By Bernard Freeman
Retirement is a great opportunity to travel, learn, read, rest and spend time with your family. The last thing you want to think about is going back to work. However, many retirees find themselves heading back into the workforce out of a desire for more career challenges, a way to fill time or a need for money or health insurance in retirement.
As you’re thinking about returning to the workforce for full- or part-time work, consider several questions. Health insurance may be a big factor, according to New Retirement. People who retire before age 65, when Medicare kicks in for all Americans, may find insurance and other out-of-pocket costs eating into their retirement savings, so getting a job that provides health insurance can be the most financially sound option. There are some part-time jobs that offer health insurance, so consider those options as you’re looking at a return to the workforce.
Other people find they have not saved enough money for retirement and need the salary. Determine how much additional money you need each month to determine if you need full- or part-time work. It’s also a good idea to talk to your financial planner to see if you’ll face any tax implications.
In addition to your planner, talk to the Social Security Administration in your area. According to New Retirement, Social Security income could be reduced if you go back to work, depending on what age you were when you retired. Full retirement age is 67 for people born 1960 or later, and if you retire before 67, you will receive less money from Social Security each month. If you retire and go back to work before you reach 67 (or the full retirement age, which may be younger for those born before 1960), Social Security deducts a dollar in benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit, though this is not a permanent change.
Finally, if you have a pension, it could be affected if you go back to work for the same company or organization that you worked during your career. Often, companies will suspend benefits when you get back on their payroll, so check with the company so you don’t get an unpleasant surprise your first month.
