Many Americans want to keep working even after they start receiving Social Security benefits. Some enjoy their jobs, others need the extra income, and many fall somewhere in between. But one question keeps arising: how much can you really work before it starts to impact what you collect?
The truth is, there’s no fixed rule about the number of hours you can work while getting Social Security. What really matters is how much money you earn. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses earnings limits (not hour limits) to decide whether your monthly benefits will be temporarily reduced. That means you can work as many hours as you like, so long as your total income stays below the annual limit.
Before Full Retirement Age, Earnings Still Matter
Your full retirement age, or FRA, determines how these rules apply. For anyone born in 1960 or later, that age is 67. Before you reach it, the SSA sets an annual earnings cap. In 2025, that limit is $23,400. If you earn more than that, the SSA will withhold one dollar in benefits for every two dollars you earn above the limit.
Once you reach your FRA, the limit rises sharply—to $62,160 in the months leading up to your birthday—and after the month you reach full retirement age, the restriction disappears entirely. At that point, you can work and earn freely without losing a cent of your Social Security benefit.
Hours Don’t Count, Income Does
To understand how this works, imagine you earn $20 an hour. That means you could work about 1,170 hours in a year before crossing the $23,400 limit. If you make more per hour, you’ll hit that ceiling faster. The calculation is based on income, so two people working the same number of hours could face very different outcomes depending on their pay rates.
The Social Security Administration also distinguishes between earned and unearned income. Wages and self-employment earnings count toward the limit, but investment income, pensions, and other forms of passive income do not. If your benefits are temporarily reduced because you earn too much, those withheld payments aren’t lost forever. When you reach full retirement age, the SSA recalculates your benefit and credits back the months where money was withheld.
After Full Retirement Age, You’re In The Clear
Once you’ve hit your full retirement age, the restrictions vanish entirely. You can work full-time, part-time, or take on side jobs without worrying that your benefits will shrink. In fact, continuing to work after reaching FRA can actually raise your benefit amount if your new earnings replace lower-income years in your work history.
Planning Your Work And Benefits Together
Understanding these limits matters because it can prevent unwanted surprises. Many retirees think in terms of hours worked, but the Social Security system cares only about total income. With a little planning, you can find the balance between earning extra money and protecting your benefits. Working in retirement can be smart, as long as you know how the numbers play together.
