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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Barbara B.
For those who retired prior to their magic full retirement age, and are nurses, firemen, police, EMTs, etc – vital positions during this covid crisis time, can the $18,200 limit be waived this year?
I am a nurse, I work casual part time, but during this crisis, I am asked to work many more hours than my usual schedule. Due to the annual income limit, I am not able to work as much as I would like to help.
Earning more than the $18,200 will not cost social security money, and we pay taxes on any amount earned, therefore I think it would be very beneficial for certain positions, to allow this maximum amount to be exceeded during this national health crisis.
Richard
I will be turning 66 in December of this year. I was going to continue to work until next March but start my ss in December when I turned 66. I was waiting because of the maximum allowable income of 48,600 until my 66th birthday hits. Well I just got laided off yesterday and my income for the year was around 47,000. When they let me go I received a 35,000 severance package. I was wondering if ss will consider the severance as earned income are will they just use my 47,000 as income for the year. If they do not include the severance I will start ss right away.
V.V.
Hi Richard, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Typically, income received after retirement counts as a special payment if the last task you did to earn the payment was completed before you stopped working. Severance pay is an example of a special payment. Check out our factsheet Special Payments After Retirement for more details. We hope this is helpful.
Cindy G.
What is the 2020 wage limit for someone who receives Disabilty payments. Not SSI
William J.
I retired June 2009 and started to collect S.S.
Subsequently I returned to work for several years and paid into S.S. My benefits did not increase as a result of additional contributions I made. What can be do to figure this out?
Thank you,
William Fredericks
Nancy F.
Does the government tax SSI benefits?
Sandra G.
I am a treasurer of a church and I have 3 staff members that are past full retirement age and we were wondering if social security and medicare could be stopped being deducted and paid on their payroll checks? They are receiving small payroll amounts and would never exceed the yearly pay limits of drawing and working.
Erica A.
1. I’m over 65, retired and receiving Social Security. Are there limits to what I may earn without a penalty or any kind of reduction to my Social Security check?
2. I’m retired from a New York City government job – public school teacher. I still work part-time in that capacity. May I work full-time in that same city sector, in any other city job, or for the state or the federal government without penalty or salary restriction?
Karen M.
I am trying to find out if we are required to deduct social security from our pay check when working part time at age 79
CARLOTA C.
if i work even though i’m retired will it increase my soc
sec. check amount? I’m 69 years old.
A.C.
Hi, Carlota. Each year we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. 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. Generally, we will send a letter explaining any increase in your benefit amount. Please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or contact your local office directly for further assistance.
Charles B.
I RETIRED AT AGE 62 AND AM NOW 73. I HAVE WORKED PERIODICALLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND SSA PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED FROM MY PAYCHECKS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THERE PAYMENTS. aRE THEY REFUNDABLE? DO THEY INCREASE MY MONTHLY SSA PAYMENT?
A.C.
Hi, Charles. Each year we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. 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. Generally, we will send a letter explaining any increase in your benefit amount. Please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or contact your local office directly for further assistance. We hope this helps.