Can I suspend Social Security benefits after 11 months if I find a job before FRA?
I'm in a tough spot and trying to figure out my options with Social Security. After getting laid off during that big tech downsizing wave, I've been hunting for a senior data analyst position for almost 9 months with no luck (at 65, I'm finding the job market isn't exactly welcoming). My savings are dwindling fast, and I'm considering filing for Social Security early. I'll be 66 in January 2025 and was planning to start benefits then (so first payment in February), but my Full Retirement Age is 66 and 10 months (November 2025). Here's my question - if I somehow land a good job in late 2025 or early 2026, can I suspend my benefits in January 2026 without having to pay anything back? Or am I stuck with a 1-year waiting period from when I first receive benefits? Or do I have to wait until after I reach my FRA in November 2025 plus a full year? The reduction for claiming 10 months early isn't ideal, but neither is draining my remaining savings. Any insights from folks who've navigated this? I really don't want to make a costly mistake.
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Sophia Russo
You've got several options here. First, you can voluntarily suspend benefits once you reach your FRA (66+10mo) without any payback required. Before FRA, you'd need to do a withdrawal (Form SSA-521) which requires paying back ALL benefits received - and you can only do this within 12 months of starting benefits. So if you start in Jan 2025 (payment in Feb), you couldn't simply "suspend" until reaching your FRA in Nov 2025. If you found work before Jan 2026, you'd need to withdraw your application completely and repay everything received. Also remember the earnings test - if you find work before reaching FRA, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit (expected to be around $22,000 in 2025).
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Mason Kaczka
•Thank you for explaining this! So to clarify - there's no way for me to just "pause" benefits if I find work before reaching my FRA in November? I'd have to completely withdraw and pay everything back? That's concerning since I might find contract work that only lasts 6-8 months.
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Evelyn Xu
my brother went thru something similar last year. he took SS at 65 and then got a job offer 4 months later. he just kept both because of the earnings limit thing. they adjusted his SS automatically. didn't have to do anything special just reported his income
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Dominic Green
•That's not completely accurate. The earnings test is automatic but it works on predicted annual earnings. If the poster gets a high-paying job mid-year, they should proactively contact SSA or benefits could stop completely for several months while the reduction is applied. Been there with my own retirement!
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Hannah Flores
Let me add some precision to your options: 1. If you start benefits in January 2025 and find work before November 2025 (your FRA), you cannot suspend benefits - only withdraw completely with full payback. 2. Once you reach FRA in November 2025, you CAN suspend benefits without payback, and will earn delayed retirement credits (DRCs) of 8% per year until age 70. 3. The earnings test applies before FRA, but the reduction isn't permanent - SSA recalculates and increases your benefit when you reach FRA to account for months benefits were withheld. 4. There's no 1-year waiting period for voluntary suspension once you're at FRA. So if you find work in early 2026, you could suspend benefits in January 2026 without payback because you'll have already passed your FRA in November 2025.
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Mason Kaczka
•This is extremely helpful - thanks for the clear explanation! So I think my strategy might be to claim in January, deal with any earnings test reductions if I find work before November, then once I hit FRA I have the flexibility to suspend if needed. Does that sound right?
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Kayla Jacobson
I'm actually going through something similar right now!! Started my SS back in July before FRA (I'm 65) and just got a decent job offer yesterday. Called SSA to ask about my options and SURPRISE couldn't get through after 2 hours on hold. The website info is confusing and doesn't really address this scenario clearly. Anyone know if there's a better way to get actual answers from a real person at Social Security? Their phone system is absolutely terrible.
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William Rivera
•I had the same problem last month trying to sort out my wife's spousal benefits. After wasting hours on hold for three days straight, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes. You can actually see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with was able to explain all the suspension rules clearly and even noted some exceptions in my wife's case. Definitely worth it for complex questions that the website doesn't answer clearly.
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Grace Lee
YOUR BETTER OFF JUST WAITING TILL YOUR FULL RETIREMENT AGE!!! My husband claimed 8 months early and regrets it EVERY SINGLE MONTH when he sees that smaller check. Once you take the reduction IT'S PERMANENT!!!! (unless you withdraw in first 12 months and pay everything back). The system is designed to PUNISH early filers!!!!
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Sophia Russo
•While waiting until FRA is often financially optimal, it's not always practical for everyone. With no income for 9 months and dwindling savings, sometimes taking a reduced benefit is the rational choice. Also, the reduction for claiming 10 months early is approximately 5.6%, not the full 30% reduction for claiming at 62. Financial planning should account for individual circumstances rather than blanket rules.
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Dominic Green
One thing nobody has mentioned - check if you qualify for unemployment extension. Some states have programs for older workers, and that might bridge you to FRA without taking the early SS reduction. Just a thought!
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Mason Kaczka
•That's a good point. I've exhausted regular unemployment but haven't looked into extensions specifically for older workers. I'll check with my state office tomorrow!
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Evelyn Xu
so what did u decide to do? im in almost the exact situation (except im 65 and 2 months) and trying to figure out my best move
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Mason Kaczka
•I'm still weighing options, but leaning toward filing in January. The 5.6% reduction isn't ideal, but I need the income. I figure if I do find work before FRA, I'll deal with the earnings test. Then once I hit FRA in November, I'll have the option to suspend if I'm working full-time. Basically buying myself flexibility while not completely draining savings.
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Sophia Russo
Another strategy option: If you have any self-employment income or could do consulting work, be aware that only earned income counts for the earnings test. Investment income, pension, rental income, etc. don't count against you. So some people structure work arrangements specifically to minimize the earnings test impact.
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