Benefits Planner: Retirement | Suspending Your Retirement Benefit Payments (2024)

If you have reached full retirement age, but are not yet age 70, you can ask us to suspend your retirement benefit payments. By doing this, you will earn delayed retirement credits for each month your benefits are suspended which will result in a higher benefit payment to you.

If you qualify for benefits as a Survivor, your full retirement age may be different.

Before you make a request to suspend your benefits, keep in mind that:

  • If you apply for benefits and we have not yet made a determination that you are entitled, you may voluntarily suspend benefits for any month you have not received a payment.
  • If you are already entitled to benefits, you may voluntarily suspend retirement benefit payments up to age 70. Your benefits will be suspended beginning the month after you make the request.
  • We pay Social Security benefits the month after they are due. If you contact us in June and request that we suspend benefits, you will still receive your June benefit payment in July.
  • You do not have to sign your request to suspend benefit payments. You may ask us orally or in writing.
  • If your benefit payments are suspended, they will automatically start again the month you reach age 70.
  • If you change your mind and want the payments to start before age 70, just tell us when you want your benefits reinstated.
  • Voluntary suspension begins no earlier than the month after the month of the request. We may accept advance requests for voluntary suspension; however, suspension cannot begin earlier than:
    • The month after the month of the request.
    • Your full retirement age.
    • Your month of entitlement to benefits (for initial claims only).
  • If you voluntarily suspend your retirement benefit and you have others who receive benefits on your record, they will not be able to receive benefits for the same period that your benefits are suspended. However, a divorced spouse will be able to continue receiving benefits.
  • If you voluntarily suspend your retirement benefit, any benefits you receive on someone else’s record will also be suspended. Your Medicare Part B premiums cannot be deducted from your suspended benefits.
  • If you request voluntary suspension we will only permit benefit reinstatement the month after your request.

For more information on voluntary suspension, read the Filing Rules for Retirement and Spouses Benefits.

Before You Make Your Decision

If you suspend your retirement benefits:

These premiums can’t be deducted from your suspended retirement benefits, or your suspended spouse or ex-spouse’s benefits. If you do not pay the premiums timely, you may lose your Part B Medicare coverage. (You will have the option of automatically paying the bill from an account at your bank or financial institution.)

  • If you also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, suspending your retirement benefits will make you ineligible for SSI.
Benefits Planner: Retirement | Suspending Your Retirement Benefit Payments (2024)

FAQs

Benefits Planner: Retirement | Suspending Your Retirement Benefit Payments? ›

The SSA will suspend benefit payments beginning the month after an individual makes the request. If your client suspends benefit payments, they will automatically start again the month he reaches age 70—or sooner if he requests they restart prior to age 70.

How do I find out my retirement benefit amount? ›

Your retirement benefit is calculated using a formula with three factors: Service credit (Years) multiplied by your benefit factor (percentage per year) multiplied by your final monthly compensation equals your unmodified allowance.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security benefits? ›

The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

How are retirement benefits paid out? ›

The retiree may transfer the account balance into an individual retirement account (IRA) from which the retiree withdraws money, or may receive it as a lump sum payment. Some plans also offer monthly payments through an annuity.

Do you get back pay for retirement benefits? ›

If you file six months or more past full retirement age, you can get up to six months in back benefits.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Is it better to collect Social Security at 62 or 67? ›

The earliest age at which most people can take Social Security retirement benefits is typically 62, but those payments are normally reduced because people usually aren't entitled to 100% of their benefits until 67. People who wait until 70 to retire can receive 124% of their benefits.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed? ›

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

How much will I get from Social Security if I make $30,000? ›

The general rule is that Social Security benefits replace about 40% of pre-retirement income. With $30,000 in annual income, that means you could receive an estimated $12,000 per year in Social Security payments, without adjusting for inflation.

Why are Americans getting $4800 from Social Security? ›

The fundamental goal of $4800 social security payment 2024 is to help citizens cope up with increased cost of living. No matter what all benefits you are receiving, this retirement check is yours. All those people who get their Social Security benefits 2024 every month are also getting these checks.

Who gets the last Social Security payment after death? ›

A surviving spouse, surviving divorced spouse, unmarried child, or dependent parent may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits based on the deceased worker's earnings. In addition, a one-time lump sum death payment of $255 can be made to a qualifying spouse or child if they meet certain requirements.

What is the 5 year rule for Social Security? ›

The Social Security five-year rule is the time period in which you can file for an expedited reinstatement after your Social Security disability benefits have been terminated completely due to work.

Do you get paid monthly after retirement? ›

The Social Security Retirement benefit is a monthly check that replaces part of your income when you reduce your hours or stop working altogether. It may not replace all your income so it's best to identify other ways to pay for your monthly expenses as you age.

How many years do you have to work to get retirement benefits? ›

Overview. Service credit is the time you accrue while on the job under a CalPERS-covered employer. The minimum retirement age for service retirement for most members is 50 years with five years of service credit. The more service credit you have, the higher your retirement benefits will be.

How often are retirement benefits paid? ›

Benefits are paid at the beginning of the month for the previous month's benefits. For tax reasons, your December retirement check is always dated the first day of the new year. The State Controller's Office issues checks and determines mailing dates.

When a husband dies, does his wife get his Social Security? ›

Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children.

What is the average Social Security check at age 67? ›

Based on recently released data from the SSA's Office of the Actuary, the average retired-worker beneficiary aged 67 was bringing home $1,883.50 in December 2023, or about $22,602 on an annualized basis.

What is the highest Social Security payment? ›

The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,822 per month in 2024. It's $4,873 per month in 2024 if retiring at age 70 and $2,710 if retiring at age 62. A person's Social Security benefit amount depends on earnings, full retirement age and when they take benefits.

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