Where was I born?

Worthington, Iowa

Yes -- in most cases, the longer you work the higher your Social Security check will be.

Social security benefits are based on your top 35 earning years. Depending on your work history, working past the traditional retirement age could have a significant impact on your Social Security benefit payments. By working longer, you could insure a bigger monthly Social Security check. And, working full or part time after retirement does not impact receiving your benefits after you have reached your "Full Retirement Age" as defined by the Social Security Administration. You can claim full Social Security benefits after you have reached your "Full Retirement Age" and still work full time.

To learn more about what your full retirement age is, visit Find Your Retirement Age on the SSA web site: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm

If you are interested in learning more about how your benefits would be affected if you work and are taking benefits before your "Full Retirement Age," visit Work and Social Security: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/whileworking.htm

You might also want to consider working full or part time as a way to delay the start of Social Security benefits. The longer you delay the start of Social Security up until the age of 70, the bigger your monthly Social Security check will be. Review the Maximum-Taxable Earnings table to see how your Social Security benefits might increase with additional years in work.