
To Suspend Benefits Make an oral or written request to the SSA The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. To qualify for most of these benefits, most workers pay Social …Social Security Administration
Should I suspend my Social Security benefits?
- The month after the month of the request.
- Your full retirement age.
- Your month of entitlement to benefits (for initial claims only).
Can you suspend Social Security and restart benefit later?
Prior to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, individuals used to be able to collect Social Security benefits at age 62, suspend benefits, and restart them later. Now, if you collect any time before...
How continuing to work can increase Social Security benefits?
Key Takeaways
- Social Security income is an important source of income for retirees in America.
- The process of applying for Social Security and calculating benefits can be complex.
- Maximizing benefits may mean taking past income and age into account when deciding on when to start benefits.
How to suspend your Social Security benefits?
- Must occur within 12 months of filing for benefits
- The individual may elect this one time only
- All benefits received must be repaid
- Future benefits will be calculated as though the initial filing never occurred

What to know before withdrawing your retirement?
There are a few things to know before deciding to withdraw your application. Anyone else who receives benefits based on your application must consent in writing to the withdrawal. You must repay all the benefits you and your family received from your retirement application. This includes:
What do you do if you are entitled to railroad benefits?
If you are also entitled to railroad or veterans benefits, you should check with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about how your withdrawal affects those benefits. The RRB and the VA make their own determinations and are responsible for their own programs.
What happens if you withdraw from tricare?
Information for TRICARE Beneficiaries. If you have TRICARE and your withdrawal includes your Medicare Part A coverage, you may lose your TRICARE coverage. If you do not withdraw your Medicare Part A coverage, you may need to stay enrolled in Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE coverage.
How many withdrawals can you make per lifetime?
You are limited to one withdrawal per lifetime. If you cannot withdraw your application and you have reached full retirement age but are not yet 70, you can ask us to suspend benefit payments. Learn more about: What Happens When You Withdraw Your Application.
Does Medicare Advantage end?
Your Medicare Advantage enrollment will automatically end if you withdraw from Medicare Part A, Part B, or both. You will no longer be eligible for Medicare Part D if you withdraw from Medicare Part A and Part B. You will pay a penalty if you enroll in Medicare Part D in the future.
Do you pay a penalty if you enroll in Medicare Part D?
You will pay a penalty if you enroll in Medicare Part D in the future. If you keep Part A or Part B, you are still eligible for Medicare Part D. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will handle your future bills for Part B premiums if you decide to keep that coverage.
Does Medicare Part A or B affect Medicare Advantage?
Withdrawing from Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B can also affect your coverage under a Medicare Advantage plan (previously known as Part C) and Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage). Your Medicare Advantage enrollment will automatically end if you withdraw from Medicare Part A, Part B, or both.
What happens if my spouse's SSA 1099 is negative?
If one spouse’s net benefits (Box 5 SSA-1099) is negative, and the other spouse still has current benefits then you will subtract from the spouse’s current benefits to calculate the taxable benefits for the current year.
Do you have to pay back Medicare if you are divorced?
(The one exception is for a divorced spouse.) You must also pay back any Medicare premiums that were withheld and any voluntary tax withholding that came out of your benefit check.
Can a spouse withdraw from spousal benefits?
For example, a spouse who is receiving spousal benefits right now would no longer get those benefits should you withdraw your benefits. Since this would create a loss of income for them, they’ll have to agree to the withdrawal of benefits.
When will Social Security be suspended?
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.
What happens if you suspend Medicare?
If you suspend your retirement benefits: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will bill you for future Part B premiums, if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B ( supplemental medical insurance) .
What happens if you are not 70?
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.
Can a divorced spouse continue to receive retirement benefits?
However, a divorced spouse will be able to continue receiving benefits.
What happens to Social Security if you are suspended?
When you resume collecting Social Security, you’ll have locked in a higher monthly payment for life.
When can I get my Social Security benefits back?
You can ask Social Security to resume payments at any time until you turn 70. If you haven’t done it by then, Social Security will automatically reinstate your benefits in the higher amount.
How to request a suspension of Social Security?
When you resume collecting Social Security, you’ll have locked in a higher monthly payment for life. You can request a suspension by phone, in person at your local Social Security office or in writing.
Can I suspend my Social Security benefits?
Can I suspend Social Security benefits and restart them at a higher value? En español | Yes. If you have reached your full retirement age (the age at which you are entitled to 100 percent of the benefit calculated from your lifetime earnings) but are not yet 70, you can request a suspension of retirement benefits.
Can I collect my wife's Social Security if my husband's Social Security is suspended?
Similarly, you cannot collect spousal benefits on your wife’s or husband’s record if your own retirement payments are suspended. If you have not yet reached full retirement age — currently 66 and 2 months and gradually rising to 67 — the only option for stopping Social Security payments is to apply for a “withdrawal of benefits,” ...
Can you collect family benefits if you are suspended?
A voluntary suspension is for retirement benefits only. There is no such provision for family and survivor benefits. As long as your retirement benefits are suspended, your spouse and children cannot collect family benefits on your work record.
What happens if you restart your 401(k) at age 70?
If you restart it before age 70, it will receive fewer delayed retirement credits, but it will still be larger than it was when you reached full retirement age. Delayed retirement credits are allocated on a monthly basis, but add up to an 8 percent increase per year.
Can you suspend your retirement benefits?
An advantage of suspending, rather than withdrawing your retirement benefit, is that you can, if you need a major cash infusion in the case of an emergency, request all your suspended benefits be repaid in a lump sum. Doing so will entail giving up your delayed retirement credits going forward, however.
Do you have to be disabled to collect widows?
Larry Kotlikoff: Yes, you need to be disabled to collect widows benefits early (indeed, as early as age 50). But since you aren’t disabled, you can’t collect a widows benefit until you reach age 60. However, if you take your widows benefit then, it will be reduced.
Is the earnings test a part of Social Security?
Even for those under full retirement age, the earnings test can be far less of an issue than is commonly believed. The reason is that benefits, be they retirement, spousal, or widow (er) benefits, lost due to the earnings test are subject to what Social Security calls “the adjustment of the reduction factor” or ARF.
Does disability change at full retirement age?
Larry Kotlikoff: At your full retirement age (66 and 10 months), your disability benefit will automatically convert into your retirement benefit unless you withdraw it. Your benefit amount won’t change. The only thing that will change is the name of the benefit.
Will Social Security increase for widows in 2015?
Small Social Security increases expected in 2015. Your widows benefit will then be bumped up at full retirement age (66 in your case) based on any months of benefits lost due to the earnings test. This is done via the adjustment of the reduction factor.
How to suspend Social Security benefits?
To voluntarily suspend your benefits, you will need to submit a signed statement to Social Security. A Benefits Counselor can help you with this process, or you can contact your Social Security Field Office directly.
How to contact Social Security about suspending benefits?
Are in the Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) initial reinstatement period. Please contact 1-800-772-1213 or your local office to learn more about how to request that Social Security suspend your benefits. Please contact 1-800-772-1213 or your local office to learn more about how to request that Social Security suspend your benefits.
What happens if you overpay Social Security?
If you have been overpaid by Social Security, you are responsible for paying it back.
Can you request a suspension of SSDI?
Requesting a suspension of your SSDI benefits. If you realize that you've been overpaid or that you're at risk of being overpaid by Social Security due to your substantial work activity and wages, you may be able to request that your SSDI payments be suspended.
How to notify Social Security of death?
How to Notify Social Security of a Death. The SSA should be notified immediately upon the passing of a beneficiary. Most funeral homes will take care of this on behalf of the surviving family if they provide the late beneficiary’s Social Security number. Ultimately, however, it is the survivor's responsibity to be sure the death is reported as soon ...
When is Social Security paid?
Social Security retirement benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due . For example, a senior’s January benefit is received in February, February’s benefit is direct-deposited in March and so on. It’s important to understand that the SSA only pays benefits for a specific month if the beneficiary was alive for ...
What is prompt notification for SSA?
Prompt notification allows the SSA to cease paying benefits as soon as possible, minimizing the likelihood of confusion over whether a late beneficiary’s last check must be returned or not. If the SSA does happen to make a payment for the month of a beneficiary’s death, it is crucial that it not be spent. If a deceased loved one received their benefits in check form, do not cash any checks for the month of their death or later. Instead, return them to the SSA as soon as possible.
How to report a death to Social Security?
Report a death to Social Security by calling toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by visiting a local Social ...
Do survivors get paid retroactively?
In some cases, survivors benefits are not paid retroactively and a person must gather information and documents to apply, so don’t delay. For more information on survivors benefits and other Social Security programs, visit the SSA website. Sources: How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies ...
Do you have to return a senior's last check to the SSA?
The truth is that a senior’s last check usually must be returned to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
When can I apply for reduced Social Security benefits?
They can apply for reduced benefits as early as age 60, in contrast to the standard earliest claiming age of 62. If the survivor qualifies for Social Security on their own record, they can switch to their own benefit anytime between ages 62 and 70 if that payment would be more.
When does a spouse's benefit automatically convert to a survivor's benefit?
As for benefits available to survivors: If a spouse or qualifying dependent already was receiving money based on the deceased’s record, the benefit will auto-convert to survivors benefits when the government gets notice of the death, Sherman said.
What happens to the checks if someone dies in January?
So if a person dies in January, the check for that month — which would be paid in February — would need to be returned if received. If the payment is made by direct deposit, the bank holding the account should be notified so it can return benefits sent after the person’s death.
Can I use someone else's Social Security after they die?
Using someone else’s Social Security benefits after they die is a federal crime. Funeral homes often alert the government when someone passes away. Depending on the situation, survivors benefits may be available. There is a lot to deal with when a loved one passes away.
Is it a crime to use someone else's benefits after they die?
It may be no surprise that using someone else’s benefits after they die is a federal crime, regardless of whether the death was reported or not. If the SSA receives notice that fraud might be happening, the allegation is reviewed and potentially will warrant a criminal investigation.
