Earnings-Test Tracker: 2026 Edition
Collecting Social Security before full retirement age and still working? SSA's earnings test can hold back some of your checks if you earn over the limit. This free spreadsheet and printable log keeps the tally in one place — enter earnings by the month you did the work, and it tracks room left under the limit and estimates what SSA would withhold.
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What's included
- Spreadsheet (
earnings-test-tracker-2026.xlsx) — works in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. - Start Here — 10-minute setup, color key, the rules in plain English, the April 15 annual-report reminder, and sources.
- Tracker — your profile; automatic full-retirement-age detection; a January–December earnings log; running year-to-date total; room left under the limit; estimated excess and withholding; first-year monthly-limit check; reminders.
- SSA Log — dated record of calls, letters, and earnings-estimate changes.
- Limits — 2026 SSA amounts, blank cells for later years, and SSA's full-retirement-age table.
- Three worked examples — under FRA all year, the year you reach FRA, and the first-year rule, each built on SSA's published 2026 examples.
- Printable PDF companion (3 letter-size pages) — one-page guide, blank monthly log with estimate worksheet, worked example, SSA contact log, and sources.
The 2026 limits it uses
| Situation | Annual limit | Monthly limit | Withholding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under full retirement age all year | $24,480 | $2,040 | $1 for every $2 over |
| Calendar year you reach FRA (earnings before your FRA month only) | $65,160 | $5,430 | $1 for every $3 over |
| From your FRA month on | No limit | — | None |
Sources: SSA, Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test; SSA, Receiving Benefits While Working. Prefer a quick estimate first? Try the free earnings test calculator.
Disclaimer. RetireTally is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any government agency. The Earnings-Test Tracker is for general information and personal record-keeping only. It is not financial, legal, tax, or benefits advice, and it doesn't consider your full situation. All results are estimates based on the information you enter and SSA's published rules; SSA alone determines your actual benefits, and its rules include details and exceptions the tracker doesn't cover (for example disability benefits, work outside the U.S., family benefits, and special situations). Always verify with SSA at ssa.gov, through your my Social Security account, or at 1-800-772-1213.
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