Can I cancel my Social Security retirement application after it's in progress? Need to delay filing

Yes, you can definitely withdraw your application! You need to submit form SSA-521 (Request for Withdrawal of Application) before you receive your first payment. There's no penalty for withdrawal at this stage since you haven't received any benefits yet. Just be aware that if you later decide to file again, your benefit amount will be calculated based on your age at that time. The longer you wait (up to age 70), the higher your monthly benefit will be due to delayed retirement credits - approximately 8% more per year after FRA.

my brother tryed to do the same thing last year, had to fill out some form cant remember the number. sucks cause he already got his first payment so he couldnt do it. good thing u catching it early

BE CAREFUL!!! The SSA-521 form is the right answer BUT you need to make sure it's received and processed BEFORE your first payment hits your bank account!!! I missed the deadline by 2 DAYS and had to keep my benefit amount even though it was hundreds less than if I had waited until 70. Make sure you get a receipt or confirmation number when you submit it!!!!

I thought you could withdraw your application anytime within the first 12 months of receiving benefits? That's what the lady at my local office told me when I was thinking about delaying my benefits. You just have to pay back whatever you already received.

I went through exactly this situation last year. Here's what you need to do: 1. Download Form SSA-521 from ssa.gov or pick one up at your local office 2. Fill it out - be sure to clearly state your reason for withdrawal (future higher benefit amount is valid) 3. Submit it ASAP - I recommend taking it to your local office in person if possible In my experience, the withdrawal was processed within about 3 weeks. I reapplied 9 months later and my monthly benefit is $312 higher than it would have been. Absolutely worth the hassle! Just make sure you submit the form before your first payment arrives.

I tried calling SSA for weeks about a similar issue and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much time and frustration when I needed to check on my withdrawal status. Much better than trying to reach them directly.

JUST BE SURE TO DO THIS RIGHT AWAY!!! I can't stress this enough!!! SSA is VERY slow to process paperwork and if your first payment goes through before they process your withdrawal request, you're STUCK with that benefit amount FOR LIFE unless you repay EVERYTHING within 12 months!!! DON'T WAIT!!!

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I've downloaded the SSA-521 form and will be taking it to my local office tomorrow morning. I'm definitely going to try to withdraw before any payments start. I'm now convinced waiting until 68 or maybe even 70 will be much better for my long-term finances. I'll update here after I submit the form in case it helps someone else in the future.

make sure u get a receipt when u submit the form! my uncle didn't and they said they never got it and he had to start the whole process over

As someone who works in retirement planning, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered here. First, Diego, you're making a smart financial decision by considering withdrawal - the delayed retirement credits are substantial. Second, while everyone's mentioned the SSA-521 form, I'd also recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 immediately to put a verbal hold on processing while you submit the paperwork. This creates a paper trail and can buy you extra time. Third, consider your health and family longevity when deciding whether to delay until 68, 69, or 70 - the break-even point is usually around age 82-84. Finally, if you're still working, make sure you understand how earned income might affect your benefits if you do decide to file before your full retirement age in future years.

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago and successfully withdrew my application! Here's what worked for me: I called the SSA hotline first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) to get through faster and explained my situation. The representative actually put a temporary hold on my application processing while I submitted the SSA-521 form. I then hand-delivered the form to my local office the same day and got a stamped receipt. The whole withdrawal was confirmed within 2 weeks. One tip nobody mentioned - if you're planning to reapply later, keep all your original application documents because you'll need most of the same information again. The peace of mind knowing I'll get significantly more per month when I do file at 70 was totally worth the temporary hassle. You're making a smart financial move!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I submitted my application about 3 weeks ago and have been having second thoughts about not waiting until 70. Reading everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to follow Diego's lead and withdraw my application too. The math on those delayed retirement credits is just too compelling to ignore, especially since I'm in good health and still enjoying my work. Has anyone here actually made it all the way to 70 before filing? I'm curious about the real-world experience of waiting that long versus the theoretical benefits we keep reading about. Also, for those who successfully withdrew - did you feel any pressure from SSA staff to just stick with your original application, or were they pretty neutral about the whole process?

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I filed my application about 6 weeks ago and have been second-guessing myself ever since. My financial advisor actually recommended I consider withdrawing since I'm still working and healthy. The delayed retirement credits really do add up - I calculated that waiting until 70 would increase my monthly benefit by almost $600 compared to filing at my FRA. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that you might also want to consider how this affects your taxes. Delaying benefits while still working can sometimes put you in a better tax situation later, especially if your current earnings are pushing you into a higher bracket. I'm planning to submit my SSA-521 form next week after reading all these success stories. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's made this decision much clearer!