Can you make all the money you want on Social Security?

Asked by: Dr. Joseph McCullough  |  Last update: September 10, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (45 votes)

If you have reached your full retirement age, you can receive your entire benefit, no matter how much you earn. If you haven't reached your full retirement age, Social Security will deduct $1 from your benefits for every $2 or $3 you earn above a certain amount.

Can you make as much as you want on Social Security?

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.

Can I collect Social Security at 62 and still work full time?

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However, your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits.

How much money can I make and still be on Social Security?

If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2025, that limit is $23,400. In the year you reach full retirement age, we deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

Here’s How Much Money You’ll Get From Social Security

43 related questions found

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

Is it better to collect Social Security at 62 or 67?

Key takeaways. If you claim Social Security at age 62, rather than wait until your full retirement age (FRA), you can expect a 30% reduction in monthly benefits. For every year you delay claiming Social Security past your FRA up to age 70, you get an 8% increase in your benefit.

When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

What does Suze Orman say about taking Social Security at 62?

Collecting at Age 62 or 70 Is Not an Either/Or Situation

“Each month you wait to claim increases your monthly amount for the rest of your life. If you can live off of your 401(k) or other retirement income for 6-12 months and wait to claim Social Security, you end up with a longer benefit for life.”

What is the average Social Security check at 62?

If people born after 1960 claim their benefits the month they turn 62, they'll get only 70% of what they would have received had they waited until the full retirement age of 67. The average monthly payment of $1,784 drops by 30% during the first month of eligibility to $1,247.40.

How much money can I make a year if I collect Social Security at 62?

The earnings limit increases (to $56,520 in 2023) for the calendar year in which you'll reach full retirement age. Starting in the month you hit your full retirement age, there is no longer an earnings limit. Your benefits will no longer be reduced regardless of how much income you have.

What is the 5 year rule for Social Security?

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Can your income be too high for Social Security?

If you're younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full Social Security benefits. If you're younger than full retirement age during all of 2025, we must deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $23,400.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

How much does a wife get of her husband's Social Security if he dies?

Surviving spouse, any age, with a child younger than age 16, gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. Child gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. There's a limit to the benefits we can pay to you and other family members each month. The limit varies between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker's benefit amount.

Who are the never beneficiaries of Social Security?

Ninety-five percent of never-beneficiaries are individuals whose earnings histories are insufficient to qualify for benefits. Late-arriving immigrants and infrequent workers comprise the vast majority of these insufficient earners.

Why do smart people take Social Security at 62?

Key Takeaways

Taking Social Security at age 62 can make sense for retirees with health issues. If you're done working for good and do not expect to earn above the annual limit for Social Security earnings, taking benefits early can help cover living expenses.

How much money will I lose if I retire at 62 instead of 65?

A worker can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a reduction of as much as 30 percent. Starting to receive benefits after normal retirement age may result in larger benefits. With delayed retirement credits, a person can receive his or her largest benefit by retiring at age 70.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

What disqualifies you from Social Security?

Some American workers do not qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. Workers who don't accrue the requisite 40 credits (roughly 10 years of employment) are not eligible for Social Security. Some government and railroad employees are not eligible for Social Security.

What is the Social Security bonus trick?

So, what about this supposed Social Security bonus? The truth is, there is no such thing. However, the idea of a Social Security bonus may come from the fact that waiting to start receiving benefits can result in a higher benefit amount than if you start earlier.

How do you get extra money added to your Social Security check?

Below is information about the nine ways you may be able to increase your Social Security benefits.
  1. Work for 35 Years. ...
  2. Wait Until at Least FRA to Collect Benefits. ...
  3. Collect Spousal Benefits. ...
  4. Receive Dependent Benefits. ...
  5. Monitor Your Earnings. ...
  6. Watch Out for Tax Bracket Creep. ...
  7. Apply for Survivor Benefits.