Security - Social

You can earn more while working and collecting benefits. If you are under full retirement age, you can earn up to $24,480 in 2026 before benefits are withheld.

Ida May Fuller , a legal secretary from Vermont, became the first person to receive a monthly retirement check on January 31, 1940. Her check was for $22.54 . SOCIAL SECURITY

When the Act was signed in 1935, it originally excluded farmworkers, domestic workers, and government employees. You can earn more while working and collecting benefits

Benefits for nearly 71 million people will increase by 2.8% starting in January 2026 due to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). you can earn up to $24