Retirement is a common goal, but many factors will affect when exactly you decide to retire. Early retirement incentives, leadership changes or job modifications may make retiring earlier than anticipated an attractive option. You might even find yourself retired for a time—
Can you stop Social Security and go back to work? Indeed, you can "unretire," but there are some potential caveats related to your federal retirement benefits. If you decide to rejoin the workforce, your Social Security payments likely will change depending on how much money you're earning and your age. Let's take a look at what's involved with unretiring.
"Before going back to work, it's important to consult a financial professional," says Andrew Mortenson, Thrivent financial consultant in West Bend, Wisconsin. "You may be able to withdraw your Social Security application, or you may decide you want to continue collecting. It's also important to look at how these decisions may impact your taxes and other sources of income. Gathering more information before making your decision decreases the likelihood of financial surprises or regret down the road."
What to consider before unretiring
The urge to return to work might surface for several reasons. Some people miss the camaraderie and personal fulfillment of working regularly and may want to pursue it part or full time again. Others realize that achieving some of their financial goals might be easier if they had more income. Or an opportunity may arise that calls to your interests or passion that makes working more appealing than retirement.
If you find yourself contemplating a return to work, you're not alone. A
How working after retirement affects Social Security benefits
Social Security is structured to provide larger payments the later you choose to retire, and
What is full retirement age?
The greatest distinction in how your return-to-work income will affect your Social Security benefits is related to whether you've
If you're younger than full retirement age
In general, choosing to work in retirement before full retirement age may cause a temporary reduction in benefits, but you eventually will see a larger benefit when you "re-retire."
If you retire when you're younger than full retirement age but go back to work within 12 months, you can return the benefits you've received and stop receiving more, a complete do-over. You'll then just claim Social Security again when you "re-retire," likely receiving a higher benefit check at that time as a result of being older.
For income earned before full retirement age but after those first 12 months of retirement, you'll have $1 deducted from your benefits for every $2 of earnings above $23,400 in 2025. Earning less than $23,400 wouldn't affect your benefits. One caveat: In the year you turn your full retirement age, the earnings limit increases to $62,160. For every $3 above this limit, your benefits are reduced by $1.
"They do attempt to pay you back for what was withheld from the earnings limit by readjusting your benefit at FRA," says Eric Berg, Advice Service & Digital Tools consultant at Thrivent.
You will want to
But let's change the details a bit and put the income at $30,000. At more than $5,600 over the limit, that means your benefits would be reduced by $2,800. You'd have to decide whether returning to work is still worth it considering the decrease in benefits.
"It is best avoided, if at all possible, but if you do need to return to work, it is best to notify the Social Security office. If they discover they overpaid, they will withhold checks, and in some cases come after you for the money they overpaid," says Berg.
If it ends up that going back to work would put you out of your financial comfort zone right now, remember that you can use your time in other ways, like volunteering. It's all about looking at your options.
It is best avoided if at all possible, but if you do need to return to work, it is best to notify the Social Security office.
If you have reached full retirement age
If you delay taking benefits until your full retirement age, you will receive your full benefit going forward. There are no more benefit reductions, and if you delay your retirement further past full retirement age, you'll see an even larger payment when you do eventually take Social Security, up to age 70. At these ages, though, there is usually no Social-Security-related downside to returning to work if some combination of the work itself and the income appeals to you.
Social Security Benefits: Return to Work Impact
Age | Status | Earnings Limit | Benefit Reduction |
---|---|---|---|
62-66 | Before FRA | $22,320/year | $1 for every $2 |
67 | FRA | No Limit | No Reduction |