Can you collect social security at 65 and still work full time

Yes. You don't have to hand in your notice when you start getting retirement benefits.

But continuing to draw income from work might reduce the amount of your benefit if you claim Social Security before you reach full retirement age (FRA), the age when you qualify to collect 100 percent of the maximum benefit allowed from your earnings history.

Full retirement age is 66 and 4 months for those born in 1956 and will gradually rise over the next few years to 67. Prior to FRA, Social Security doesn’t consider you fully “retired” if you make more than a certain amount from work, and it will deduct a portion of your benefits if your earnings exceed that limit. 

The earnings caps are adjusted annually for national wage trends, and they differ depending on how close you are to full retirement age.

If you are receiving benefits and working in 2022 but not due to hit FRA until a later year, the earnings limit is $19,560. You lose $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over the cap. So, if you have a part-time job that pays $25,000 a year — $5,440 over the limit — Social Security will deduct $2,720 in benefits.

Suppose you will reach full retirement age in 2022. In that case, the earnings limit is $51,960, with $1 in benefits withheld for every $3 earned over the limit. That applies until the date you hit FRA: past that, there is no benefit reduction, no matter much you earn. In fact, Social Security increases your monthly benefit at that point so that over time you recoup benefits you lost to the prior withholding.

If you receive wages, earnings-limit calculations are based on your gross pay; if you’re self-employed, Social Security counts your net income only. The Social Security pamphlet “How Work Affects Your Benefits” and its Retirement Earnings Test Calculator can provide more details.

Keep in mind

• The earnings cap applies only to income from work. It does not count investments, pensions, annuities or capital gains.

• If your Social Security payments are reduced because you earned income above the limit, spouses and children receiving benefits on your work record will have their payments reduced as well.

• The earnings cap and rules also apply to the work income of people receiving spousal, children's and survivor benefits.

• Your monthly Social Security payments may be subject to federal, state and local income taxes. If you are collecting both benefits and work income, you may want to increase your withholding to avoid a big tax bill and penalties in April.
  

Yes, you can start to collect Social Security retirement benefits even if you're still working. But it isn't always a good idea. There are major pros and cons to consider if you want to keep your job and accept your benefits. Drawing a salary could reduce the amount of benefit you can claim before you hit full retirement age. According to the Social Security Administration (SAA), the full retirement age in the U.S. is 66 years and four months (if born in 1956) and the age goes up from there to 67 years, for those born in 1960 and beyond.

Your full retirement age is when you can qualify to collect 100% of your benefit based on your earnings history. However, before you hit full retirement, earning income will reduce a portion of your benefits if you exceed the earnings cap, and you want to withdraw funds. For example, In 2022, the earnings cap is $19,560, and the SSA will deduct $1 in benefits for every $2 earned, which can add up.

When you turn your full retirement age, you can work and receive benefits without any deductions from your social security check.

Key Takeaways

• You can take Social Security benefits while you're still working.
• If you're under your full retirement age, however, your benefits will be temporarily reduced.
• Once you reach full retirement age, there's no limit on how much you can earn while collecting full benefits.
• You can start receiving your social security benefits at the age of 62.
• If you wait until full-retirement age or older, you will receive more money in benefits.

Retirement Age and Social Security

If you're eligible for Social Security, you can start collecting your benefits as early as age 62, and you can also continue to work. Before you do so, it's important to note that unless you've reached your full retirement age (such as 66 or 67), you'll be doubly penalized:

• By taking Social Security early, you'll be accepting a benefit that is permanently reduced.
• If you earn over a certain amount, your benefits will be temporarily reduced.

By contrast, if you wait until full retirement age 66 or 67, depending on when you were born, to collect, you'll get your full benefit regardless of whether you're working at the time or how much you're earning.

If you can wait even longer to collect, you'll also avoid being penalized—plus your benefit will increase another 8% for each year you delay, up to age 70. At that point, your benefit maxes out and there is no further incentive to delay.

The reduction in Social Security benefits for people who earn over a certain amount is based only on earned income. Unearned income, such as from pensions or investments, doesn't count.

Advantages of Collecting Social Security While Working

There are a few benefits to collecting your social security benefits. If you are working a lower-wage job, collecting your social security benefits can help to supplement your income, even with the deductions. If you are able to work at your full-retirement age, you will be able to earn your full retirement benefits in addition to your salary, which may be useful.

Disadvantages of Collecting Social Security While Working

If you work and collect social security benefits before hitting your full retirement age, you will receive a reduced payment. In addition, if you earn too much, some of your social security may be withheld until you reach age 66 or 67, depending on your birth year.

If you take social security payments plus a salary, you may pay higher taxes than if you pulled an annual salary. If you take your benefits early, you miss out on earning more in social security if you wait until you are age 70, when your benefit amount will increase.

How Social Security Calculates Your Benefit

The amount you receive in Social Security benefits is based on an average of your 35 highest-earning years. So if you're earning more now than ever before, your best bet is to keep working, if that's possible, and delay receiving benefits until age 70. You'll then be eligible for your maximum benefit.

On the other hand, if you keep working but start taking benefits early, you may run up against the Social Security income limits. For 2022, Social Security will deduct $1 of every $2 you earn over $19,560 if you are under your full retirement age. During the year you reach full retirement age, it will deduct $1 for every $3 you earn over $51,960 until the month you reach full retirement age. After that, you'll receive your entire benefit.

Note that any money Social Security withholds from your benefit isn't lost forever. After you reach full retirement age, Social Security will recalculate your benefit and increase it to account for the benefits that were withheld earlier.

Can You Collect Social Security at 66 and Still Work Full Time?

Yes. You can still collect social security at age 66 and work full-time. If you are not at full retirement at age 66, however, your benefits will be reduced. However, if your full retirement age begins at age 66, you can earn your full benefits and continue to work.

How Many Hours Can You Work on Social Security?

If you are at full retirement age, you can work as much as possible and still receive your social security benefits. However, if you are younger than age 66 or 67, there is a cap on how much you can earn and receive in social security benefits. As of 2022, the Social Security Administration will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $19,560.

At What Age Should You Start Collecting Social Security?

You may start collecting social security when you turn age 62, but, if you wait until you reach full retirement age, you will earn your full retirement benefits. If you put off receiving benefits when you reach your full retirement age, benefits will increase a certain percentage for each month you delay starting your benefits, up until age 70.

Can You Collect a Pension While Working Full Time?

Under most circumstances, you can collect a pension while working full time, as long as it is not for the company that issued you the pension. You don't even have to wait a certain amount of time between starting your pension and taking a new job.

The Bottom Line

You can begin collecting Social Security benefits while you're still working, but your benefits will be reduced if you're younger than your full retirement age. If you're in that situation, it's worth estimating how much you expect to earn and how much that will reduce your benefit. Once you know how much you're likely to receive from Social Security, you can decide whether having that extra money now outweighs the advantages of waiting to claim benefits until later.

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