Can I delay my Social Security start date after applying? Just submitted application Dec 31

Yes, you absolutely can change your start date! You have several options since you haven't received any payments yet. The easiest is to call SSA and request to change your benefit start month. You can push it back as far as you want up to age 70. Since you filed for age 65, changing to 67 will increase your monthly amount by about 16% due to delayed retirement credits. Alternatively, you can formally withdraw your application (Form SSA-521) if you want to completely restart later, but simply changing the start date is easier if that's all you need.

you can change it but good luck getting thru to anybody. took me 7 calls and getting disconnected everytime. finally got someone after waiting 3 hrs on hold total. they kept saying "unexpectedly high call volume" yeah right its ALWAYS high

Glad you caught this before payments started! My brother-in-law had the same situation last year. He wanted to change his start date after applying. He tried calling for three weeks and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours.

I DID THE EXACT SAME THING!! Applied in November, supposed to start next month, but now I want to wait. Called SSA three times and each time waited over an hour before giving up. The online account doesnt let you change the start date yourself which is SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Why make an online system if it cant do basic things????

You have until your first payment is issued to change your start date without filing a formal withdrawal. After you receive your first payment, you'd be limited to the 12-month withdrawal option (Form SSA-521) which requires repaying any benefits received. I worked as a claims specialist at SSA for 12 years, and this was a common situation. Call the national number (800-772-1213) and specifically request to change your month of entitlement (MOE) - that's the technical term they use internally. If you get a representative who seems unsure, politely ask to speak with a technical expert or claims specialist.

my cousin just went through this exact thing last month! she applied online then changed her mind. she said they told her she has until her first payment posts to make changes otherwise she'd have to do the whole withdrawal thing which sounds complicated. good luck!

Just to follow up on this - changing your start date from 65 to 67 is definitely worth the hassle. Each year you delay past your full retirement age (which is 67 for those born in 1960 or later) increases your benefit by 8%. So waiting those two years could mean roughly 16% more in monthly benefits for the rest of your life. That can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Don't give up on reaching SSA to make this change!

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This is such a common situation and you handled it perfectly by catching it before any payments were issued. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, I'd recommend also checking if your local SSA office offers appointments - sometimes that can be faster than the phone lines. The face-to-face service can be really helpful for complex changes like this. Also worth noting that you can delay benefits all the way up to age 70 for maximum delayed retirement credits if your financial situation allows for it. Great job advocating for yourself and not giving up on those phone calls!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually in a similar situation - I'm 64 and was thinking about applying for early benefits but after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm reconsidering. The math on delayed retirement credits is really compelling. @Sean Kelly, I'm so glad you got it resolved! For anyone else dealing with SSA phone wait times, I've found that calling right at 8am when they open (in your local time zone) sometimes works better than later in the day. Also, if you have a My Social Security account online, you can at least track the status of your application while you're waiting to get through by phone. The system may not let you make changes online, but at least you can see where things stand.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been navigating Social Security decisions myself, I wanted to add that it's also worth considering your health status and family longevity when deciding whether to delay benefits. While the delayed retirement credits are mathematically attractive (8% per year until age 70), the break-even point is usually around age 78-80. If you're in good health with family history of longevity, waiting can be very beneficial. However, if you have health concerns, sometimes taking benefits earlier makes more sense despite the reduced amount. Also, don't forget to factor in spousal benefits if you're married - delaying your own benefits can increase the survivor benefit for your spouse. The decision isn't just about maximizing your own monthly payment, but optimizing lifetime benefits for your household. Great thread everyone - it's so helpful to see real experiences with the SSA process!

As someone new to this community and currently researching Social Security options, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed experiences! This thread has been incredibly educational. @Sean Kelly, congratulations on getting your issue resolved - your persistence really paid off! I'm particularly grateful for @Aisha Mahmood's insider knowledge about using the term "month of entitlement" when calling, and @Khalil Urso's comprehensive breakdown of factors beyond just the delayed retirement credits. The practical tips about calling times and the reminder that this decision affects spousal benefits too are invaluable. It's clear that while the SSA phone system can be frustrating, the effort to optimize your benefit timing can have significant long-term financial impact. This community's willingness to share real experiences and support each other through these complex decisions is exactly what newcomers like me need to make informed choices about our retirement planning.

Welcome to everyone who's new to the community! As someone who's been through the Social Security application process myself, I wanted to add a few additional resources that might help others in similar situations. If you're having trouble getting through to SSA by phone, you can also try visiting your local Social Security office in person - sometimes they can handle these requests more efficiently face-to-face. Also, for those still deciding on timing, the SSA website has a retirement estimator tool that can help you see exactly how much your benefits would increase by waiting. The key takeaway from this thread is don't panic if you realize you applied too early - as long as you haven't received payments yet, you have options! @Sean Kelly's success story shows that persistence with the phone system really does work. Keep calling, use the specific terminology like "month of entitlement" that @Aisha Mahmood suggested, and remember that waiting those extra years can significantly increase your lifetime benefits. Great thread everyone - so much valuable information shared here!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the wealth of knowledge and support shared in this thread! @Sean Kelly, congratulations on successfully getting your start date changed - your persistence really paid off. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so educational, especially the insider tips from @Aisha Mahmood about using "month of entitlement" terminology and the optimal calling times suggested by several members. What strikes me most is how this thread evolved from a simple question into a comprehensive guide covering delayed retirement credits, spousal benefits, health considerations, and practical SSA navigation strategies. For anyone else facing similar decisions, this discussion really highlights the importance of understanding all your options before applying and knowing that changes are possible if caught early enough. The community's willingness to share both technical knowledge and real-world experiences makes navigating these complex government services much less intimidating. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource - it's exactly what newcomers like me need when planning for retirement!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm truly grateful to have found such a supportive and knowledgeable group! This entire thread has been an absolute goldmine of information. @Sean Kelly, congratulations on getting your issue resolved - your story gives me hope that persistence really does pay off when dealing with SSA. I'm currently 63 and was considering applying for early benefits next year, but after reading through all the detailed explanations about delayed retirement credits and the long-term financial impact, I'm seriously reconsidering my timeline. The insider tips from @Aisha Mahmood about using specific terminology like "month of entitlement" and the practical advice about optimal calling times from various members will definitely come in handy. What really stands out to me is how this community combines technical expertise with real-world experiences to help each other navigate these complex decisions. The discussion about spousal benefits, health considerations, and the break-even analysis has given me so much to think about. It's reassuring to know that if I do make a timing mistake like Sean initially did, there are options to correct it before payments begin. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming environment for newcomers to learn and ask questions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by the incredible support and expertise shared in this thread! @Sean Kelly, huge congratulations on successfully changing your start date - your persistence and willingness to share the experience has created such a valuable resource for all of us. I'm currently 64 and facing similar timing decisions, and this discussion has been more helpful than hours of research on official websites. The combination of @Aisha Mahmood's insider knowledge about using "month of entitlement" terminology, the practical calling strategies from multiple members, and the comprehensive financial analysis covering delayed retirement credits, spousal benefits, and health considerations gives newcomers like me exactly what we need to make informed decisions. What really impresses me is how this community transforms potentially overwhelming government bureaucracy into manageable steps with real-world solutions. The reminder that changes are possible before payments begin takes so much pressure off the decision-making process. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space where newcomers can learn from experienced members - it's exactly what anyone navigating Social Security needs!

As someone brand new to this community and currently researching Social Security options at age 63, I can't express how valuable this entire discussion has been! @Sean Kelly, congratulations on getting your start date successfully changed - your willingness to share this experience has created an incredible learning resource for all of us navigating similar decisions. I was initially leaning toward applying for benefits at 65, but after reading through all the detailed explanations about delayed retirement credits and the long-term financial impact of waiting until 67 or even 70, I'm completely rethinking my strategy. The insider tips from @Aisha Mahmood about using "month of entitlement" terminology when calling SSA, combined with the practical advice from multiple members about optimal calling times, gives me confidence that I can actually navigate the system when needed. What really stands out is how this community addresses both the technical complexity (spousal benefits, health considerations, break-even analysis) and the real-world challenges of dealing with government bureaucracy. It's so reassuring to know that timing mistakes can be corrected before payments begin, and that persistence with the phone system really does pay off. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where newcomers can learn from experienced members - this is exactly the kind of community guidance that makes these major financial decisions less overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the wealth of knowledge and support demonstrated in this thread! @Sean Kelly, congratulations on successfully resolving your situation - your experience has created an invaluable resource for anyone facing similar Social Security timing decisions. I'm currently 62 and was considering applying for early benefits, but after reading through all the detailed explanations about delayed retirement credits, spousal benefits, and the long-term financial implications, I'm seriously reconsidering my timeline. The insider knowledge from @Aisha Mahmood about using "month of entitlement" terminology and the practical phone system strategies from multiple members transforms what seemed like an impossible bureaucratic maze into manageable steps. What really strikes me is how this community combines technical expertise with real-world problem-solving - from the mathematical analysis of delayed retirement credits to the nitty-gritty details of actually getting through to an SSA representative. It's so reassuring to learn that timing mistakes can be corrected before payments begin, and that persistence really does pay off even when the system seems stacked against you. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming environment where newcomers can learn from experienced members - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating complex government services feel achievable rather than overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible depth of knowledge and support shared in this thread! @Sean Kelly, congratulations on successfully getting your start date changed - your persistence really paid off and has created such a valuable resource for all of us. Reading through everyone's experiences has been more educational than any official SSA publication I've found. I'm currently 60 and starting to plan my Social Security strategy, and this discussion has completely opened my eyes to the complexity and importance of timing decisions. The insider tips from @Aisha Mahmood about using "month of entitlement" terminology when calling, combined with all the practical advice about optimal calling times, makes navigating the SSA system feel much less daunting. What really impresses me is how this community balances technical expertise (delayed retirement credits, spousal benefits, break-even analysis) with real-world problem-solving skills. The emphasis on considering health factors and family longevity alongside the mathematical benefits gives such a complete picture of the decision-making process. It's incredibly reassuring to learn that timing mistakes can be corrected before payments begin - that takes so much pressure off! Thank you all for creating such a welcoming environment where newcomers can learn from experienced members. This thread has definitely convinced me to take my time researching all options before applying.