Partial retirement

[scrtywolf]

I’m thinking on reducing my hours by changing jobs for less stress. Can I do partial retirement without losing social security benefits?  

[GailL1]

@scrtywolf 

If you are vested into the Social Security system, you can file for benefits as early as age 62 but your retirement benefits would be reduced and would stay that way.

Log into your Social Security account and it will tell you what your benefits would be at age 62.  It will also give you what it would be if you kept working and earning about the same amount at full retirement age (67) and if you kept working until 70 before filing for benefits.

You can get these early {reduced) retirement benefits but until you are over your full retirement age, there is an annual earnings test - meaning that if your work over the annual earnings test amount, SSA will reduce your benefits  $ 1.00 for every $ 2.00 you go over this limit.  You don’t lose these benefits - they are recalculated into your benefit after you have reached your full retirement age.  The earnings test is recalculated each year - the 2026 limit is $ 24, 480.

SSA.gov Receiving Benefits While Working  

Good Luck in your decision making