What types of income are exempt from affecting Social Security benefits?

Non-taxable income, such as gifts or inheritances, does not impact Social Security benefits. This is because Social Security considers only earned income and certain other forms of income when determining eligibility for benefits and calculating the amount of benefits. Gifts and inheritances are not treated as income in this context, meaning they do not contribute to the earnings limit or affect the benefit calculation.

In contrast, taxable retirement accounts and other types of income could potentially influence Social Security benefits because they fall under categories that could count against the earnings limit if taken as distributions or income. Therefore, it's essential to understand that only non-taxable forms of income, like gifts and inheritances, are completely exempt from affecting Social Security benefits.