Working after 60 in New Jersey: jobs, training and your rights

Plenty of New Jerseyans keep working after 60. Some need the income. Others want structure, purpose or a reason to get out of the house. Whatever your reason, a paycheck after 60 comes with its own rules on Social Security, Medicare and taxes. This guide walks through job ideas, free training programs, your legal rights and the money questions to settle before you say yes to an offer.

What kinds of work fit well after 60?

The best fit is usually work that uses skills you already have, on a schedule you control. A few ideas that suit New Jersey well:

• Seasonal Shore jobs. Beach towns hire for summer in retail, hospitality, beach badge checking and visitor services. Start asking in early spring.
• Holiday retail and warehouse work. Stores and distribution centers hire extra help from October through December.
• Poll worker. New Jersey pays poll workers $300 for Election Day and $21.43 an hour on in-person early voting days. You must be a registered voter in your county. Apply through the New Jersey Division of Elections or call 609-292-3760.
• Substitute teaching. New Jersey's substitute credential requires 30 college credits, a sponsoring district, a criminal history check and a $125 application fee, according to the NJ Department of Education.
• Tutoring, coaching and library or museum work. Retired teachers, accountants and tradespeople are often in demand for part-time roles.
• Consulting for your old field. Former employers sometimes bring retirees back on contract for busy seasons or special projects.
• Caregiving and companion work. Home care agencies hire companions and aides. Some roles need training or certification.

New Jersey's minimum wage rose to $15.92 an hour for most employees on January 1, 2026. Seasonal and small employers pay at least $15.23.

What is SCSEP, and who runs it in New Jersey?

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federal program that pays older, low income job seekers to train in part-time community service jobs. Participants work at nonprofits and public agencies while they build skills and look for a regular job.

Who qualifies?

According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), you must be:

• At least 55 years old
• Unemployed
• Living on family income no higher than 125% of the federal poverty level

Priority goes to people 65 and older, veterans and eligible spouses, people with disabilities, people with limited English or low literacy, rural residents, and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, among others. NJDOL says participants train an average of 18 hours a week and are paid minimum wage.

Who runs it here?

In New Jersey, SCSEP is offered by several organizations:

• NJDOL's WorkForce 55+ program runs SCSEP through One-Stop Career Centers in many counties, including Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Sussex and Union. County phone numbers are on the WorkForce 55+ page.
• Easterseals New Jersey runs SCSEP in Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties. Call 1-888-480-1527.
• PathStone runs a SCSEP office in Vineland.

The AARP Foundation runs SCSEP in many states, but its office locator did not list any New Jersey sites when we checked. Its Work Resources Helpline, 1-855-850-2525, can tell you which provider serves your area.

Where can I get free job search help?

New Jersey's public job centers are called One-Stop Career Centers. You may also see them called American Job Centers, the federal name for the same network. They are free and open to job seekers of any age.

Staff can help you with:

• Updating a resume that may list decades of experience
• Learning job search websites and online applications
• Free online skills courses
• Training grants, if you qualify
• Older worker services and referrals to SCSEP

Find your nearest center and request an appointment through NJDOL Career Services. Your public library is another good stop. Many New Jersey libraries offer free computer help and resume workshops. See our guide to learning something new for classes that can refresh your skills.

What are my rights if I face age bias?

Two laws protect older workers in New Jersey.

The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

The ADEA protects workers and job applicants who are 40 or older. It applies to employers with 20 or more employees. It covers hiring, firing, pay, promotions, training and layoffs. You generally have 180 days to file a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and state law can extend that window.

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)

The LAD also bans age discrimination at work, and it reaches many employers too small for the federal law. Until 2021, the LAD let employers refuse to hire or promote people over 70. A law signed on October 5, 2021, removed that exception, so workers over 70 now have the same protection as everyone else.

You can file a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights within 180 days of what happened. Call 1-833-653-2748 (1-833-NJDCR4U) or file online. You can also go to Superior Court within two years, but you cannot pursue both at the same time.

How do earnings affect Social Security before full retirement age?

If you collect Social Security before your full retirement age and keep working, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may hold back some benefits. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. This is called the earnings test.

Your situation in 2027	Earnings limit	What SSA withholds
Under full retirement age all year	$25,560	$1 for every $2 above the limit
Reaching full retirement age in 2027	$67,920	$1 for every $3 above the limit, counting only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age
At or past full retirement age	No limit	Nothing

Say you are 63, living in Cherry Hill, and collecting $1,500 a month. You take a job paying $35,560 in 2027. That is $10,000 over the limit, so SSA would withhold $5,000 of your benefits for the year. SSA usually does this by holding back full monthly payments until the amount is covered.

That money is not gone for good. Once you reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your monthly benefit to credit the months it held back. Report your expected earnings to SSA so you are not hit with an overpayment notice later. Call 1-800-772-1213 or use your my Social Security account.

Benefits are rising 3.6% in January 2027. Read more in our Social Security 2027 guide.

Medicare and taxes: what changes when you keep working?

Medicare

If you work past 65 and have health coverage through your job, your employer's size matters.

• 20 or more employees: You can usually delay Part B without a penalty. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after you or your spouse stop working or the coverage ends.
• Fewer than 20 employees: Medicare usually pays first. Your job coverage may not pay for services unless you have both Part A and Part B. Sign up on time.

The Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Before you decide, call New Jersey's free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-792-8820. Our turning 65 guide covers enrollment step by step.

Taxes

• Federal tax on Social Security. Wages can push more of your benefit into taxable income. Benefits may be taxed if your combined income is above $25,000 for individuals or $32,000 for joint filers.
• New senior deduction. For tax years 2025 through 2028, people 65 and older can take an extra $6,000 federal deduction ($12,000 for a couple if both qualify). It shrinks for incomes above $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.
• New Jersey income tax. New Jersey does not tax Social Security benefits. Your wages are taxable, and working can affect some state retirement income exclusions. Check the NJ Division of Taxation's retirement guide or ask a tax preparer.
• Property tax relief. Earned income counts toward the income limits for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ. See our property tax relief guide.

Thinking about starting a small business?

Many people turn a lifetime of skills into a consulting practice, a craft business or a small service company. Two free resources can help New Jersey residents get started.

• SCORE New Jersey. SCORE pairs you with a volunteer business mentor, free for the life of your business. New Jersey has six chapters: Central Jersey, Metro NJ, Monmouth, Northeast NJ, Northwest New Jersey and Princeton. Request a mentor at score.org/nj or call 1-800-634-0245.
• America's SBDC New Jersey. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center network offers no-cost, one-on-one consulting, with its state office at Rutgers Business School in Newark. Visit njsbdc.com or call 973-353-1927.

Before you launch, ask a mentor about business registration, self-employment tax and how business income counts toward the Social Security earnings test.

Common questions

How much can I earn in 2027 without losing Social Security benefits?

If you are under full retirement age all year, SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $25,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, it withholds $1 for every $3 above $67,920, counting only earnings before that month. After full retirement age there is no limit.

Does AARP run SCSEP in New Jersey?

AARP Foundation's locator did not list New Jersey offices when we checked. In New Jersey, SCSEP is offered by NJDOL's WorkForce 55+ program, Easterseals New Jersey and PathStone. AARP Foundation's helpline at 1-855-850-2525 can point you to a provider.

Can an employer refuse to hire me because I am over 70?

No. A 2021 change to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination removed the exception that once allowed employers to refuse to hire or promote people over 70.

Do I need Medicare Part B if I am still working?

If your employer has 20 or more employees and you have group coverage through the job, you can usually delay Part B without penalty. If the employer has fewer than 20, Medicare usually pays first, so you generally need Parts A and B. Call SHIP at 1-800-792-8820 for free advice.

Where can I get free help with a job search?

New Jersey's One-Stop Career Centers, also called American Job Centers, offer free resume help, workshops and training referrals. Start at nj.gov/labor/career-services.

This guide is for general information. Program rules and income limits change, so confirm with the official source before you apply.