You could lose your Social Security benefits if you do any of these four things

If you're planning to retire and apply for Social Security benefits, it can be reassuring to know that you'll be paid the money you've saved up during your working career. That's at least the expectation, but some may not realize that certain things can either disqualify you from receiving those benefits or cause your benefits to be suspended or terminated if you're currently receiving them.

Social Security Administration benefits include retirement payments, disability assistance through Social Security Disability Insurance, and assistance for disabled adults and children with limited income and resources, and for persons age 65 and older who are not disabled but have limited income and resources through the Supplemental Security Income program.

Here's how you might lose your Social Security benefits and whether you're eligible for a refund.

For more information, check out How Much Your Social Security Check Could Rise in 2025 and When to Expect Your Check This Month. We've got all your questions answered in our essential Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet.

Loss of social security benefits because your income exceeds the benefit limits

You can receive Social Security benefits while you work, but your monthly benefit payment may change if you earn above the eligibility limit.

Income limits for supplementary insurance

To be eligible for SSI, you typically must earn less than $1,971 per month. The amount is higher for couples, but if you exceed that amount, you may no longer be eligible for SSI.

Note: For every $2 you earn from work, $1 will be deducted from your SSI payment. Work is any job you have. You are required to promptly report any changes to your monthly income and living situation.

Social insurance income limits for disability

SSDI recipients have a little more leeway when it comes to earning money from work. If you take a job while receiving SSDI, you can keep your benefits for up to nine months, which the Social Security Administration calls a “work probation period.” For 2024, any month you earn more than $1,110 in gross pay will count toward that nine-month probation period. Note that the months also don't have to be consecutive, but rather must fall within a rolling five-year period. During those nine months, there's no limit on how much you can earn while keeping your benefits.

After your probationary period, you will begin a 36-month “extended eligibility period.” If you exceed the EPE earnings limit during this time, you will not be eligible for your SSDI payment for that month. In 2024, the EPE limit will be $1,550 per month, or $2,590 if disabled due to blindness.

If you continue to earn above the limit after your EPE expires, your SSDI payments will stop. However, if you are unable to continue working, you can resume your benefits.

Resource limits for additional social income

To qualify for SSI, you must meet an income limit and what the administration calls a “resource limit.” Resources that Do According to the government, cash, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, U.S. savings bonds, real estate, life insurance, personal property, vehicles and any other possessions that could be converted into cash and used for food or shelter will count toward the cap.

Resources that do not count include the house you live in and the land it stands on,
a vehicle (if you or a member of your household uses it for transportation), household goods and personal items, and life insurance policies with a total face value of $1,500 or less.

To be eligible for SSI, the SSI resource limit is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. If you exceed this limit, you must use up your resources to be eligible. According to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, an average of 70,000 beneficiaries lose their benefits each year because they exceed the limit. Congress has proposed legislation that would raise the limit to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples, for example, but so far the changes have not been enacted.

You are recently divorced

Your marital status can and will affect your Social Security benefits, and that includes divorce. Some things would prevent you from receiving your ex-spouse's benefits:

• You have not been married for 10 years or more.
• If you remarry, you will not be able to collect benefits from your previous marriage. This may change if your current marriage ends in divorce, annulment, or the death of your partner.
• You are entitled to benefits and the amount you would receive would be higher than that of your former spouse.

They go to prison

Going to jail can affect your Social Security benefits. If you are incarcerated for more than 30 days, the administration can suspend your Social Security and SSI benefits.

Social insurance and social insurance for disability during detention

If your benefits are suspended, you can apply to have them reinstated for the following month after you are released from prison. Note that even if your spouse or children are suspended while you are incarcerated, they will still receive these benefits as long as they are eligible.

Supplementary security income

While you are incarcerated, your SSI benefits will be suspended, but payments will resume after you are released and you will not have to wait until the next month. The amount of your payment will be based on your release date and would only be a partial payment.

If you are in prison for more than 12 months at a time, the administration will stop your SSI benefits. After you are released, you must contact the Social Security Administration and reapply.

Don't miss what experts say could cause a COLA increase in 2025 and how to estimate your monthly Social Security benefits.