Will working after Full Retirement Age affect my Social Security benefits at 69?

You're good to go! Since you're past your Full Retirement Age (FRA), there's no earnings limit that would reduce your Social Security benefits. The only impact your employment income will have is potentially making part of your SS benefits taxable, as you mentioned. Plus, continuing to work might actually INCREASE your benefit amount if your current earnings are higher than what was used in your original benefit calculation. The SSA automatically recalculates your benefit each year if you continue working.

congrats on waiting til 69! smart move. i filed at 62 and regret it everyday lol

The others are right that there's no penalty for working while collecting once you're past FRA. BUT be aware that if your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds $34,000 filing single or $44,000 filing jointly, up to 85% of your benefits will be subject to federal income tax. Some states tax SS benefits too. It can be a nasty surprise on your tax return if you're not prepared.

Working past FRA actually has a potential BENEFIT that nobody mentioned yet. If you're earning more now than you did in some of your previous 35 highest earning years (which are used to calculate your benefit), the SSA will automatically replace lower-earning years with your higher-earning years. This can bump up your benefit amount slightly. But remember, you're already getting delayed retirement credits for waiting until 69 - that's a 24% increase above your FRA amount!

Try claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone at SSA about this before filing. Saved me 3 hours of hold time when I was trying to figure out a similar issue with continuing to work after starting benefits. They have a great video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

Since you're planning to file in February 2026, just be aware that your first payment would come in March 2026 (SS pays a month behind). Also, if you were born on the 1st through the 10th of your birth month, you'll receive payment on the second Wednesday; 11th-20th paid on third Wednesday; and 21st-31st paid on fourth Wednesday. Your application can be submitted up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin.

my brother kept working after taking ss and didnt get penalized but his taxes went WAYYYYY up be careful especially if ur making good $$$

One quick tip since you're filing at 69: make sure you check if you're eligible for Medicare Part B without a late enrollment penalty. If you've been covered by employer insurance, you should be fine, but if not, you might face penalties for not enrolling at 65. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after employer coverage ends to sign up without penalties.

Based on all the responses, here's a summary for you: 1) No earnings limit after FRA so no benefit reduction, 2) Possible benefit increase if your current earnings replace lower years, 3) Tax implications depending on total income, 4) Check your Medicare enrollment situation. Anything else I missed, folks?

Great summary by everyone! One thing I'd add is to consider the timing of your application. Since you're planning to file in February 2026, you might want to apply in late 2025 (remember you can apply up to 4 months early). This gives you time to resolve any potential issues with your application before your desired start date. Also, if you're still working when you apply, SSA will need your most recent tax return and possibly a pay stub to verify your earnings for the current year. Having these documents ready can speed up the process.

One more thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to work significantly past 69, you might want to consider the impact on your overall retirement tax strategy. Since you'll be getting the maximum delayed retirement credits (132% of your FRA benefit) PLUS potentially higher benefits from continued high earnings, your total retirement income could put you in a higher tax bracket than expected. You might want to consult with a tax professional about strategies like Roth conversions or adjusting your 401k contributions while you're still working. Also, don't forget that once you start collecting SS, you'll need to report any changes in work status to SSA if you go from full-time to part-time or stop working entirely - it won't affect your benefits but they like to keep their records current.

Just want to echo what everyone's saying - you're in a great position! Since you're past FRA, no earnings test applies. I started collecting at 67 while still working and it's been smooth sailing. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much: if you're still contributing to a 401k or other retirement accounts while working and collecting SS, you might want to consider reducing those contributions since you'll have the SS income coming in. This could help with your current cash flow and potentially keep you in a lower tax bracket. Also, if your employer offers HSA contributions, those are still triple tax-advantaged even while on SS. The automatic benefit recalculation really does work - I got a small bump in my monthly payment about 18 months after I started collecting because of continued higher earnings.

Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through this process last year at age 68, I can confirm everything others have said is spot on. The no-earnings-test after FRA is a huge relief compared to the restrictions before FRA. One practical tip I'd add: when you do apply, make sure to set up your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. It makes tracking your application status much easier, and you can also use it to request tax withholding from your benefits right from the start if you're concerned about the tax implications everyone mentioned. Also, the benefit verification letters you can download from there are super helpful for things like mortgage applications or other financial matters where you need proof of SS income. Good luck with your application - you've made smart choices waiting until 69!

One thing that might be helpful as you approach your filing date - consider doing a "practice run" of your monthly budget including your SS benefits before you actually start collecting. Since you'll be getting around 132% of your FRA benefit amount (thanks to those delayed retirement credits!), plus whatever your work income is, it's good to see how that total income affects your overall financial picture. I'd also suggest checking if your employer offers any "phased retirement" options - some companies let you reduce hours gradually while still maintaining benefits, which can be a nice bridge between full-time work and complete retirement. And don't forget that even though there's no earnings limit, you'll still need to report your work income on your annual tax return, so keeping good records throughout the year will make tax time much easier. You're really in an enviable position having waited this long - enjoy those maximum benefits!

As a newcomer here, I'm really impressed by all the detailed and helpful responses! This thread has been incredibly educational. I'm in a somewhat similar situation - turning 66 next year (my FRA) but planning to keep working for a few more years. Reading about Natasha's strategy of waiting until 69 is making me reconsider my timeline. The 132% benefit amount from delayed retirement credits sounds amazing, but I'm curious - for those who waited past FRA, how did you handle the psychological aspect of "leaving money on the table" each month you delayed? Sometimes I worry about the what-ifs, like what if something happens to my health or the program changes. Did anyone else struggle with this decision, or was it pretty clear-cut once you ran the numbers?