by Dr. G. A. Anderson

Created on: July 25, 2011   Last Updated: August 13, 2011

Currently, the obstacles faced by retirees regarding Social Security income limits are being dwarfed by other benefit-related concerns. For example, during the United States' debt crisis, more people close to or already receiving Social Security benefits are worried that the Social Security system will be severely downsized or soon will be non-existent if our government can no longer sustain it. Here's hoping that won't happen and that the fears and threats of "checks not going out" will be nothing more than a scare tactic. Still, there are obstacles retirees face resulting from income limits as retirees take on other jobs to supplement income after their official retirement.

Income limits result in a decrease in Social Security benefits when retirees make additional income from part-time work and other endeavors to supplement any income they may have in the form of pensions, investments, and various other types of income for themselves and their families. Many times, retirees actually do not retire completely, but just "change occupations" about the time they should be finished with their working lives. If there are still mortgage payments to be made, high property taxes, higher utility costs, not to mention the various new taxes and higher living costs that loom on the horizon, older folks are finding it a necessity to obtain at least part-time work to fill in the gaps, as a typical Social Security check is far from enough to cover monthly expenses.

Some retirees are fortunate enough to be able to earn an unlimited amount per year in addition to receiving Social Security and do not have their benefits affected. A person born in 1944, for example, is now allowed to work as much as desired without income limits after retiring from a long-time occupation—the unlimited income becoming possible upon reaching full retirement age.

When this is not the case, retirees work with the understanding that the Social Security Administration will be deducting a certain portion of their benefits depending upon their earnings and wages, according to Social Security guidelines. (See "Working And Getting Social Security At The Same Time.") The retiree must then weigh options and decide whether it's worth the time and effort to obtain income from other sources while losing part of their government benefits.

Obstacles include other considerations, too. Some retirees are not ready to take to the rocking chair when a particular date on the calendar rolls around. Many want

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