A retiree had 800 gallons of maple syrup in the barn. Here’s why selling it may not cut Social Security benefits

For some retirees, retirement does not mean every dollar earned afterward will automatically affect their Social Security benefits.

Consider a Vermont sugarmaker who retires with about 800 gallons of finished maple syrup sitting in a barn. The syrup was produced before the retiree began collecting Social Security. Months later, customers buy the remaining inventory and the money comes in during the following year.