How Working Past Age 65 Can Hurt Your Finances

The question that an increasing number of would-be retirees are asking is whether it makes sense for them to continue working after they reach retirement age. Certainly, working after 65 has some positive financial incentives. It means continuing to receive a salary and to increase savings, as well as fewer years living on a fixed income. It also means increasing the amount of money you receive from your social security benefits. But there are also some often overlooked disincentives to working after you turn 65, and retirees need to be aware of all the facts in order to make an informed decision.

If you plan to continue working after age 65 and are covered by health insurance from your work, you might think you don’t need to sign up for Medicare. What you might not know, however, is that not signing up for Medicare at age 65, even if you’re still working, can hurt your finances when you do retire.

In fact, if you don’t sign up for Medicare during the seven months following your 65th birthday, you might find yourself paying 10 percent more for your Medicare Part B premiums after you do retire. And an additional 10 percent is tacked on to your premiums for every year you’re eligible for Medicare but don’t sign up.

You could also find yourself facing a Medicare Part D premium penalty if you don’t enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible. Finally, many retirees who feel they need extra health insurance for the things not covered by Medicare buy private insurance in the form of a Medigap policy. If you don’t purchase such a policy within one month of the time you sign up for Medicare Part B, you might not be able to buy this kind of policy down the road, or you could find yourself paying more for it than you would if you signed up during open enrollment.

You are eligible to begin receiving your social security benefits at age 62, but the monthly benefits you receive are reduced as compared to what you would receive at age 65. For example, someone who is eligible to receive $1,000 in social security benefits at age 65 will see that benefit reduced to $800 at age 62. And your benefits further increase for each month you delay retirement after age 65. In general, your benefits increase by an additional 8 percent for each year you delay retirement.

But delaying retirement past age 65 doesn’t mean lifetime total social security earnings will be increased. That’s because early retirees, though their monthly benefits are less, are receiving those reduced benefits over a longer period.

Equally important, if you begin receiving your benefits but continue to work, social security will withhold a part of your benefits if you exceed established salary limits. For example, the salary limit until the year you turn 66 is $15,720. For any salary in excess of this limit, social security will withhold one dollar for every two dollars you earn. The salary limit increases to $41,880 in the year you turn 66, at which time one dollar for every three dollars earned in excess of this limit will be withheld.

Continuing to work past age 65 might initially appear to be a no-brainer, but it’s important to know all the facts and how these will impact your individual situation before you make this important decision. If after reviewing the facts you still have questions, your best bet is to work with an experienced financial planner who can walk you through the process and create a plan that’s best for you. Here are some other tips to keep your from sabotaging your retirement.