Can I retire at 55 and work part time?

Asked by: Sheridan Bruen  |  Last update: January 13, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (17 votes)

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However, your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits.

What is the rule of 55 for retirement?

What Is the Rule of 55? Under the terms of this rule, you can withdraw funds from your current job's 401(k) or 403(b) plan with no 10% tax penalty if you leave that job in or after the year you turn 55.

Can you retire but still work part-time?

Yes, you can still work part-time or full-time, but the rules are complicated w/respect to how much you can earn in a year w/o going over the annual amount you receive that year.

Can I retire at 55 and keep working?

Can I take my pension early and continue to work? The short answer is yes. These days, there is no set retirement age. You can continue working for as long as you like and, from the age of 55, access most private pensions in various ways.

What happens to my Social Security if I retire at 55?

However, you unfortunately cannot begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits at 55. The earliest age you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits is 62. But there's a catch – taking Social Security benefits prior to reaching your full retirement age results in a reduction of your benefit amount.

Retire at 55 with the rule of 55

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What is the rule of 55 for Social Security?

However, the IRS rule of 55 may allow you to receive a distribution in the year you reach age 55 or later (and before age 59½) without triggering the early penalty if your plan provides for such distributions. Any distribution would still be subject to an income tax withholding rate of 20 percent, however.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

Is retiring at 55 realistic?

Retiring at an age as young as 55 is a dream for many Americans. However, turning this vision into reality involves some significant financial planning and maneuvering. For example, you'll need to build significant savings, invest your money, account for early withdrawal taxes and take a lot more into consideration.

How much do I lose if I retire early?

If you started paying into your pension at 35 and the pension is based on 1/80 of your final salary, then: retiring at 55 would give 20/80 of final salary. retiring at 65 would give 30/80 of final salary.

How many hours a week can a retired person work?

While there's no universal cap on post-retirement work hours, the number can impact Social Security benefits and taxes, depending on your age and earnings. Retirees under the full retirement age may see a temporary reduction in benefits if their income exceeds certain limits.

What are disadvantages of working part-time after retirement?

In addition to changes to benefits, working in retirement could change the amount you owe in taxes. Social Security benefits might be taxed if a retiree has a combined income over a certain threshold. “Combined income” includes adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest, and half your Social Security benefits.

How much can you make if you retire and still work?

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn and still receive your benefits.

Is there a penalty for retiring at 55?

The rule of 55 is an IRS provision that allows you to withdraw money from your 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan without the 10% early withdrawal penalty if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55.

How much can I withdraw when I turn 55?

Amount you can withdraw from 55

If the savings in your Special Account and Ordinary Account are: $5,000 or less, you can withdraw all your Special Account and Ordinary Account savings. Between $5,000 and your Full Retirement Sum, you can withdraw: $5,000; and.

How much do you lose if you retire at 55?

If you retire at age 55, you probably won't be eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits for several years or be able to withdraw money from your retirement accounts without paying a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Additionally, for most people, Medicare won't kick in for another 10 years.

Can I retire at 55 with no money?

Retiring with little to no money saved is not impossible, but it can present some challenges to your financial plan. Depending on where you're starting from, you may need to delay Social Security benefits, work longer, or drastically reduce expenses to retire with no money saved.

Can you collect unemployment if you are retired?

In many cases, it is possible to collect unemployment benefits and Social Security income at the same time. So, if you're receiving regular Social Security retirement benefits and you lose your job, you may still be eligible for unemployment compensation.

What is flexible retirement?

Flexible retirement, sometimes referred to as phased retirement, is an agreement between the employer and the member to allow the member aged at least 55 to draw all or some of their retirement benefits (pension and lump sum) even though their employment continues.

Can I take early retirement at 55 and still work?

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However, your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits.

What is the happiest age to retire?

On average, 63 is the ideal age for retirement according to both retirees and pre-retirees. While current retirees are hitting close to that mark with an average actual retirement age of 62, there are signs that future retirees could have more difficulty retiring at their ideal age.

Is $2000 a month enough to retire on?

Retiring on $2,000 per month is very possible,” said Gary Knode, president at Safe Harbor Financial. “In my practice, I've seen it work. The key is reducing expenses and eliminating any market risk that could impact your savings if there were a major market downturn.

How many years will $300 000 last in retirement?

How long will $300,000 last in retirement? If you have $300,000 and withdraw 4% per year, that number could last you roughly 25 years. That's $12,000, which is not enough to live on its own unless you have additional income like Social Security and own your own place. Luckily, that $300,000 can go up if you invest it.

How much do I need to retire if my house is paid off?

For example, if you plan to travel frequently in retirement, you may want to aim for 90% to 100% of your pre-retirement income. On the other hand, if you plan to pay off your mortgage before you retire or downsize your living situation, you may be able to live comfortably on less than 80%.