Can You Work and Collect Social Security?
Understand Your Benefits
National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) Appleton, WI – Social security. Many of us
wonder if there will be benefits for us when we reach retirement age. How does social security
work, and what is the most advantageous age to begin collecting? Can you or should you still work
when you are eligible to begin collecting benefits?
Social security was always intended as a supplement to income for workers when they reach their
retirement years. It was never intended as a sole source of income. The premise of the social
security program is simple. During your younger years, you work and pay social security tax
(currently 6.2 percent of income for employees, 12.4 percent for self-employed). Those wages
earn “credits” that accumulate and determine if you are able to collect social security when you
reach retirement age. How much you work and earn determines your eventual benefit amount. The
more you earn, the higher your eventual benefit will be, given that you have reached a certain
level.
American workers receive up to four “credits” per year toward social security. In 2005, one credit
equals $920 of earnings. To be eligible for social security you must acquire 40 credits. After that, it’
s an all or nothing deal. If you earn 40 credits, you’re in. If you haven’t, you’re not. For the typical
employed worker, it takes about ten years to earn eligibility.
Assuming you have acquired 40 credits, at what age can you collect social security benefits?
Reduced social security benefits can start as early as age 62 (60 for widows and widowers). Full
benefit age has been 65 for many years, however, for people born in 1938 or later, that age will
gradually increase until it reaches 67 for people born after 1959.
If you have reached retirement age and you’re still working, then what? Can you work while
collecting benefits and is that in your best interest?
Is it wise to begin collecting right away? If you begin collecting benefits before full retirement age,
your benefits are permanently reduced for the length of time you draw them. You will collect less
money annually, but will collect over a longer period of time, depending on how long you live. If you
start to collect benefits at full retirement age, you will receive the full amount for the remainder of
your life. For individuals who have not acquired 40 social security credits and are able to earn the
additional credits needed by working a couple more years, it is almost surely worthwhile to work
until you are eligible. Aside from that situation, retirement planning for individuals will vary
depending on life circumstances; there is no one course of action that applies to everyone.
Understand Your Benefits
National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) Appleton, WI – Social security. Many of us
wonder if there will be benefits for us when we reach retirement age. How does social security
work, and what is the most advantageous age to begin collecting? Can you or should you still work
when you are eligible to begin collecting benefits?
Social security was always intended as a supplement to income for workers when they reach their
retirement years. It was never intended as a sole source of income. The premise of the social
security program is simple. During your younger years, you work and pay social security tax
(currently 6.2 percent of income for employees, 12.4 percent for self-employed). Those wages
earn “credits” that accumulate and determine if you are able to collect social security when you
reach retirement age. How much you work and earn determines your eventual benefit amount. The
more you earn, the higher your eventual benefit will be, given that you have reached a certain
level.
American workers receive up to four “credits” per year toward social security. In 2005, one credit
equals $920 of earnings. To be eligible for social security you must acquire 40 credits. After that, it’
s an all or nothing deal. If you earn 40 credits, you’re in. If you haven’t, you’re not. For the typical
employed worker, it takes about ten years to earn eligibility.
Assuming you have acquired 40 credits, at what age can you collect social security benefits?
Reduced social security benefits can start as early as age 62 (60 for widows and widowers). Full
benefit age has been 65 for many years, however, for people born in 1938 or later, that age will
gradually increase until it reaches 67 for people born after 1959.
If you have reached retirement age and you’re still working, then what? Can you work while
collecting benefits and is that in your best interest?
- If you have reached full retirement age, you can collect benefits while working and keep your
entire benefit. Because social security benefits are based on your highest wage years, if
your current pay is a high-income year, your benefits may go up. If not, it will stay the same. - If you work while collecting benefits, social security works as follows:
- If you are younger than age 65 and 6 months all year, $1 from each $2 you earn
above $12,000 will be deducted from your benefits. - If you turn 65 and 6 months during 2005, $1 from each $3 of earnings above $31,800
will be deducted from your benefits. - If you are self-employed, count all net earnings income at the time you receive them
unless they were earned before becoming eligible for social security, but not paid until
a year after eligibility. - If you are an employee, only your wages count toward social security’s earnings limits
at the time they are earned, not when they are paid.
Is it wise to begin collecting right away? If you begin collecting benefits before full retirement age,
your benefits are permanently reduced for the length of time you draw them. You will collect less
money annually, but will collect over a longer period of time, depending on how long you live. If you
start to collect benefits at full retirement age, you will receive the full amount for the remainder of
your life. For individuals who have not acquired 40 social security credits and are able to earn the
additional credits needed by working a couple more years, it is almost surely worthwhile to work
until you are eligible. Aside from that situation, retirement planning for individuals will vary
depending on life circumstances; there is no one course of action that applies to everyone.
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