If you do not expect to earn over $1,950 or perform substantial services in self-employment in any month of 2025, select "All."
Exception: If you will reach full retirement age in 2025 or reached it in a prior year, select "All" only if you do not expect to earn more than $5,180 in any month or perform substantial services in self-employment in any month of 2025.
Otherwise, indicate each month you do not expect to earn over the monthly amount or perform substantial services in self-employment.
Reason: Some people who retire in mid-year have already earned more than their yearly earnings limit. That is why we have a special rule that applies to earnings for one year, usually the first year of retirement. The special rule lets us pay you a full Social Security check for any whole month we consider you retired, regardless of your yearly earnings.
"Substantial services in self-employment" means that you spend more than 45 hours working in your business during the month, or between 15 and 45 hours a month working in a highly skilled occupation.