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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George L.
How much is the limit of income for 2018? While still receiving SSI?
Kevin A.
If I start collecting benefits at age 66 how much can I earn yearly without it affecting my benefits?
R.F.
Hello Kevin, please visit our Benefits Planner: Getting Benefits While Working for specific information on this topic. Thanks!
David
My birthdate is 1/6/1952. My current full retirement benefit is 2213 per month. If I begin receiving SS retirement in July 2018 and continue to work, will my retirement benefits increase? I usually make $50 per hour. I want to continue to work 3 days per week and take 8 weeks off per year.
My estimated annual income would be 52,800. If I take my SS retirement in July 2018 and earn 52,800 per year, how will this impact my SS retirement benefits?
John
I am 70 years old and am about ready to claim my Social Security Retirement benefits. The projected monthly benefit I was shown at a visit to my local Social Security office in March 2018 will not cover my living expenses. I will need to continue working unless I can get the benefit up. My local office said my Monthly Benefit Amount may increase if I do continue working. Which calculator do I use to determine what effect different levels of future earnings will have on raising my Monthly Benefit Amount?
The local office said they were unable to run scenarios for me for different future earnings levels. However, does the local office have access to a calculator or service they don’t know about that could help them run scenarios with me? Do your over-the-phone offices or online offices have access to a calculator that they can use with me?
Such scenarios run, either by me on some calculator you suggest, or run with the help of one of your offices, would help me determine what level of continued employment I should be seeking: i.e. full time, part time, high stress/higher pay, pleasant work/lower pay.
The local office did say one thing: Any year in which my future employment resulted in an income of more than $6320.00 in a year would bump my monthly benefit up as that was the “AIME” for the lowest annual earning year of the 35 years of earnings that determined the monthly benefit they quoted me at my visit. This was because earnings in the future that were above that $6320.00 amount of my lowest earning year would bump that low earnings year out of my benefit calculation and replace it with a higher earnings amount that would entitle me to an increased monthly benefit. How much would future earnings of $12,000 or $24,000 or $32,000 or $48,000 annually increase my monthly benefit is what I would like to know.
Shira
August of this year I will be 62 if I decide early retirement when Can I start my application
Shira
I will be 62 in August what month will i need to apply if I decide early retirement
Delbert W.
Within about 6 months ago, I began a part time job at a local hardware store making minimum wage. Will my monthly benefit increase since social security is being taken out of my check?
reinhart d.
if I am of full retirement age and receive social security and continue to work can I substitute out new work history to increase benefits?
HANH N.
Starting 09/05/2018 I am full retirement ( 66 Year olds – was born 09/05/1952). If some the month as May, June, July, August 2018 I earn $1470.00 a month. Is this amount
influence to my benefits( now got SSA – $990-134 for Part B= $856).
Please reply to me by Email.
Thanks
Thomas E.
hello. i get 1200 a month but 50 is taken out each month because I made too much money last year.
how much am I allowed to make each month at a job or other work?