Earnings Test Calculator 2027
Estimate your 2027 withholding
Answer based on your situation in calendar year 2027.
Your full retirement age
| Year of birth | Full retirement age | Your 2027 situation |
|---|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 | Past FRA — no test |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | Past FRA — no test |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | Past FRA — no test |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | Past FRA — no test |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | Past FRA — no test |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | Past FRA by 2027 — no test |
| 1960 | 67 | Reach FRA in 2027 — the $67,920 limit applies to earnings before that month |
| 1961 or later | 67 | Under FRA all of 2027 — the $25,560 limit applies |
Worked examples
Under FRA all year: you earn $35,560 in 2027 and your benefit is $1,400 a month. The excess over the limit is $10,000, so about $5,000 is withheld — roughly four monthly checks, taken from the first payments of the year. The withheld months are credited back when your benefit is recalculated at full retirement age.
Reaching FRA in 2027: you earn $77,920 before the month you turn 67. Only the $10,000 above the $67,920 limit counts, at $1 per $3 — about $3,334 withheld. Earnings from your FRA month onward are unlimited.
The rules behind these numbers — including the special monthly rule for your first year of retirement and the whole-check withholding mechanics — are explained on the 2027 earnings test page.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn in 2027 without losing benefits?
If you are under full retirement age (FRA) for all of 2027, you can earn up to $25,560 before anything is withheld; above that, $1 is withheld for every $2 of excess earnings. In the year you reach FRA, the limit is $67,920, only earnings before the month you reach FRA count, and the rate is gentler: $1 for every $3 over.
Are withheld benefits lost forever?
No. Withholding under the earnings test is a deferral, not a tax. When you reach full retirement age, the SSA recalculates your monthly benefit upward to credit back the months in which checks were withheld, so you recover the value over your remaining lifetime.
What counts as earnings for the test?
Wages from a job and net earnings from self-employment. Pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains, IRA withdrawals and government benefits do not count toward the earnings-test limits.
When does the earnings test stop?
The month you reach full retirement age. From that month on there is no limit at all. Full retirement age is 66 for people born in 1943–1954, rises by two months per birth year to 66 and 10 months for 1959, and is 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later.