The SSA in the United States supports US residents through retirement, SSDI, and SSI benefits. These monthly payments are the income source for people who are retired, become disabled or have low income. But the most important question is How Working Affects Your Social Security Benefits? The truth is beneficiaries can work and still get the social security benefits but the earnings affect the amount of benefits.
How Working Affects Your Social Security Benefits
Social Security benefits in the United States are designed to provide financial stability but SSA also allows people to continue work while getting the benefits and there are certain rules for that. Whether someone is getting disability benefits or retirement benefits, the impact of work on the SSA payment depends mainly on how much someone earns. How Working Affects Your Social Security Benefits 2025 depends only on the earnings of the beneficiary and the claim age.
Claim Social Security Benefits While Working – Key Highlights
| Post Title | How Working Affects Your Social Security Benefits |
| Country Name | United States |
| Benefit Name | Social Security Benefits |
| Managing Authority | Social Security Administration |
| Earnings Limits (Below FRA) | $23,400 Per Year for 2025 / $24,480 Per Year for 2026 |
| Earnings Limits (Reaches FRA) | $62,160 Per Year for 2025 / $65,160 Per Year for 2026 |
| SSDI SGA Limit For Blind | $2,700 / Month for 2025 and $2,830 / Month for 2026 |
| SSDI SGA Limit For Non Blind | $1,620 / Month for 2025 and $1,690 / Month for 2026 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly |
| Purpose | To Provide income security to retirees and disabled workers |
| Post Category | Finance |
| Official Web Portal | www.ssa.gov |
- Social Security Changes For 2026
- $4,152 Social Security Disability Benefit 2026
- New Rules For Working While Receiving Social Security
- Maximum Social Security Benefits For Seniors In 2025
Also Read
$1,630 Social Security SSDI Average Payment Changes From Jan 2026
How Working Affects the SSDI Benefits?
The SSDI Program provides support to people who cannot work due to severe disabilities. But the SSA encourages recipients to return to work if their health improves. To balance this, the SSA allows limited work without losing the SSDI Benefit and these working income rules are known as Substantial Gainful Activity:
SGA Limits: If someone who is disabled and getting the SSDI benefit earns over this limit then their SSDI benefit would end.
- The SGA Limit for blind persons is $2,700 / Month for 2025 and this limit has been increased to $2,830 / Month for 2026.
- The SGA Limit for non blind persons is $1,620 / Month for 2025 and this has been raised to $1,690 / Month for 2026.
Trial Work Period: The SSA gives a trial work period to test the ability to work while still getting the full SSDI Benefits. The residents can work for 9 months and these nine months might not be consecutive and in these 9 months residents can work and earn above the monthly threshold without losing the benefits. The TWP Limit for 2025 is $1,160 per month and this limit has been raised to $1,210 per month for 2026.
How Working Affects the Retirement Benefits?
When it comes to retirement benefits, the effect of working depends on the age of claim and the income level. Let’s check how it affects benefits:
- Before FRA: If someone starts getting social security before FRA it means from 62 years and continue working then the beneficiary could get lower benefit if they earn over the annual limit.
- Reduction Rule: The SSA withholds $1 From benefits for every $2 earned over the limit.
- Earnings Limits: The $23,400 Per Year is the earnings limit for 2025 and this limit has been raised to $24,480 Per Year for 2026.
- In the Year You Reach FRA: If the year applicant reaches their FRA, the Retirement benefit is reduced if they earn over the limit only for the months before they reach FRA.
- Reduction Rule: The SSA withholds $1 From benefits for every $3 earned over the limit.
- Earnings Limits: The $62,160 Per Year is the earnings limit for 2025 and this limit has been increased to $65,160 Per Year for 2026.
- After FRA: Once someone reaches their FRA, they can earn as much as they want without any reduction.
FAQs Related To How Working Affects Your Social Security Benefits
Can someone work and still get Social Security Benefits?
Yes, US residents can work and still get the social security benefits.
Which Social Security Benefits can be claimed if someone works?
US residents can claim Retirement Benefits and SSDI benefits while working.
How does the work affect the SSI Benefits?
SSDI has an SGA limit and if someone earns over this limit then the SSDI benefit would end.
How does the work affect the Social Security Retirement Benefits?
The Social Security Retirement Benefits has income limits for those who earn while working and if someone earns over this limit then the retirement benefits get reduced.
