Surprised by automatic spousal top-up when applying for Social Security at 62 - how to stop it?

Unfortunately this is a common surprise! When you apply for retirement benefits, SSA automatically checks if you're eligible for ANY other benefits including spousal. The "deemed filing" rules changed with the 2015 law - you can no longer pick and choose which benefits to take first unless you were born before 1/2/1954. You'll need to complete that Form 521 before they issue your first payment. Make sure you specify you ONLY want to withdraw from the spousal portion, not your own retirement benefit. The form must be very clear about this or they might cancel everything. I recommend going in person if possible to complete this - it's a tricky situation and some representatives might not understand what you're trying to do. Bring documentation showing both benefit amounts to help explain.

the exact same thing happened to my sister last yr!!! she applied for just her benifits but got spousal too and didn't want them yet. took her like 3 months to get it fixed with ssa and they made her pay back the extra money. such a headache!!

This situation stems from a misunderstanding of how Social Security's deemed filing rules work post-2015. When you apply for any retirement benefit before your Full Retirement Age, you are automatically deemed to have filed for ALL benefits you're eligible for at that time. This includes any spousal benefits if your spouse is already collecting. However, your withdrawal strategy using Form SSA-521 is problematic. The SSA doesn't typically allow partial withdrawals - meaning you can't withdraw only from spousal benefits while keeping your retirement benefits. The form is designed to withdraw your entire application. Your better options might be: 1. Withdraw your ENTIRE application (if within 12 months) and reapply later 2. Accept both benefits now (understanding the reduction penalties) 3. Suspend your benefits at FRA (but this won't increase your spousal amount) The information you received about only withdrawing the spousal portion seems suspect. I'd recommend getting a second opinion from another SSA representative.

Ok so I literally dealt with this exact situation last year! Here's what you need to know: 1) Yes, deemed filing is automatic before FRA - they don't make this clear in the application at all! 2) The Form 521 CAN be used for partial withdrawals in specific circumstances like this one - the key is how you word it. You need to specify you're withdrawing your "application for spouse's benefits" not your "benefits" generally. 3) On the form where it asks for the type of claim, check "spouse's" not "retirement" 4) In the remarks section, be crystal clear: "I am withdrawing ONLY my application for spouse's benefits. I wish to continue receiving my retirement benefits based on my own work record." 5) Submit it ASAP - if you get even one payment with the spousal included, you'll have to pay that portion back Good luck! The system is super confusing!

just wondering - how much extra are u getting from the spousal part? is it really worth all this hassle to wait? my wife got like $210 extra from mine when she filed early and we just took it rather than deal with all this paperwork nightmare

i think you should just keep both benefits now. why wait? bird in hand worth two in bush my grandma always said lol. what if something happens and you never get to FRA? just my 2 cents

I faced this EXACT same situation trying to reach SSA about deemed filing rules last year. Spent 4 weeks calling the 800 number with no luck getting through. After my 3rd disconnected call one day, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that connects you directly to SSA without the wait. Managed to get through in 20 minutes instead of endless redials! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Used that to get to a representative who confirmed exactly what to write on Form 521 for partial withdrawal. Was night and day difference from trying to do it myself. Just sharing since you mentioned having trouble getting through to them on the phone.

DID YOU NOTICE on the application where it says something like "do you want us to consider all benefits you might be eligible for" with a YES/NO option??? That's the trap right there!! They make it sound like you'd be crazy to select NO, but that's EXACTLY what you need to do if you're trying to file a restricted application. Classic government trickery to confuse seniors. They should make this MUCH clearer in the application process!

my cousin had this problem and she just kept calling the 800 number until she got someone helpful. said it took like 8 tries but finally got a rep who knew what to do. good luck!!

Something to consider - have you calculated what your spousal benefit will be at FRA versus what your own benefit will grow to with delayed retirement credits if you wait until 70? If your own benefit plus delayed credits would be higher than your spousal benefit at FRA, this whole issue might be moot. For example, if your own benefit at FRA would be $1,500 and could grow to $1,860 at age 70, but your spousal benefit at FRA would only be $1,700, you'd be better off focusing on maximizing your own benefit rather than worrying about the spousal component. Do you know both those numbers? If not, I'd recommend calling SSA to get an estimate of both scenarios before proceeding with any withdrawal.

I'm actually going through something similar right now! I'm 64 and was planning to file for my own benefits soon while waiting until FRA for spousal benefits. After reading your post, I immediately logged into my mySocialSecurity account to run some projections and make sure I understand exactly what will happen when I apply. This deemed filing rule seems like such a trap - especially since the online application doesn't make it crystal clear that you're automatically applying for ALL benefits you're eligible for. I've been doing research for months and this is the first time I'm seeing real-world examples of how confusing the process actually is. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like the Form 521 partial withdrawal approach might work, but you definitely need to get it submitted before your first payment. Have you been able to get through to SSA again to get a second opinion on the exact wording for the form? Also, thank you for sharing this experience - it's probably going to save me from making the same mistake when I file in a few months!