The amount you earn per month in Social Security payments is determined by a complicated algorithm that assesses the amount you’ve earned over your lifetime in government and non-government jobs. It’s also affected by the age at which you start withdrawing money, your additional earnings from other sources, and whether you already receive a government pension. Below are some of the penalties applied to Social Security earnings that you should know about.
Social Security Early Withdrawal Penalty
Technically, there is no penalty for early withdrawal—because you’re simply not allowed to start withdrawing Social Security benefits until the age of 62. However, the earlier you withdraw, the lower your monthly payments will be.
How early to start withdrawing Social Security is a complicated question and should be posed to a financial advisor who can take your personal situation in mind. If you withdraw early, your monthly payments will be smaller—but they will also give you extra cash to live on, potentially saving you from having to withdraw more from your retirement account and allowing your investment to accrue more rapidly. Some people need to start withdrawing as early as possible—because they don’t have the investments needed to support themselves on their own. Others can afford to wait.
The Social Security Earnings Penalty
Although you’re allowed to withdraw your Social Security money as early as 62, it might make financial sense to wait—especially if you have additional income coming in. The government will withhold some of your Social Security earnings if you make too much in income from other sources. This only applies to people under what the government calls Normal Retirement Age (NRA), which varies depending on the year you were born—but can be as high as 67. For more information on your NRA, check out the federal Social Security website.
As of 2021, the maximum amount you can earn while still receiving Social Security benefits is limited. If you reach your NRA (Normal Retirement Age) after 2021, you can earn up to $18,960 without a reduction in your benefits. If you reached your NRA in 2021, the limit is $50,520. For every $2 you earn above the lower limit or $3 above the higher limit, Social Security benefits are reduced by $1.
For more information on how this applies in your particular earnings and exemption situation, check out SocialSecurity.gov.
Penalties For Those Receiving Government Pensions
As of 2021, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) can result in a reduction of Social Security benefits for individuals who are retired or disabled and also receive pensions from federal, state, or local governments. The reduction can be substantial, with potential cuts of up to 60% of Social Security benefits. Check out the government’s Social Security WEP calculator to see how this provision might affect you.
The Government Pension Offset
In general, if you are a retired spouse, widow or widower, you’re allowed to collect additional Social Security payments based on your spouse’s earnings history. However, the GPO prevents you from collecting your spouse’s full benefits if you yourself were employed in a job that did not pay Social Security taxes. According to the government website, the Social Security benefits you’re entitled to could be up two two-thirds of your government pension.
The age at which you begin withdrawing Social Security benefits can have a big impact on your monthly earnings. So can your previous employment history. If you’re in doubt, check out the federal government’s online Social Security calculators—and talk to a financial advisor about the right time for you to start withdrawing. This will be different for everybody—and a professional can provide the best consultation.