The Rules Are Changing in 2026 for Working While Receiving Social Security
Introduction For retirees and near-retirees who want (or need) to keep earning income while receiving Social Security benefits, 2026 brings some of the most meaningful updates in recent years. The retirement earnings test — the mechanism that temporarily reduces benefits for workers under full retirement age (FRA) who exceed certain income thresholds — now allows higher earnings before any withholding kicks in. These increases, driven by annual wage indexing, give more flexibility to those in their early 60s, part-time workers, …