If you expect to earn over $1,950 in every month or perform substantial services in self-employment every month of 2025 select "Yes."
Exception: If you will reach full retirement age in 2025 or already reached it in a prior year, select "Yes" only if you expect to earn over $5,180 in every month or perform substantial services in self-employment in every month of 2025.
"Substantial services in self-employment" means that you spend more than 45 hours working in your business during the month or between 15 and 45 hours a month working in a highly skilled occupation.
Why we ask this question
If you:
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Are under full retirement age in 2025, we will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $23,400.
Example: If you will earn $24,120 in 2025, we will withhold the first $360 in benefits. ($720/2 = $360)
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Will reach full retirement age in 2025, we will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $3 you earn above $62,160 until the month you reach full retirement age.
Example: If you will earn $62,640 in 2025, we will withhold the first $160 in benefits. ($480/3 = $160)
Exception: If there are months when you do not expect to perform substantial services in self-employment or earn over $1,950 ($5,180 if you will reach full retirement age in 2025), we may still be able to pay benefits based on a special rule regardless of your yearly earnings. The rule, which can only be used for one year, lets us pay you a full Social Security check for any whole month we consider you retired./p>
For additional information, please read "How Work Affects Your Benefits."