Retired Early and Hating It? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Hesitate to Go Back to Work.

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Many individuals aspire to retire early, and if you’ve been diligent with your savings during your working years, it could be a goal within reach for you.

From my perspective, it’s not automatically a success story for everyone choosing early retirement. If, by any chance, early retirement doesn’t bring you joy, there’s nothing stopping you from rejoining the workforce again. Let me share some insights as to why.

1. You can still collect Social Security

It’s common to believe that when you begin receiving Social Security payments, you can no longer earn an income from employment or your benefits will be reduced. However, this isn’t always the case.

If you start getting Social Security benefits prior to reaching your full retirement age, there’s a possibility that your earnings will be subject to an income limit. Exceeding this limit might lead to withholding of some or all of your Social Security payments. However, the specifics can vary based on the nature of your job and the hours you work, so it may not always result in withholdings.

In 2025, the amount you can earn before Social Security deductions increase is as follows: For every $2 earned above $23,400, your Social Security benefits will be reduced by $1. If you are reaching full retirement age this year, for each dollar earned over $62,160, your Social Security benefits will be decreased by $1 for every $3.

If you prefer not to retire early and instead opt for part-time work that brings home $1,900 each month, you’ll be able to receive your entire salary and also take advantage of your full Social Security benefits.

In other words, when we say “lose” here, it doesn’t mean to forfeit or give up, but rather to temporarily miss out on benefits. However, once you reach your full retirement age, those withheld benefits will be returned to you in the form of increased monthly payments.

2. You might enjoy huge savings on healthcare

If you’ve decided to retire before reaching Medicare eligibility, it might mean shelling out a significant chunk of change for a decent health insurance plan. However, if you choose to return to work, even part-time, the job you secure could potentially offer health insurance benefits. The potential savings here could be substantial!

This setup is worth pondering if, following an early retirement, you’re depleting your savings faster than anticipated. Acquiring health coverage to bridge the gap until Medicare eligibility at 65 could help you conserve your savings significantly – thereby alleviating some financial strain.

3. It could be the best move for your mental health

It might appear that early retirement is a blissful state – until you find yourself feeling listless and restless more often than not. If your experience of early retirement falls short of your expectations, remember it’s perfectly fine to admit this. Moreover, if you feel that continued mental stimulation through work would benefit you, there’s no reason to hold back from pursuing such an option.

Retirement doesn’t always mean solitude, even if you have a companion. Some individuals deeply value social connections and interaction, and this desire is perfectly valid. If retirement isn’t meeting your emotional needs, it’s essential to be honest about it and make adjustments accordingly.

It’s great to have the ability to retire early, but it’s equally okay to return to work later on. You might even discover that continuing to work, in some form or another, is the best decision for you in the long run.

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2025-07-17 14:09