Can I suspend early Social Security benefits when returning to work and get higher payments later?

Yes! What you're looking for is called 'voluntary suspension' of benefits. Since you've already reached your FRA (Full Retirement Age), you can ask SSA to suspend your payments. While suspended, you'll earn delayed retirement credits which will increase your benefit amount when you restart. This is actually a pretty smart strategy if you don't need the SS income right now. I did something similar last year - suspended for about 18 months while consulting, and my benefit went up by around 12% when I restarted. Just call SSA directly and tell them you want to suspend your benefits. One thing to keep in mind though - if you have Medicare, you'll need to pay those premiums directly instead of having them deducted from your SS payment.

The previous commenter is incorrect. At 62, you CANNOT voluntarily suspend benefits - that option is only available once you reach Full Retirement Age (probably 67 for you). What happens instead is if you earn enough, your benefits will be automatically withheld due to the earnings limit. In 2025, if you earn above $24,500 (approximately), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. The good news is that when you reach FRA, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months your benefits were withheld due to work. So yes, you'll get a bump up, but it happens automatically - not through voluntary suspension.

I went thru this EXACT situation!! Started SS at 63, then got job offer I couldn't pass up. Honestly the whole earnings limit thing is a DISASTER. They kept paying me for 5 months, then suddenly wanted ALL THE MONEY BACK because I never reported my earnings!! Ended up with a $13,000 overpayment notice and had to set up a payment plan!!!! CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY and report your estimated earnings for the year!!! The earnings test is a NIGHTMARE and SSA does NOT make it easy!!!!

You definitely need to contact Social Security right away to report your estimated earnings. The earnings limit for 2025 means most of your benefits will be withheld, and you don't want an overpayment situation. One thing nobody's mentioned - while you can't voluntarily suspend before FRA, you actually do have the option to withdraw your application within the first 12 months of receiving benefits. This is Form SSA-521. You'd have to repay all benefits received, but then it's like you never filed, and you could reapply later at a higher rate. Since you've only been receiving for 8 months, this is still an option for you. Worth considering if you plan to work several more years at a good salary.

Been trying to call the SS office for 2 weeks about a similar issue - early retirement + new job. Impossible to get through. Busy signals or disconnected after long wait. Tried again today and waited 2+ hours before my call dropped.

my mom did this... retired at 62, went back to work at 64, and had her benefits stop because of earnings limit... when she fully retired at 67, her benefit went up by like $340/month! but she said managing the reporting was a huge hassle, so definitely stay on top of that part

Oh no! I mixed up the rules - I was thinking about post-FRA suspension. Sorry for the confusion! The other posters are correct - before FRA you're subject to the earnings test, not voluntary suspension. One important thing - if some of your benefits are withheld due to working, SSA will actually increase your benefit amount when you reach FRA to account for those months you didn't receive benefits. So in that sense, you do get a "bump up" eventually.

To figure out which option makes more sense financially: 1. For the earnings test route: SSA will adjust your reduction factor at FRA to account for months benefits were withheld, which typically results in a 5-8% increase from your current reduced benefit. 2. For withdrawal: You'd restart with a fresh calculation at your new claiming age. The difference between 62 and 66 is about 25% in monthly benefits. 3. Consider how long you'll live. The breakeven point is usually around 10-12 years after your FRA. The SSA has calculators on their website, or you could speak with a benefits specialist who can run personalized numbers for your situation.

One more thing to consider - if you withdraw your application and reapply later, be aware of Medicare enrollment periods. If you'll be 65 soon, you typically need to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period to avoid late penalties, even if you're not taking Social Security yet. This is a separate consideration from your benefit amount.

Ben, given your situation, I'd strongly recommend getting a personalized benefit estimate before making any decisions. You can create a my Social Security account online to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. Since you're only 8 months into receiving benefits, the withdrawal option (Form SSA-521) is definitely worth calculating. With an $85k salary, you'll be well over the earnings limit, so most of your current $1,850/month will be withheld anyway. The key question is whether the higher monthly amount from waiting until 66+ outweighs the benefits you'd have to repay (~$14,800). Also, don't forget that your new high-earning years may increase your benefit calculation anyway, since SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings. This could bump up your benefit amount regardless of which path you choose. Definitely report your new earnings to SSA ASAP to avoid the overpayment nightmare others have mentioned. Good luck with the new job!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - if you do decide to withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), make sure you understand the tax implications. You'll need to pay back the full $14,800 you've received, but depending on how you handled taxes on those benefits, you might be able to claim a deduction or amended return for any taxes you paid on that Social Security income. Also, since you're considering working 3-4 more years at $85k, that's definitely going to help your benefit calculation long-term. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so if your previous years were lower, these high-earning years will replace some of those lower amounts in the formula. I'd suggest running both scenarios through the SSA calculators before deciding. The withdrawal option gives you a clean slate but requires that lump sum repayment. The earnings limit route is more complex but doesn't require paying anything back upfront. Either way, definitely call SSA this week to report your new job - don't let it turn into an overpayment situation!

Just want to echo what others have said about reporting your earnings IMMEDIATELY - this is crucial! I made the mistake of waiting a few months to report when I went back to work after early retirement, and it created a huge headache with overpayments. One thing that might help you decide between withdrawal vs. earnings test: consider your cash flow needs. With withdrawal, you need that $14,800 upfront to repay, but then you're done with SS complications while working. With the earnings test route, you'll have the ongoing hassle of annual reporting and potential overpayment issues if your income varies. Also, since you mentioned this job was unexpected, make sure you factor in job security. If there's any chance this position might not last the full 3-4 years, that could influence whether paying back benefits now makes sense. The SSA benefit calculators are helpful, but honestly, given the complexity and dollar amounts involved, it might be worth paying for an hour consultation with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies. The withdrawal deadline is firm at 12 months, so you have some time but not unlimited time to decide.

Ben, I'm in a very similar situation! Started taking SS at 62 last year and just got a job offer that would put me way over the earnings limit. After reading through all these responses, I wanted to share what I learned from my research: The withdrawal option (SSA-521) might be your best bet since you're still within that 12-month window. I calculated my situation and even though I'd have to pay back about $18k in benefits, the higher monthly payments from waiting until 66 would break even in about 8-9 years. At our age, that math usually works out favorably. One thing I found helpful was using the detailed calculators on the SSA website - not just the quick estimator, but the more comprehensive ones that factor in your specific earnings history. Since you mentioned your previous job was lower paying, these high-earning years at $85k will definitely boost your benefit calculation. Also wanted to second what others said about calling SSA immediately to report your earnings. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it was a lifesaver - got through to an actual person in about 30 minutes instead of the hours I was spending on hold. The Medicare enrollment timing is definitely something to keep in mind too if you're approaching 65. Good luck with whatever you decide!