Does Winning the Lottery Affect Social Security Benefits?

The sudden windfall won't reduce your benefits. Here's why.

(Image credit: © Micah Young)

If a retiree were to win Friday's estimated $970 million (and growing) Mega Millions jackpot, his or her monthly Social Security benefit would be a mere drop in the monthly income bucket. Nonetheless, savvy retirees who know about Social Security's earnings test -- whereby Social Security will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 in earnings above $17,640 in 2019 for workers who are younger than full retirement age (age 66 for people born in 1943 through 1954) -- still occasionally express concern about potentially lost benefits in the event of a lottery windfall.

Good news: Lottery winnings aren't subject to the Social Security earnings test, so your jackpot won't reduce your benefits. But like other high-income households, you may have to pay bigger Medicare Part B premiums at age 65. The top premium in 2019 will be $460.50 per month.

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Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.