Pension distributions are not considered earned income, even though it was earned when you originally received the associated income, but only in part. The distributions from your pension plan area a combination of earnings on the contributions, which is clearly not earned income, and a return of the amount you contributed. Consequently, It may make sense to treat some of it as earned income, but that is not how the tax code works. I assume it has to do with the fact that tax on the income is deferred, so you already have one benefit so allowing you to treat a portion of the income as earned would be doubling up on benefits.
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