Working After Retirement? Some Things to Keep in Mind

First things first, do you know your Social Security’s full retirement age?

Most of us probably have our Social Security number down pat. But another important number to know is your full retirement age (or FRA) because it’ll help you understand how your Social Security benefits might be impacted by going back to work. 

If you look at the Social Security Administration’s retirement age chart, you’ll notice that your FRA depends on the year you were born. You may have also noticed that your full retirement age gradually increases by a few months for every birth year. For example, if you were born in 1959, your FRA is 66 and 10 months. And for those born in 1960 or later, it’s 67. 

Take a moment to look up your FRA on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. It’ll come up again in our discussion ahead.

Working after retirement could impact your Social Security benefits

If you’ve already started to collect Social Security retirement benefits, the good news is you can continue to receive them even if you decide to go back to work. 

But here’s the thing: SSA may reduce the amount of your benefits if you haven’t reached your full retirement age and if you earn more than a certain amount.

Let’s look at a few scenarios to help put things into context.

Returning to work after you’ve reached full retirement age

We’ll start with a straightforward example. 

If you’ve reached your full retirement age and collect Social Security, going back to work will not impact the amount of your Social Security benefits. In other words, you may keep all your benefits – no matter how much you work or earn. (Nice!) 

But what if you haven’t hit your full retirement age?

Returning to work before you’ve reached full retirement age

First, a quick refresher: You may already know that you don’t have to wait until your full retirement age to start collecting some of your Social Security benefits. We say “some” because while you could tap into your Social Security as early as age 62, you won’t be able to collect the full amount of your benefits until you reach your FRA (the SSA only allows you to collect a percentage of it; see “Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early” for more information).

With that in mind, let’s look at how your Social Security benefits may be impacted if you return to work before you’ve reached your full retirement age. 

If you’re a retiree who tapped into your Social Security benefits early and decided to go back to work, the SSA will reduce your benefits if you make more than a certain amount.

According to the SSA, if you’re younger than the full retirement age during all of 2023, they will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $21,240. If you earn less than that, your Social Security benefits won’t be affected. The SSA provides a more detailed example of how it would work here. 

But wait, there’s more…

According to the SSA: If you’ll reach your full retirement age in 2023, they will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $3 you earn above $56,520 until the month you reach full retirement age. 

In other words, in the year that you’ll hit your retirement age, you could earn up to $56,520 before the SSA starts reducing your benefits – deducting $1 for every $3 earned above $56,520 until the month you reach your FRA.

Here’s a basic example from the SSA: Let’s say you haven’t reached your FRA at the beginning of 2023 but you’ll reach it in November 2023. And you expect to earn $57,000 in the 10 months from January through October. During this period, SSA would withhold $160 ($1 for every $3 you earn above the $56,520 limit). The SSA provides a more detailed example of how that would work here.

Consult a financial advisor if you have questions about your sepcific situation. They can help you understand how your individual benefits might change if you decide to go back to work.

Good to know: If you’re frowning at the thought of your Social Security benefits being docked just for working in retirement, don’t worry. According to the SSA, you’ll get that money credited back when you reach your full retirement age (exceptions may apply). 

Pay attention to income taxes

Tax planning is important whether you’re retired or not. But it can be especially important if you decide to unretire and go back to work. 

If you’re receiving Social Security benefits, you might have to pay taxes on those benefits depending on your personal financial situation. And heads-up: The rules and calculations can get complicated. 

For instance, if you have other taxable income – such as wages, self-employment, retirement or investment income – on top of your Social Security benefits, think about checking in with a tax professional to understand the potential impact on your tax obligations.

Another thing to keep in mind: Sometimes, the combination of your Social Security benefits, money earned from going back to work and any retirement withdrawals you may be taking (like from an IRA) could put you in a higher tax bracket.

It’s always nice to avoid surprises come tax season. If you’re thinking about slipping out of retirement to go back to work, consider checking in with a tax professional first. They can help you understand how wages from your new job(s), Social Security benefits and any other retirement income might impact your tax bill. 

Understand your health insurance options

For some people, going back to work means you might have access to company benefits again, like a health care plan. To be sure, this won’t be the case for everyone because it depends on your work arrangement – for example, some may prefer to be self-employed. 

If your new job offers health care, you’ll have to think about whether it makes sense for you to sign up for it or keep the plan you have (whether that’s private insurance or Medicare). The decision will depend, in part, on your health care needs and the level of coverage and cost you’re looking for. In short, you’ll want to compare your options. 

Just as with taxes, there can be a lot of rules and details to navigate. While we can’t cover them all in this article, here’s something to think about:

If you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare, you may have the option of signing up for a health care plan through your job and keeping your Medicare policy. In some cases, your workplace plan and Medicare could work together to help meet your coverage needs. But before making any decisions, check in with your employer to see how their health care plans coordinate with Medicare (also see: “How Medicare works with other insurance”).

This is important: Medicare rules are no walk in the park. Enrollment and coverage details can be complex, and failure to enroll in time could result in penalties. So definitely talk to a financial advisor to understand your obligations and options. You may also contact Medicare directly for assistance through their website or 24/7 helpline. 

Parting thoughts

People come out of retirement for different reasons. If you’re thinking about it, ask yourself if this is something you need or want to do. In other words, is it about the money or do you simply want to do more with your days? 

If you’re worried about running out of money in retirement, consider talking to a financial planner first. They can help give you a better sense of where you stand financially. (Your retirement accounts may be in better shape than you think!)

And sometimes, you may simply need to make adjustments to your spending or withdrawal strategy – without having to go back to work for extra money. 

Now, what if it’s not about the money? What if you’re just feeling bored? 

If you’re financially secure but just want to do more with your time or make new friends, think about exploring a new hobby or getting involved in your local community. For example, mentoring can be a great way to meet new people, and we bet you have a lot of wisdom to share!

Point is: There are many different ways to fill your time. The answer doesn’t always have to be “more work.” You’ve worked hard enough to earn your retirement – enjoy it!