You can apply to withdraw benefits with Social Security form SSA-521. Send or hand-deliver the completed form to your local Social Security office. Once Social Security approves your withdrawal, you have 60 days to change your mind and retract the withdrawal request.

When Can Social Security benefits be withdrawn?

Early retirement You can get Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, we’ll reduce your benefit if you retire before your full retirement age. For example, if you turn age 62 in 2021, your benefit would be about 29.2 percent lower than it would be at your full retirement age of 66 and 10 months.

How can I withdraw my Social Security benefits?

Social Security will let you withdraw your original application for retirement benefits only once, and it must be within 12 months of the date you first claimed your benefits. You start the process by filling out Social Security form SSA-521 . Send the completed form to your local Social Security office .

What was the original withdrawal age for Social Security?

1. Regular Withdrawal Age The original Social Security program established a normal retirement age of 65, at which people could begin receiving benefits. In 1983, Congress passed Social Security amendments to gradually raise that age to 67 — anyone born in or after 1960 must reach that age before collecting full retirement benefits.

What happens to your Social Security benefits when you retire?

Your Social Security benefit is not reduced, regardless of your earned income. If you opt to receive Social Security benefits while still working and have those benefits reduced due to the income you earn, the Social Security Administration will recalculate your benefits when you reach retirement age.

When do you stop taking Social Security benefits?

If you’ve been getting retirement benefits for more than a year, the window for withdrawal has closed. However, once you reach full retirement age, there’s a second option: You can request a suspension of benefits.