Retirees are going back to work, either by choice or necessity: Readers weigh in

Rising prices and economic turmoil are sending many retirees back into the workforce.

Sure, there are lucky folks who choose to go back to work after they’ve completed their home projects or burned through all the hobbies they’d been waiting to try. But for millions, economic need leaves them with little choice.

My recent column on “unretiring” drew some 1,400 comments about the hardships of making ends meet, the merits of going back to work, or why you’re grateful you haven’t had to.

The following is an edited sample of those comments, and my take on them. Feel free to weigh in, of course, in the comments section at the end of this sequel.

More older Americans are rejoining the workforce, often out of financial need due to failure to properly plan for retirement.

Inflation is too high and [the] interest rates retired people are getting on their CDs is too low.

Kerry: Inflation is creating headwinds for retirees. But in one regard, it might help. The latest inflation reading showing prices soaring due to the Iran war should mean a bigger increase in Social Security benefits next year.

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will increase to 3.9% in 2027, up from this year’s 2.8%, according to a new estimate from the Senior Citizens League. That means the average benefits check for retired workers would increase by $81.17, from $2,081.16 to $2,162.33.