Yes, you can work full-time and collect a pension, but it depends on your age and specific plan rules. For Social Security, earning over $23,400 (in 2025) before full retirement age (FRA) may temporarily reduce benefits, which are restored at FRA. For private pensions, returning to the same employer might pause payments, while new employers usually allow it.
If you plan to work for a different employer, there are generally no limits on how much you can work. You can work full-time or part-time if you wish. However, if you plan to return to your past employer, you may have limited work options while still collecting the pension.
Once income exceeds $212 a fortnight, the pension reduces by $0.50 for every additional dollar earned. From 20 September 2025, a pensioner couple can earn $380 a fortnight combined and still be eligible for the full pension of $1777 a fortnight, including all supplements.
Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn and still receive your benefits. You work and earn $33,400 ($8,920 more than the $24,480 limit) during the year.
Want to know if you can start taking money from your pension but keep working and saving? The short answer is yes, you can.
The "pension 5-year rule" refers to different IRS rules for retirement accounts (like Roth IRAs needing 5 years for tax-free earnings), beneficiary rules (requiring heirs to empty inherited accounts within 5 years), and specific employment pensions (like Federal or Congressional plans requiring 5 years of service for vesting or benefits). It can also relate to UK pension rules for overseas transfers (QROPS) or breaks in service for public sector workers, preventing tax avoidance or loss of benefits.
No - if you have 10 years or more of service. Once you complete 10 years of pensionable service, you cannot withdraw the pension amount. Instead, you receive a Pension Certificate and can claim a monthly EPS pension after age 58 using Form 10D.
Yes, you can generally collect a pension and Social Security at the same time, thanks to the recent Social Security Fairness Act (2024/2025) that eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), meaning a non-covered public pension won't reduce your full Social Security benefit anymore. You'll receive your pension (from government or private work not paying Social Security tax) and your Social Security benefit (from work where you did pay taxes) as separate payments, with planning crucial to maximize both, especially waiting on Social Security to earn higher amounts.
Note:
Retirees' monthly retirement benefit payments are treated as ordinary income.
Yes, but the rules depend on when you started contributing to your provident fund.
A traditional pension typically lasts for your entire lifetime, providing monthly payments for as long as you live, often with options to extend payments to a spouse after your death, though the actual duration depends on your chosen payout option (like life-only vs. joint survivor) and your longevity. For defined contribution plans (like 401(k)s) or lump-sum pension payouts, the funds last until they run out, influenced by withdrawal rate, investment returns, fees, and inflation, requiring careful planning for a 20-30+ year retirement.
Claiming your pension while working
You can claim your pension while you're working, as long as you've reached: State Pension age, if you're claiming the State Pension. the age agreed with your pension provider, if it's a personal pension or workplace pension.
According to recent data from SmartAsset [1] and AARP [2], here's how retirement income and savings stack up in 2025: Average individual retirement income: $60,000/year or $5,000/month. Median individual retirement income: $47,000/year or $3,900/month. Average retirement income for couples: $100,000/year or $8,300/ ...
You could take your whole pension pot as one lump sum. But 75% of it is taxable in the same way as other income like your salary. So, by taking it all in the same tax year, you could end up with a big tax bill. Plus, you'll need to plan how you're going to provide an income for the rest of your life.
Members can withdraw up to 75% of their balance immediately after job loss and the remaining 25% after one year. Pension withdrawals require 36 months of waiting for continuity benefits.
Your employer may offer a cash payout of your pension upon termination, or may even require you to take it. If so, talk to a tax accountant before accepting any lump sum payments. Most financial advisors will recommend rolling those funds into a retirement plan, such as an IRA.