Have a change of heart about your benefits

If you access Social Security only to realize shortly after that you don’t really need it yet, you can still turn to certain methods to make sure you increase your benefits later.

For example, if you claimed your benefits but haven’t exceeded a 12-month period, you can withdraw your Social Security application by filing Form SSA-521 and returning all the money you’ve received from Social Security.

On the other hand, people who have reached their full retirement age can suspend their benefits and postpone receiving Social Security checks until later, when the checks get bigger and they need them more.