Can I pause my Social Security application until FRA without canceling it?
I'm in a bit of a panic about my SS retirement application. I started the online application process last week (about 2 months before turning 62) thinking I'd take early benefits. After crunching numbers again and talking with my financial planner, I realize I'd be much better off waiting until my Full Retirement Age (67 in my case). Here's my question - I never submitted the final page of the application, just saved it. Can I just leave that application sitting there incomplete for 5 years until I reach FRA? Or do I need to formally withdraw it now? Will an incomplete application eventually expire on its own? I'm worried if I just abandon it, SSA might somehow process it anyway, or that the system will think I already applied when I try again at 67. Anyone dealt with this before? Thanks for any advice!!
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Amina Toure
You're fine! An incomplete application won't be processed. The SSA system requires you to electronically sign and submit the final page for it to be considered a formal application. If you didn't reach that step, there's nothing to withdraw since you never officially applied. When you reach your FRA, you'll need to start a completely new application. The system saves incomplete applications for a limited time (usually 6 months), but they're automatically purged after that. So your unfinished application from 5 years earlier won't be in the system when you're ready to apply at your Full Retirement Age.
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Paolo Ricci
AuthorThank you so much! That's exactly what I needed to know. So relieved I don't have to do anything special other than start fresh when I'm ready to apply at 67. I was having nightmares about them accidentally processing my early retirement application!
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Oliver Zimmermann
Actually this happened to me but different! I started my application and didnt finish and they still processed it?? So maybe call them to make super sure. Idk why they did that to me but they did.
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Natasha Volkova
This is concerning. Did you perhaps reach the final submission page and click something that might have been construed as acceptance? The system shouldn't process incomplete applications, but I wonder if there was a glitch or misunderstanding. Did you have any prior applications or contact with SSA about benefits that might have triggered this?
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Javier Torres
Smart move waiting until FRA! I took benefits at 62 and DEEPLY regret it. Getting 30% less forever is painful, especially with these inflation rates. My brother waited until 70 and gets nearly double what I get monthly. Just delete the application and start fresh later.
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Paolo Ricci
AuthorThanks for sharing that - it really helps confirm my decision. My monthly benefit would be about $1,675 at 62 versus around $2,450 at my FRA. That difference is just too significant to ignore, especially since I'm still working part-time and would hit the earnings limit anyway.
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Emma Davis
Everyone's giving you different advice and I know it's confusing. I worked for SSA for 22 years before retiring. Here's what you should know: 1) Incomplete applications are NOT processed if you never reached the signature page and submission confirmation 2) The system purges incomplete applications after 6 months 3) BUT - I would still recommend you log in and delete it just to be safe. Click the "Delete Application" option on your saved application page 4) If you can't find how to delete it, call SSA to confirm it won't be processed Better safe than sorry, especially with something as important as your retirement benefits!
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CosmicCaptain
THIS!!!! Alwayz better 2 be extra careful with SS stuff. They lost my paperwork TWICE when I applied for survivors benefits after my husband passed. Had to start over each time!
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Malik Johnson
If your trying to contact Social Security to confirm about your application status, I had INCREDIBLE success using this service called Claimyr last month when I needed to talk to someone at SSA about my benefit calculation. I was getting nowhere with the regular 800 number - either busy signals or 3+ hour wait times. Claimyr got me connected to a live SSA agent in under 20 minutes! Literally saved me days of frustration. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I'd definitely recommend checking their website (claimyr.com) if you decide you need to speak with SSA directly about your application status. Best money I ever spent dealing with government stuff!
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Paolo Ricci
AuthorThanks for the recommendation! I might try that service if I decide I need to speak with someone directly. The wait times are ridiculous these days - last time I called about something else, I was on hold for almost 2 hours before giving up.
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CosmicCaptain
OMG the same thing happened to me!!! I started applying and changed my mind too! I just left mine sitting there for like 4 months and nothing happened. When I called they said it wasn't even in their system anymore lol. Don't stress it!
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Oliver Zimmermann
Isn't FRA 66 and some months now? Mine is 66 and 6 months I think. Are you sure yours is 67??
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Amina Toure
FRA varies based on birth year. For people born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. For those born between 1943-1954, it's 66. For people born 1955-1959, it's 66 plus a certain number of months (2 months more for each birth year after 1954). The OP must have been born in 1960 or later to have an FRA of 67.
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Natasha Volkova
Smart financial decision! Many people don't realize how significant the reduction is for early filing. For every year before your FRA that you claim, benefits are permanently reduced by about 6.67% for the first 3 years and 5% for each additional year. As for your question, here's what the SSA website officially states: "If you completed and submitted your online benefit application, you cannot cancel it online. If you have not submitted your application and wish to delete it, sign into 'my Social Security' and select 'Delete Application' on your pending application." Since you never submitted it, you should be able to delete it, although it will automatically expire after a period of time.
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Javier Torres
Can i ask a sorta related question? If OP decides to work until FRA, does he need to pay attention to the earnings limit stuff at all? I'm confused about when that applies and when it doesn't.
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Emma Davis
Great question! The earnings limit only applies if you're collecting benefits before FRA and still working. If OP waits until FRA to collect benefits, there is NO earnings limit - they can earn any amount without affecting their Social Security benefits. The earnings limit for 2023 is $21,240 for those below FRA for the entire year. For every $2 earned above that limit, $1 is withheld from benefits. There's a different limit in the year you reach FRA. Once you reach FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts with no reduction in benefits.
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Summer Green
I'm in a similar situation but earlier in the process - haven't even started my application yet but was thinking about filing early. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! The math on waiting really does make sense when you see those actual dollar amounts. One thing I'm curious about - for those who waited until FRA or later, how did you handle the psychological aspect of "leaving money on the table" during those years you weren't collecting? I know logically it's the right choice, but I keep thinking about all those monthly payments I'm not getting while I wait.
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