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The Difference Between Retirement Age & Stop Work Age

Your retirement age is the age at which you begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits.

Your stop work age is the age at which you leave the labor force and no longer work. It can affect the amount of your Social Security retirement benefits.

If you stop work before retirement age

Your retirement benefit is based on your 35 years of highest earnings. If you stop work before you have 35 years of earnings, we use a zero for each year without earnings when we do our calculations to determine the amount of retirement benefits you are due. Even if you have 35 years of earnings, some of those years may be low earnings years. Those low earnings years will be averaged in, creating a lower average than if you had continued to work.

If you stop work between age 62 and full retirement age

You can retire before reaching full retirement age and receive reduced benefits. The earliest age you can start receiving retirement benefits is age 62. If you retire when you reach full retirement age, you will receive full retirement benefits.

If you stop work after full retirement age

If you choose to work beyond your full retirement age, you have two options:

  1. You can work and get full retirement benefits no matter how much you earn,

    or

  2. You can delay getting retirement benefits and earn credits that increase your benefit amount.

Social Security Question
 

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Due to overwhelming demand there is now a fee of $10 per email.
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User Feedback:
Thank you so much for your help. It has been a godsend. The information you gave me was priceless. Keep up the good work.
Michael - 9/23/09 


You are a wonderful person, Carol. And many will benifit from your site. You make it all seem so simple. Thank you again, and may God bless you.
Lee G - 8/19/09 


Thank you very much
Sharon H - 7/25/09 


Thank You...I think what your doing to help is wonderful.. Thank you again and God Bless
Danny H - 7/10/09 


Carol, thank you so very much for this info. I have really searched many sources without a straight answer such as yours is. This is an invaluable service you do and I appreciate it so much! The speed with which you answered shows true human concern. Keep up the good work, and best of luck!
Linda H - 6/17/09


Thank you for your rapid response to my social security question...we need running for goverment office perhaps even state represenitive; you certainly would have my vote!!!!! Again Thank You !
Roberta H - 6/12/09 


Thank you Carol for your wonderful service. I think it is a great way to get advice!
Terry B - 6/04/09 


What a maarvelous service you provide. I have shared you website with people at work.
Patti - 5/28/09


What a maarvelous service you provide. I have shared you website with people at work.
Patti - 5/28/09


Carol was genuinely concerned and it showed....Carol is a real gem!!
D. Wiley Bowers - 4/19/09
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Thank you so much, you cannot believe how helpful this information is to me it will help me when I talk to the SS agent. Read More


Thank you so very much for your reply!
Some of this is confusing...and it seems when you ask someone at S.S. you get a different answer than the next person.
I appreciate your answer.
Mrs. Gibson - 10/24/08
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