Form SSA-521, Request for Withdrawal of Application , is a form used to cancel the application for Social Security benefits you submitted. Form SSA-521-SP is a Spanish version of the same document.
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The document was issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) with the latest version released on July 1, 2023 , with previous editions obsolete. A fillable SSA-521 Form can be downloaded through the link below.
If after applying for Social Security retirement benefits you have changed your mind about when to start them, you can withdraw your claim by submitting Form SSA-521. The withdrawal can be requested even if you have been receiving your benefits for some time. The information you provide via the form is used by the SSA officials to determine whether you are eligible for cancellation of benefits. If you provide incomplete information, it may result in the rejection of your application.
You may withdraw your benefits application within twelve months from the date you were entitled to receive your Social Security benefits. You are allowed to submit the withdrawal only once in your life and can cancel your withdrawal within 60 days after its approval. You may withdraw your Medicare with your Social Security benefits, or you may keep your Medicare coverage.
If you have reached full retirement age, you are not allowed to withdraw your retirement application. However, if you are not yet age 70, you can ask the SSA to suspend your benefit payments. If your withdrawal is approved, you must repay all of the money you and your family received due to the retirement application. If anyone receives benefits based on your application, this individual must also provide written consent to the withdrawal.
The document is easy to complete. It takes about five minutes to look through the instructions, gather information, and find the answers. Follow the steps below in order to fill out Form SSA-521 correctly:
It may take from a few weeks to a few months to process the completed form. After approving the withdrawal, the SSA will inform you about the exact amount you need to repay and the schedule of repayments.
Send or bring the filled-out SSA Form 521 in person to the nearest Social Security office. Find a list of all offices on the SSA official website. Besides, you can check them up in your telephone directory in the U.S. Government agencies section.