Need Extra Income, Retirees?

Increasingly seniors and retirees are turning to part-time jobs. And, the No. 1 reason for unretiring was that people needed the money (48%,) according to an AARP survey. Rising health care costs and inflation were among the top concerns. The survey found that in the past six months 7% of retirees have “unretired,” or re-entered the labor force.

Help with basic expenses

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 38.3% of older Americans are working part time. And the Pew Research Center says part-time income was the third most common source of income for older households (after Social Security and retirement accounts).

“Basic expenses are the number one reason older adults continue to work or job-hunt,” says Carly Roszkowski, Vice President of Financial Resilience Programming at AARP. “With the cost of living still high and many people worried that they don’t have enough saved for retirement, the trend of older adults working longer will likely continue.”

Others seek part-time jobs for the social or emotional benefits. However, the number of respondents to an AARP survey who said they went back to work to stay active came in a distant second, at 14%.

Other Financial – and non-Financial – Benefits

Beside the immediate income, there are other financial benefits of working in retirement. According to Merrill Lynch, you may be able to put off collecting Social Security. (For every year you delay past your full retirement age up until age 70, your benefit will rise by 8%.) Also, you may be able to put off drawing down your retirement savings, allowing your investments more time to grow.

A part time job can also provide social interaction, support your mental health and ward off loneliness. For some retirees who identified strongly with their jobs or careers, it can also renew a sense of purpose.

“I have clients who weren’t necessarily desperate for the income, but they more wanted to stay busy,” says Russell Hackmann, president of Hackmann Wealth Partners in Boston, Massachusetts. “They liked working.

“We do see a lot of people who figure out, as they are retiring, how to work part time, either for their existing employer or for someone else,” he says.

Part Time Examples

Hackmann says one client, a former truck driver, took a part-time delivery job for a local flower shop. “And he’s like, ‘It’s great. I deliver flowers. Most people are happy when they get flowers. And my job is fun, and I do it 20 hours a week. I make a couple of bucks, it keeps me busy, and it’s fun.’”

Another client, a retired judge who was an avid golfer, became a landscaper at a golf course. “He gets there like three or four in the morning, before the golfers arrive. And he loves it. He loves golf and he loves golf courses. He likes to get out there and sweat in the summer, and it’s a fun thing for him to do. So, we see people doing those kinds of things,” he says.

A client who was an electrician now works in the electrical aisle at a Home Depot. “It’s kind of rare for Home Depot to have such experienced electricians like him working in that aisle, so, they love him. His clients love him. He loves it because he’s like, ‘I get to talk to people all day. I’m inside, not freezing or too high (up).’”

Side hustles

There are dozens of side hustles that are well-suited to seniors. But which gigs work best will depend on your circumstances, says Kathy Kristof, founder of SideHusl.com.

“If you have assets, such as your own home and yard, there are dozens of platforms that can help you rent it out in a variety of ways,” she says.

“Naturally, we all know you can rent out a room through Airbnb,” she says. “But, did you know that if you have a free closet or attic space, you can rent that space as storage? Both Neighbor and Stache will help you find renters for a small percentage of your take.

“Got a yard? Sniffspot suggests you rent it by the hour to people looking for a private dog park. Pool? Rent it by the hour through Swimply.”

Kristof says several sites — Giggster, PeerSpace and Avvay — will help you rent your home to movie makers, photographers and event planners. “These hourly rentals can be highly lucrative, paying hundreds of dollars an hour,” she says.

Naturally, it’s smart to check your homeowners and liability insurance to make sure you are covered, just in case.

Watch Out for Scams

Don’t be fooled by the proliferation of scam texts or emails offering big or easy money for certain jobs. These offers can look like they are too good to be true, and most of the time they are. The Philadelphia Corporation For Aging says the top jobs scams targeting seniors are work-from-home scams, nanny/caregiver scams and job placement service scams.

For side hustles – or any venture  –  make sure your clients, tenants or renters are legitimate: verify identities with government-issued IDs,  use background checks if needed, get references, use a lawyer-approved written application or agreement and document every interaction.

Watch for red flags like:

• Refusing background/credit checks
• Offering to pay large amounts upfront to skip screening
• Has inconsistent info (job, address, ID mismatch)
• Pressures you to rush the process
• Won’t meet in person or via video

The Federal Trade Commission has a huge database of information covering money-making scams and frauds – be sure to do your due diligence before taking that gig, tenant, or renter of your property or space.

YOUR TURN

Do you have a side hustle or part time job? Tell us about it in the comments!

 

Rodney A. Brooks is an award-winning journalist and author. The former Deputy Managing Editor/Money at USA TODAY, his retirement columns appear in U.S. News & World Report and Senior Planet.com. He has also written for National Geographic, The Washington Post and USA TODAY and has testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. His book, “The Rise & Fall of the Freedman’s Bank, And Its Lasting Socio-economic Impact on Black America” was released in 2024. He is also author of the book “Fixing the Racial Wealth Gap.” His website is www.rodneyabrooks.com

 

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