Q. I understand that if you exceed the special retirement supplement earnings limit for the year you retire, you will not be eligible for the special retirement supplement for the rest of that year. Is this correct?
I will be eligible to retire Jan. 22, 2015. I would like to carry into the 2015 year 240 hours of annual leave. There are two pay days in 2015 prior to Jan. 22. Most likely, the lump-sum payment for 240 hours of annual leave and January wage earnings will exceed the special retirement supplement earnings limit for 2015. If I put all of my January 2015 earnings into the Thrift Savings Plan and only collect the lump-sum payment, which by itself is less than the earnings limit, would I be eligible to get the special retirement supplement for the rest of 2015?
A. Relax. You’ll be covered by the so-called “first year rule.” That’s a special rule that applies to earnings during the first year of retirement.
This special rule lets the Social Security Administration pay a full Social Security check for any whole month they consider you retired, regardless of your yearly earnings. If you will be under full retirement age for all of that year, you are considered retired in any month that your earnings are $1,220 or less and you didn’t perform substantial services in self-employment. It also applies to those who have reached full retirement age and are considered retired in any month that your earnings are $3,240 or less and you did not perform substantial services in self-employment.
Note: The dollar amounts cited above are for 2012. They will likely be higher when you retire.
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Q: My question is similar to the one above except I want to keep working part of full time. Is the earnings based on a month or a year. In 2017, you can make $16920 a year or $1410 a month. If I work part time 5 months, am I held to the $1410 per month or during those 5 months could I earn the $16920 without jeopardizing my special retirement supplement?
It’s an annual limit, not a monthly one.
I am getting mixed messages regarding the first year special exception for collecting social security prior to reaching full retirement age. This year, I turn 62 in February and for social security purposes, my first month of eligibility is March with my first check in April. I work full time currently and was going to work full time through March then go to part time in April. The way I read the read/understand the rule is that I would be over the monthly limit in March if I di it this way. However, some people tell me that this is not the case, that as long as I am under the earning potential for the remaining months I would be ok? Can someone please clarify this?
You’ll find a clear explanation of how the first year rule will apply to you at https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/rule.html