---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 418.3315"
title: "20"
number: "418.3315"
heading: "What is earned income?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/418.3315"
---

# §418.3315. What is earned income?


Earned income is defined in [§ 416.1110](/cfr/20/416.1110.md) of this chapter and may be in cash or in kind. We may count more of your earned income than you actually receive. We count gross income, which is more than you actually receive, if amounts are withheld from earned income because of a garnishment, or to pay a debt or other legal obligation such as taxes, or to make any other similar payments.


## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Secs. 702(a)(5) and 1860D-1, 1860D-14 and -15 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902(a)(5),1395w-101, 1395w-114, and -115).

### Source

Source: 70 FR 77675, Dec. 30, 2005, unless otherwise noted.