Many seniors don't realize it, but the Social Security Administration can withhold money from your checks if you're still working while you claim benefits. Not all seniors run into this issue as there are rules that determine which seniors could face this benefit withholding, and they just got a little more flexible as of January 1st.

Below we'll look at what you need to know so you're not caught off guard if you encounter benefit withholding this year.

The Social Security earnings test is what the government uses to determine whether to withhold money from a senior's benefit checks. It only applies to those working and claiming while still under their full retirement age (FRA). This is somewhere between 66 and 67 for today's workers. Those who have already attained their FRA may earn as much as they'd like without fear of benefit withholding.

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Source Fool.com