You cannot opt out of Social Security once you have started receiving it, but you can suspend your benefits temporarily or repay what you have received to reset your benefit amount

Once you begin drawing Social Security, you are locked into that decision. The Social Security Administration does not allow you to cancel your benefits and walk away. However, there are two paths if you want to undo or pause what you have started: suspending your benefits (which pauses payments but keeps your record active) or withdrawing your process (which lets you repay benefits and restart at a higher amount later).

These options exist because the age at which you claim Social Security directly affects how much you receive for life. If you claimed at 62 and now regret it, you have tools to fix that mistake — but they come with time limits and conditions.

Key Takeaways

  • You can suspend your Social Security benefits at any time after you start receiving them, which stops payments but keeps your earnings record active and allows your benefit amount to grow.
  • If you withdrew your process within 12 months of claiming, you can repay all benefits received and restart your claim at a later age for a permanently higher monthly amount.
  • Suspending benefits is permanent once you reach your full retirement age, meaning you cannot restart payments at the same level if you change your mind later.
  • The Social Security Administration charges no fee to suspend or withdraw your process, but you must contact them directly — there is no online option for either action.

Suspending your benefits to let your payment amount grow

If you have already started receiving Social Security, you can ask the Social Security Administration to suspend your benefits at any time. While suspended, you stop receiving monthly payments, but your benefit amount continues to grow. For every year you do not claim between your full retirement age and age 70, your monthly payment increases by roughly 8 percent per year.

This works only if you have reached your full retirement age — the age at which Social Security considers you may have access to to your full benefit amount. If you claimed before that age (say, at 62), suspending your benefits before you reach full retirement age will not increase your payment. You must wait until full retirement age arrives to suspend and start the growth clock.

Once you suspend, you can restart payments at any point up to age 70. When you do, your monthly amount will reflect all the growth that happened while suspended. If you never restart and die before claiming again, your family may be able to claim survivor benefits based on your record — but you will not have received the money yourself.

Withdrawing your process to repay and restart at a higher amount

If you claimed Social Security within the last 12 months, you have the option to withdraw your entire process. This means you repay every dollar the Social Security Administration has sent you, and your claim is erased as if you never filed. You can then file again later, usually at a higher benefit amount because you will be older.

To withdraw, you must contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need to sign a form called Form SSA-521 (Request for Withdrawal of process). The Social Security Administration will tell you the exact amount you owe — it includes all benefits paid to you, plus any benefits paid to your spouse or children on your record. You have 30 days to repay the full amount, though you can ask for more time.

Once you repay, your record is reset. You can file again when ready or wait until a later age. If you wait until age 70, your new benefit amount will be significantly higher than what you received before. This strategy works best for people who claimed early by mistake or whose circumstances have changed.

The 12-month window for withdrawal

The withdrawal option only works if you file the request within 12 months of the month you first received a payment. If you claimed in January 2023 and received your first check in February 2023, your 12-month window closes in February 2024. After that date, withdrawal is no longer available to you.

The Social Security Administration counts the 12 months from your first payment, not from the date you filed your process. If there was a delay between when you applied and when payments began, the clock starts when the money arrives, not when you signed the paperwork.

If you miss the 12-month important date, suspension is your only option — but only if you have reached full retirement age. If you claimed early and are still below full retirement age when the 12-month window closes, you cannot suspend either. You are then locked into the benefit amount you claimed.

What happens to your family's benefits when you suspend or withdraw

If your spouse or children receive benefits based on your Social Security record, suspending or withdrawing your benefits affects them too. When you suspend, their payments suspend as well. When you withdraw and repay, their benefits are erased from the system along with yours.

Your family members can file their own applications based on your record once you have withdrawn, but they will receive new benefit amounts calculated from your new claim date. If you were receiving family benefits and your spouse was receiving a spousal benefit, that benefit will change when you restart at a higher amount.

Before you suspend or withdraw, talk to your family about how it will affect them. The Social Security Administration can explain what each family member currently receives and what they would receive under a new scenario.

How to suspend or withdraw your benefits

Neither suspension nor withdrawal can be done online. You must contact the Social Security Administration directly. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. Wait times are often shorter early in the morning or late in the week.

You can also visit your local Social Security office in person. Find the office nearest you at ssa.gov/locator. Bring your Social Security card, a photo ID, and proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers). If you are withdrawing, bring documentation of any benefits you have received — the Social Security Administration has this on file, but having it yourself speeds the process.

When you call or visit, tell the representative clearly whether you want to suspend or withdraw. If you are withdrawing, ask them to calculate the total repayment amount before you commit. You can pay by check, money order, or electronic transfer. The Social Security Administration will send you a receipt and a new benefit calculation once the transaction is complete.

What you cannot do: opting out before you claim

If you have not yet claimed Social Security, you cannot opt out of the system itself. Social Security is a mandatory program — you and your employer (or you alone, if self-employed) pay into it throughout your working life. That money goes into a government trust fund, not into a personal account you control.

What you can do is choose not to claim your benefits. You can work past age 70 and never file for Social Security. Your benefit amount will continue to grow until age 70, and then it stops growing. If you die without claiming, your family may still be able to claim survivor benefits, but you will not have received anything yourself. This is different from opting out — you are straightforward choosing not to use a benefit you have earned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I suspend my benefits if I claimed before my full retirement age?

No. Suspension only works if you have reached your full retirement age. If you claimed at 62 and are now 65, you cannot suspend yet. Once you turn your full retirement age (usually 66 or 67, depending on your birth year), you can suspend at that point. Before then, your only option is to withdraw your process if you are still within 12 months of your first payment.

If I withdraw and repay, do I get interest back on the money I already spent?

No. You repay the exact amount you received — no interest is added or subtracted. The Social Security Administration does not charge you a fee for withdrawing, but you do not earn interest on the repayment either. You are straightforward resetting your claim to its starting point.

What if I cannot afford to repay all the benefits at once?

Contact the Social Security Administration and ask about a payment plan. They may allow you to repay in installments over several months rather than in one lump sum. The representative can discuss your situation and work out a schedule that fits your budget. You must still repay the full amount to complete the withdrawal.

Does suspending my benefits affect my Medicare coverage?

No. Suspending Social Security does not change your Medicare benefits or your may be able to access. If you are already enrolled in Medicare, your coverage continues. If you are not yet enrolled and you suspend your Social Security, you still need to sign up for Medicare at 65 — do not assume suspension delays that important date.

If I suspend my benefits and then die, does my family get anything?

Yes. Your family can claim survivor benefits based on your record, even if you suspended your own benefits. The amount they receive is based on the benefit you had earned at the time of your death, including any growth from suspension. Suspending does not erase your family's right to survivor benefits.