The Social Security Earnings Test is a provision of the Social Security Act that limits the amount of money that individuals can earn while receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The test is designed to ensure that individuals who are receiving Social Security benefits are not earning too much money to continue to receive benefits.

The Social Security Earnings Test applies to individuals who are receiving Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security disability benefits, or both.

The earnings limit for the Social Security Earnings Test is $18,240 for individuals under full retirement age, $14,760 for individuals who are full retirement age or older, and $1,560 per month for individuals who are receiving Social Security disability benefits.

If you earn more than the earnings limit for the Social Security Earnings Test, your Social Security benefits will be reduced. The amount of the reduction depends on how much you earn over the limit.

There are a number of ways to avoid having your Social Security benefits reduced by the Earnings Test. You can stop working, reduce your earnings, or apply for an exemption from the Earnings Test.

An exemption from the Social Security Earnings Test is a provision that allows individuals to earn more than the earnings limit without having their Social Security benefits reduced. There are a number of different types of exemptions, including the substantial gainful activity exemption, the work incentives exemption, and the student exemption.

You can apply for an exemption from the Social Security Earnings Test by contacting the Social Security Administration, filing an application online, or mailing an application to the Social Security Administration.

The substantial gainful activity exemption from the Social Security Earnings Test is an exemption that allows individuals to earn more than the earnings limit if they are not engaged in substantial gainful activity. Substantial gainful activity is defined as work that is performed for pay or profit and that is comparable to the work that is performed by individuals who are not disabled.

The work incentives exemption from the Social Security Earnings Test is an exemption that allows individuals to earn more than the earnings limit if they are working in a job that is designed to help them return to work. These jobs include trial work periods, sheltered workshops, and supported employment.

The student exemption from the Social Security Earnings Test is an exemption that allows individuals to earn more than the earnings limit if they are full-time students. Full-time students are defined as students who are enrolled in a school for at least 12 hours per week.

The Social Security Earnings Test ends when the individual reaches full retirement age. Full retirement age is the age at which individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security retirement benefits. The full retirement age is 66 for individuals who were born in 1943 or later.

The penalty for earning too much money under the Social Security Earnings Test is that your Social Security benefits will be reduced. The amount of the reduction depends on how much you earn over the limit.

You can appeal a decision about your Social Security Earnings Test by contacting the Social Security Administration, filing an appeal online, or mailing an appeal to the Social Security Administration.

You can find more information about the Social Security Earnings Test on the Social Security Administration website, in the Social Security Handbook, or by calling the Social Security Administration's toll-free number.