Cancel your benefits application (2024)

FAQs

Can I cancel my application for Social Security benefits? ›

You can only cancel your application once and can reapply later. If you've begun receiving payments, you will have to repay the money you and your family received, as well as money we withheld for Medicare premiums, taxes, and garnishments.

Can I withdraw my Social Security retirement claim and reapply later to increase my benefit amount? If you change your mind about receiving benefits, you may be able to withdraw your Social Security claim if it has been less than 12 months since you were first entitled to benefits.

You can complete your application in a single session or start the application now and finish it sometime later without losing the information you entered, by selecting “Return to a Saved Application.”

No, you can't "cancel" Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. The only way that you can voluntarily end SSDI entitlement prior to your full retirement age (FRA) is by withdrawing your original application for SSDI benefits.

Requests for Correction of Information Under Section 515

To seek correction of information related to individual records, benefits, or earnings, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 or contact us.

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.

If you're claiming Social Security retirement benefits, plan on at least six weeks for your application to be processed. However, if your application has incorrect information or the agency is backlogged, it could take up to three months before benefits begin, warns AARP.

You can report your change online, or by calling toll free at 1-800-772-1213. If you're deaf or hearing-impaired call TTY 1-800-325-0778. Mail the information to your local Social Security office or in person if you prefer.

Once Social Security approves your withdrawal, you have 60 days to change your mind and retract the withdrawal request. What if that one-year window has closed? You can no longer withdraw from benefits, but when you reach full retirement age, you can voluntarily suspend your retirement benefits.

If you wish to begin Social Security when you turn 66, the exact day of the month not important. “Full retirement benefits are payable beginning with the month FRA is attained regardless of the day of the month,” explains Stump. In fact, you might even be able to start the month before.

Is it better to apply for Social Security online or in person? ›

The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application.

my Social Security account. On the My Home page scroll down to the Your Benefit Applications section and select View Details under the More Info heading. View your application status in the Current Status section. Check the status of your Social Security application online today!

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefits. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.

You'll have to file what's known as a “withdrawal of benefits” if you want to suspend your Social Security payments and go back to work. You can only do this if you've filed for your retirement benefits within the previous 12 months, however.

The five-year rule for work credits helps people aged 31 and older determine whether they have enough credits to qualify for SSDI. Depending on your income, you can earn up to four credits a year. In 2024, workers earn one Social Security and Medicare credit for $1,730 in covered earnings.

If you're claiming Social Security retirement benefits, plan on at least six weeks for your application to be processed. However, if your application has incorrect information or the agency is backlogged, it could take up to three months before benefits begin, warns AARP.

How Long Does It Normally Take To Get Approved for Social Security Benefits? The Social Security approval process is relatively speedy, but as it is a government program with a huge number of applicants, you can expect to wait 3-5 months before you get your approval for benefits.

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.

It typically takes six weeks for your retirement application to be approved, and several months for your disability or survivors application to be approved. An incomplete application is the most common reason for application delays.