Ask Rusty – How Will Working Affect My First Year’s Benefits?

Dear Rusty: I retired from working in January of this year and have since claimed Social Security. I didn't work at all in February or March, but I began a part time job in April. I'm very confused about how Social Security counts earnings for the first year. I don't know if I need to keep each month's earnings under $1,770 or if they average it. Some of the literature I've found says each month…