If you think that once someone claims their Social Security benefits it means they’ve stopped working, think again. Recent research shows that retirement is more complicated than that.
The study from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College analyzed data on thousands of people who were tracked from age 56 through 75 as part of the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study.
The researchers found that roughly 40% of people work at some point after claiming their Social Security benefits, often for several years and earning meaningful income. The study also shows that people who work after claiming fall into two distinct camps.
The folks in the first group — about 29% of all individuals — claim benefits as early as possible, typically at age 62, and work part time afterward.
For these workers, Social Security helps supplement significantly reduced earnings. Their median income drops from around $38,700 at age 56 to just $16,500 three years after claiming, and Social Security doesn’t fully make up the difference.
These early claimers are less likely to have college degrees or hold professional jobs, which makes continuing to work at full capacity more difficult, as the researchers note in a summary of the findings:
“Two-thirds of these worker-beneficiaries rely on Social Security to supplement reduced earnings and may have limited capacity to delay claiming.”
Folks in the second group — 13% of all individuals — typically claim near full retirement age and continue working full time.
Their combined income from work and Social Security actually exceeds what they earned before claiming, suggesting they have more financial flexibility and could potentially benefit from delaying their claim even further.
Don’t forget taxes
What many retirees may not realize is that working after claiming doesn’t just affect their current income. It can also trigger taxes on Social Security benefits or push them into a higher tax bracket.
The federal government taxes Social Security benefits based on what the government calls your “combined income,” which includes your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits.
If you’re filing individually and your combined income exceeds $25,000, up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable. That holds true for those filing jointly with combined income above $32,000.
For the higher earners who continue working full time after claiming, the tax burden can be substantial. Even for part-time workers, the additional income could mean paying taxes on benefits for the first time.
Learn more in “The 2026 Social Security Bump Will Cost Some Retirees. Are Your Benefits at Risk of Taxation?.”
Smarter retirement planning
The Center for Retirement Research study’s authors, Siyan Liu and Laura D. Quinby, emphasize that understanding who works after claiming is crucial for retirement planning — and for policymakers considering changes to Social Security.
If you’re in your 50s or 60s and facing health challenges or limited job options, claiming early and working part time might be your reality. But if you’re still working full time with solid earnings, delaying your claim could mean significantly higher monthly benefits for life.
For most people, working after claiming lasts about five years before tapering off significantly. The pattern has remained consistent over the past two decades, suggesting it’s not just a temporary trend.
The bottom line is that claiming Social Security doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done working, and that’s not necessarily a problem. The key is understanding which group you’re likely to be in and planning accordingly.
Read more about how to boost your monthly benefits in “14 Moves to Maximize Your Social Security Checks You’ll Regret Not Making Sooner.”
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