One man who lost his job in his early 60s is transitioning into retirement by working 25 hours a week. A woman who recently got laid off in her 50s worries about her finances if she doesn’t get a new job.

A bumpy transition often awaits people who get laid off or take buyouts late in their careers. For many, the line between working years and retirement starts to blur. It is a growing concern for people with jobs in the federal government or at private companies cutting jobs.