Working While Retired
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 5, 2021
Retirement life is different for everyone. Social Security is here to secure today and tomorrow, whether you sail into the sunset or decide to continue working. Some of our rules allow you to receive Social Security retirement or survivor benefits and work at the same time, as long as you don’t make more than Social Security’s annual earnings limit. For 2021, that limit is $18,960.
If you’re younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we’ll reduce your Social Security benefits. But starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. Our Retirement Portal explains the requirement and deductions, and what happens after you reach full retirement age.
Two of our online tools can help you find the information you need to make the right decision for you. You can find your full retirement age based on your date of birth by using our Retirement Age Calculator. Our Retirement Earnings Test Calculator can help you find out how much your benefits may be reduced if you are working and haven’t reached your full retirement age.
There are several things to consider if you plan to continue working after you retire. Our website gives you detailed information for the type of employment that you have. It also explains what types of pensions, annuities, and income do not count toward your earnings limits.
Additional earnings after you start collecting benefits might increase your monthly benefit. If there’s an increase, we’ll send you a letter telling you of your new benefit amount. If you think your earnings will be different than what you originally told us, let us know right away. For more information, read our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, or visit our website. No matter what you decide to do with your retirement life, you can count on Social Security.
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Tags: retirement, retirement benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Pamela H.
I am 68 in December 2018. I am working now; what happens to the medicare contributions
A.C.
Hi, Pamela. If you are receiving Social Security retirement benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B) at age 65. However, you may refuse Medicare Part B, during your Initial Enrollment Period, if you or your spouse, actively work and have coverage under a group health plan, based on that employment, then you do not need Medicare part B until the work activity ends or that health care coverage is dropped. We always suggest that individuals speak to their personnel office, health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future. For more information, visit here. Please contact your local Social Security office for further assistance or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
John D.
I am 69 1/2, I retired at age 66 in 2016. Can I go back to work without losing my SS income?
V.V.
Hi John. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. Visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working web page for more details.
ejw
Yes. But I am 67, currently working Self-Employed, receiving SS Retirement Benefits as of 66, my Full Retirement Age.
Since I am currently working and earning an income I am also paying into SS around 15% per year on my Net Income.
? Will by SS Retirement Benefits (not just COLA) in the future INCREASE since I am contributing $ and New Employment Years are being ADDED while Old Employments of the past DELETED in the 35 Year Average Calculation?
V.V.
Hi there. Thanks for the question. Generally, if you continue to work while receiving retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount may increase. As long as you continue to work and receive benefits, we will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings will increase your monthly benefit. If there is an increase, we will send you a letter telling you of your new benefit amount. You can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
wayne r.
i will turn 65 on march 31 if i go back to work , i took early retirememt at 62 if i went back to work ,how much will my social sercurity benifits be reduced to monthly
A.C.
Hi, Wayne. You can work while you receive Social Security retirement (or survivors) benefits. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2019, that limit is $17,640. Visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working for more information. Thanks!
Francine m.
If I am 60 and I retire from a job. How much can I make doing something else.
A.C.
Hi, Francine. Thanks for your question. Keep in mind the earliest age you can file for retirement is age 62. If you retire mid-year, we count your earnings for the entire year. We have a special earnings test rule that we apply to annual earnings—usually the first year of retirement. When you apply for retirement, let us know if you plan to continue working. Check out our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, for more information. We hope this helps!
Alan C.
I took my early retirement at 62 and now I have been offered a full time job with my company, I was told that I could ask for a suspension of my benefits until 70 years of age? if so how dose this work will I haft to pay back all of the moneys I received.
Mike s.
I’m not working i drew 150,000 out of my pension 2018. To build my new home.
Manjit W.
I was born in June 8, 1949
I stopped working in November, 2018 (age 69.5 yrs) .
I have not yet applied for social security benefits.
I will be seventy years old on June 8, 2019.
I want to receive maximum social security amount. Should I wait to apply when I turn seventy or I should apply for social security benefits with immediate effect?
Best regards,
Manjit S Wadhwa
A.C.
Hi, Manjit. You will automatically earn Delayed Retirement Credits if you postpone receiving benefits until the age of 70. Delayed retirement credits are added for months of non-payment between full retirement age and age 70. Please bear in mind that the decision on when to apply for benefits is a personal one. We can only provide you with the information to help you make the best choice according to your own situation. To help you plan, you can use our online calculators. Also, you can create a personal my Social Security account to verify your earnings, and get a copy of your Social Security Statement. Our system is set up to take applications four months in advance, and when you’re ready, you can apply for your benefits online. If you need further assistance call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives, who are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this information helps!
Katherine B.
my husband passed July of last year, I am 61 years old am I able to collect his ss benefit and work part-time
V.V.
Hi Katherine, we are very sorry for your loss. If your husband worked long enough under Social Security, there may be benefits payable to survivors. You may be eligible for reduced widows benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled) and at any age if caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving benefits on the deceased’s record. Survivor benefit amounts are based on your husband’s earnings. The more he paid into Social Security, the higher the benefits would be. The benefits will not be established automatically, you will have to contact us. For additional information, visit our Survivors Planner.
You can work while you receive Social Security survivors benefits but if you are younger than your full retirement age, there are limits. The amount you’re allowed to earn while receiving benefits depends on your age. If you attain full retirement age (66) in 2019, the earnings limit is $46,920 but we only count earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. If you’re under full retirement age for the entire year, then we deduct $1 from benefit payments for every $2 earned above the annual limit. For 2019, that limit is $17,640. Visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working and our Retirement Earnings Test Calculator.
Laurie w.
I started collecting SS at 62. I have been working partime and am now 66. How can I find out if I should get an increase in SS benefits at full retirement age
V.V.
Thank you using our blog, Laurie. When you reach full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to leave out the months when we reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings. In addition, each year we review your work record. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. We pay the increase retroactive to January the year after you earned the month.