What Is the Rule of 55? Under the terms of this rule, you can withdraw funds from your current job's 401(k) or 403(b) plan with no 10% tax penalty if you leave that job in or after the year you turn 55. (Qualified public safety workers can start even earlier, at 50.)
If you're younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full Social Security benefits. If you're younger than full retirement age during all of 2025, we must deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $23,400.
The short answer is yes. These days, there is no set retirement age. You can continue working for as long as you like and, from the age of 55, access most private pensions in various ways. You may also be able to draw your state pension while continuing to work.
As to how many hours you can work and still collect Social Security, this will obviously depend on your hourly wage. For example, if you earn $20 per hour, you can work 1,170 hours per year before your Social Security benefits are reduced, assuming you haven't yet reached full retirement age.
You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefits. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.
However, you unfortunately cannot begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits at 55. The earliest age you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits is 62. But there's a catch – taking Social Security benefits prior to reaching your full retirement age results in a reduction of your benefit amount.
After five years of service, employees become vested and are therefore eligible to receive a retirement allowance.
Vesting Years of ServiceAge 5 Years 65 10 Years 62 30 Years Any Age
Age may be just a number, but that number matters when it comes to retiring. The common definition of early retirement is any age before 65 — that's when you may qualify for Medicare benefits. Currently, men retire at an average age of 64, while for women the average retirement age is 62.
US federal jobs have a vesting period of 5 years, not 10. You would be able to start drawing from it at age 62. However, I agree with everyone else on here saying that it's a risky move to give up a state job and switch to federal in the current political climate.