Dear Rusty: I retired on February 1st of this year (2022). I collect a pension from my employer plus a union pension, as well as Social Security, all of which started in February 2022. I am married and I’m 65 years old. I only worked 4 weeks in 2022 before retiring, but my income ended up being far more than expected. I got 5 weeks’ vacation pay and a retroactive check from an overdue labor contract. I also got hazard pay and a small check for a class action lawsuit my union filed years ago. All of that brings my 2022 income to about $35,000 which means I have exceeded what I can make as far as Social Security goes. My question is, should I contribute some money to my IRA to offset my earned income? And is it even possible for me to do that? Signed: Retired but Concerned Dear Retired: Generally, income earned before starting your Social Security benefits (such as accumulated vacation pay) doesn’t count toward Social Security’s earnings limit for those who have not yet reached their full retirement age (FRA), nor do your earnings from working in the 4 weeks of 2022 before your SS benefits started. Similarly, the check for retroactive labor contract benefits, hazard pay for past work, and income from the class action suit do not count toward Social Security’s earnings limit. The only thing that counts towards the limit is earnings from working after your Social Security benefits started, which you apparently did not do. Thus, from what you’ve shared, you should not be subject to any impact to your monthly SS benefits as a result of your total 2022 income. Note, you may still get an inquiry from Social Security next year about your 2022 earnings, but only earnings from actually working after your Social Security benefits started (which you did not) would count toward Social Security’s earnings limit.