The typical retired worker on Social Security today collects about $23,000 a year. For many people, this income is simply not enough to live comfortably. So you may be considering supplementing your monthly Social Security checks with income from a part-time job.

Even if you’re not struggling financially, there are benefits to working in retirement. On the one hand, it’s a reason to get out of the house. Additionally, many retirees do not enjoy the social interactions that come with working in a workplace. Returning to work in some form could be a boon to your mental health if it gives you access to people to talk to.

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Now you should know that if you collect Social securityyou are not prohibited from taking up paid employment. But if you’re not careful, this job could cause you to lose some of your Social Security checks.

You need to know the rules

Once you have reached full retirement ageyou can earn any amount of money from a job without having to worry about the impact on your Social Security benefits. On the contrary, income from a job could booster your monthly benefits if they are counted towards your 35 highest paid years of income. But this is a positive advantage, not a negative one.

However, if you choose to work and collect Social Security before you reach full retirement age, you will be subject to an income cap. And going over that limit could result in some of your Social Security benefits being withheld.

Social Security income limits change every year. But here’s what you need to know for 2025.

• If you haven’t reached full retirement age and won’t reach it any time next year, your earnings limit is $23,400. Beyond that, you’ll have $1 of Social Security withheld for every $2 of income.
• If you have not reached full retirement age at the start of 2025 but will reach it at some point next year, your income limit is $62,160. From there, you’ll have $1 of Social Security withheld for every $3 of income.

You should be aware, however, that benefits withheld are not the same as benefits lost. Once you reach full retirement age, withheld benefits are added back to your Social Security checks.

However, if your goal in remaining employed is to improve your financial situation, you may not achieve this if your income reaches the point where your Social Security income is withheld to some extent. You will therefore need to be aware of the limits of the income tests and adjust your working hours accordingly if necessary.

A gesture worth doing

Working as a retiree has many benefits, and you shouldn’t necessarily avoid maintaining a job due to the aforementioned restrictions. The reality is that you have plenty of room to earn money through employment in 2025 without risking being denied part of your Social Security. So there’s no reason not to look for a job if you think working makes sense for you for one reason or another.