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I draw my husband’s Social Security but I’m also working. How much money can I earn for the year? –Janice
It’s quite common to collect Social Security retirement benefits and still work. In fact, some people never quit their job. Others may choose to take on part-time or gig work into their 70s and 80s to supplement their Social Security income or keep their mind sharp.
Working while collecting Social Security benefits could mean a smaller monthly payment if you haven’t reached full retirement age (FRA) and your earnings surpass a specific threshold. An important factor in your case is that you collect spousal benefits, so your husband’s age and earnings are under consideration here, as well as your own. In either case, a Social Security benefit reduction due to work is only temporary, as the payments you receive after hitting your full retirement age will include any withheld benefits.
A financial advisor can help you plan for and manage your Social Security benefits. Connect with your advisor matches for free.
How Spousal Benefits Work
Navigating Social Security when you’re married can be tricky. Generally, spouses are entitled to receive their own benefit or half of their spouse’s benefit at that person’s full retirement age, whichever is higher. If you’re claiming your own benefit, you can file as early as age 62. If you’re claiming a spousal benefit, you can file at 62, but not before your spouse.
Because of the way Social Security benefits are calculated, a spousal benefit is often a combination of a worker’s benefit and a “top up” benefit from their spouse’s work record (if someone has no work record, it’s a full spousal benefit).
For example, if someone is entitled to either a $2,000 monthly spousal benefit or a $1,500 personal benefit, they would ultimately receive $1,500 of their personal benefit plus a $500 spousal benefit, for a total of $2,000. This is important when it comes to understanding how benefits are calculated when either spouse is still working.
(And if you need additional help navigating spousal benefits and other Social Security questions, consider working with a financial advisor.)
Social Security and Earnings
Anyone who is collecting Social Security before their full retirement age is subject to an annual earnings test. If you and your husband haven’t hit your full retirement ages and he continues to work, your Social Security benefits could take a double hit. But ultimately it depends how much each of you earns.
An individual can earn up to $24,480 in 2026 before it begins to reduce their Social Security benefit and, if applicable, their spouse’s benefit. For every $2 earned over this limit, $1 is withheld from the annual benefit. The rules loosen considerably in the year an individual reaches their full retirement age. That year, they can earn up to $65,160 in the months prior to their birthday month without reducing their Social Security benefit. If they exceed that limit, $1 is withheld for every $3 of earnings.
(And if you need help creating a Social Security claiming strategy that accounts for these rules, consider speaking with a financial advisor.)
Benefit Reduction Example
Let’s consider a simple example in which your husband has already reached full retirement age and is collecting Social Security benefits, but you’re still working. In this case it doesn’t matter whether he’s working or not, since he’s no longer subject to the annual earnings test.
Say you’re 65 and your monthly benefit is $1,500, made up of a $1,000 spousal benefit and a $500 personal retirement benefit. You tell the Social Security Administration that you expect to make $30,000 from work in 2026, which is $5,520 above the annual earnings limit.
With $5,520 of excess earnings, the SSA will withhold $2,760 of your benefit ($1 for every $2 earned over the limit). The portion of your benefit attributable to your husband’s work record ($1,000 x 12 = $12,000 for the year) would not be impacted. Only the portion of your benefit attributable to your own work record ($500 x 12 = $6,000) is reduced ($6,000 – $2,760 = $3,240). So instead of receiving $18,000 for the year, you’ll receive $15,240 ($12,000 + $3,240), or about 10 months’ worth of payments.
(Consider working with a financial advisor if you need additional guidance on balancing streams of retirement income.)
Alas, it’s not a total loss. Withheld benefits get added back into your monthly payments after you reach your full retirement age and are therefore no longer subject to the earnings test. What’s more, any earnings you report after applying for Social Security benefits go into the formula for calculating your overall average. If you’re experiencing some of your highest income years while collecting Social Security prior to FRA, your eventual monthly benefit could increase. In the end, the earnings test is not so much a punishment as a redistribution.
Special Rules to Consider
There’s a special rule for anyone who files for benefits midyear, but has already surpassed the annual earnings threshold. If you’re younger than full retirement age in 2026, your benefit won’t be reduced as long as you earn no more than $2,040 per month after filing for Social Security. If you reach full retirement age in 2026, you’re considered retired in any month that your earnings are $5,180 or less and you devote no more than 45 hours a month to self employment (or 15 to 45 hours in a highly skilled business).
Only wages, commissions, bonuses and vacation pay from a job and net profit from self-employment count toward the limit for the earnings test. Any income from pensions, annuities, investments, interest or government or veterans retirement benefits do not count as earnings.
Next Steps
You’ll receive a form each year until you reach full retirement age to report your estimated earnings for the year ahead, which lets the SSA know how much of your benefit to withhold, if any. If your earnings outlook shifts later, you can reach the SSA via phone or log in to your My Social Security account to update your estimates.
Social Security Planning Tips
- Retirement plans are rarely static. Divorce, widowhood, changes in health, shifts in income or new tax laws can all affect the optimal claiming strategy. Reviewing your approach periodically with a financial advisor can help ensure your Social Security decisions remain aligned with your broader retirement plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Delaying Social Security past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit by up to 8% per year until age 70. This can make sense for individuals with longer life expectancies or strong family longevity. Comparing your projected lifetime benefits under different claiming ages can clarify whether delaying improves long-term outcomes.
Tanza Loudenback, CFP® is a financial planning columnist who answers reader questions on personal finance topics. Got a question you’d like answered? Email AskAnAdvisor@smartasset.com and your question may be answered in a future column.
Please note that Tanza is not an employee of SmartAsset and is not a participant in SmartAsset AMP. She has been compensated for this article. Some reader-submitted questions are edited for clarity or brevity.
Photo courtesy of Tanza Loudenback