I’m 72. Will Social Security give me more money if I’m working part-time?

MarketWatch

by Alessandra Malito

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

At age 72, if you’ve already started receiving Social Security benefits, working part-time won’t increase your monthly payments. The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings, and once you begin claiming benefits, additional work doesn’t boost your payout. However, there are nuances to consider depending on when you started collecting. For individuals who haven’t yet reached their full retirement age (FRA), working part-time can potentially increase Social Security benefits if it leads to higher earnings in the calculation years. For those over FRA, like 72, continuing to work doesn’t affect benefit amounts because they’ve already secured their maximum payout based on lifetime contributions. Understanding how Social Security benefits are determined is crucial for financial planning. If you’re working part-time and have started receiving benefits, it’s important to know that your earnings won’t boost your payments once you’ve begun claiming. However, if you haven’t reached FRA yet, additional work could still contribute to higher future benefits by enhancing your earnings record. This matters because many retirees rely on Social Security as a significant income source. Knowing how part-time work impacts your benefits can help you make informed decisions about your retirement strategy and maximize your financial security in later years.

Verticals

financemarkets

Originally published on MarketWatch on 2/21/2026