026 earnings limit is $24,480 per year ($2,040 per month).
• Beneficiaries reaching FRA in 2026: The 2026 limit is $65,160 per year ($5,430 per month).

The month you reach Full Retirement Age

In the year you reach Full Retirement Age, two special provisions protect your income:

1. Only work earnings accumulated in the months prior to the month you attain FRA count against the $65,160 threshold.
2. Beginning with the very month you reach Full Retirement Age, the earnings test ceases entirely. You can earn unlimited income from that month forward without losing a single dollar of Social Security benefits.

How annual limits are indexed

Statutory earnings limits are adjusted annually under the Social Security Act based on national average wage growth. If your countable earnings fall at or below the applicable threshold, zero benefits are withheld and you receive your full check every month.

See how the limit applies to you

Model your exact reduction with our Social Security Earnings Test Calculator.

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