Social Security Earnings Test Calculator: the 2026 earnings test
2026 law · reviewed September 6, 2026
| Rule | Figure | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Years before the year of full retirement age | $24,480 exempt; $1 withheld per $2 over | 404.430(a)(2)(i), (b) |
| The year of full retirement age, months before it | $65,160 exempt; $1 withheld per $3 over | 404.430(a)(2)(ii), (c) |
| From the month of full retirement age | No test | 404.415 |
| What counts | Wages and net self-employment income | 404.429 |
| How it is withheld | Whole checks from the start of the year until the excess is used up | 404.434 |
| At full retirement age | Withheld months are removed from the reduction; benefit recomputed higher | 404.412 |
Retirement earnings test exempt amounts and withholding rates for 2026 (90 FR 49047; 20 CFR 404.430, 404.415, 404.412).
Educational only, not investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are hypothetical estimates that vary with each use and over time and are not guaranteed accurate or complete. Using this tool creates no client relationship with Considerate Capital, and the site that linked here is not affiliated with it. By using it you agree to the tool terms.