Will switching from six-figure salary to part-time at 60 hurt my future Social Security benefits?

Your husband is mostly right! Social Security uses your highest 35 earning years (indexed for inflation) to calculate your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). If you've worked 40+ years already and your recent years were your highest-earning ones, switching to part-time won't hurt you much if at all. The system is designed to reward your best working years. So if you've been earning six figures for the past 12 years, those earnings are already factored into your calculation. Any years of lower earnings will only affect your benefit if they're among your top 35. And even then, the impact might be minimal. You can check this yourself by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and looking at your earnings record. It will show all your working years and what's being counted.

There's a bit more nuance to it. SS benefits are based on your highest 35 years, but those early years get indexed for inflation before the calculation. So your $25k salary from 1990 might count as $50k+ in today's dollars. Log into MySocialSecurity and look at your "Indexed Earnings" - these are what actually count toward your benefit. Compare your indexed early years with what you'd make part-time now. Also, if you have fewer than 35 years of work, any additional years (even lower-paid ones) HELP your benefit because they replace the $0 years in the calculation.

everyone saying it wont matter is wrong!! my sister went part time for her last 4 years and her SS check is $267 less than what the ssa estimated before she went part time. they dont just use your highest years, thats a MYTH

I actually just went through this exact situation! I was making about $115k and switched to part-time consulting at 61. I'm now 67 and just filed for benefits. The reality? My benefit only decreased by about $40/month from what the SSA estimated before I went part-time. That's because my 35 highest years already included many six-figure years, and the part-time work didn't replace enough of them to make a big difference. More importantly - the QUALITY OF LIFE improvement was enormous. That extra time with family, pursuing hobbies, and reducing stress was worth FAR more than the small benefit reduction. You've worked hard - now enjoy more balance while still keeping some income flowing. Your future self will thank you!

Check with an actual SSA agent. I waited 3 hrs at my local office last month to ask a similar question....... don't just trust randoms on forums!

Sorry but this is kinda a no-brainer...OF COURSE making less money will hurt your benefits!!! The government looks at your whole career. My uncle worked at Boeing for 30 years then did part time security guard work his last 5 years and his SS check is WAY less than his coworkers who stayed full time. Its all about your AVERAGE income over your lifetime!

To add some actual numbers here: Each year of substantially lower earnings that displaces a higher-earning year in your top 35 might reduce your monthly benefit by approximately $10-30, depending on your overall earnings history. So even in a worst-case scenario where ALL 5-7 years of part-time work end up in your top 35 (unlikely if you've already had 12 years of six-figure income), you might see a reduction of about $50-200/month. But that's assuming your part-time earnings would be factored into your top 35 at all. If your earlier years (adjusted for inflation) are lower than what you'd make part-time, then going part-time might not impact your benefit calculation whatsoever. And remember, you get flexibility, less stress, and more free time in exchange. Many people find that trade well worth it.

Don't forget to consider your filing strategy too! Since your husband is older, if his benefit is higher than yours, you might end up taking a spousal benefit anyway (up to 50% of his FRA amount). In that case, your own benefit calculation becomes less relevant. Also, have you thought about delaying your claim until 70? The 8% per year increase between FRA and 70 can offset any small reduction from part-time work. If your husband has already filed, you could file a restricted application for spousal benefits at your FRA, then switch to your own maximum benefit at 70.

all these explanations r so confusing!! just call SSA and ask them directly...but good luck getting someone on the phone lol 😂

One thing nobody's mentioned - working part-time might let you delay claiming Social Security longer, which could MORE than offset any small reduction from lower earnings. Every year you delay claiming between your Full Retirement Age and 70 adds 8% to your lifetime benefit. That's huge! So if part-time work provides enough income to postpone claiming by even a year or two, you could end up with a LARGER monthly benefit despite the reduced earnings.