If you claimed Social Security before your full retirement age and now wish you had waited, there is a little-known strategy that can still boost your monthly check: suspend your benefits at full retirement age (FRA) and earn delayed retirement credits worth 8% per year until age 70. This is not a loophole — it is a built-in Social Security Administration rule, and for the right person, it can meaningfully increase lifetime income and reduce tax exposure for years to come.

What Does It Mean to Suspend Social Security Benefits?

Once you reach your full retirement age — which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later — you can ask the Social Security Administration to voluntarily suspend your benefit payments. During the suspension period, your benefit grows by two-thirds of 1% for every month you do not collect. That works out to exactly 8% per year. If you suspend for two years, your monthly check at 70 will be roughly 16% higher than it was when you hit FRA. If you suspend for three full years (from 67 to 70), you are looking at a 24% permanent increase.

This matters because that higher amount is locked in for life and is the base from which future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated. A bigger base means bigger raises every year inflation bumps up Social Security payments.

Who Benefits Most From Suspending Benefits?

This strategy works best for people who:

  • Claimed at 62 or another early age and now regret the reduced benefit
  • Are in good health and have reason to believe they will live into their mid-to-late 80s or beyond
  • Have other income sources — a pension, part-time work, a spouse’s benefit, or retirement savings — that can cover expenses during the suspension window
  • Want to reduce taxable income in the short term (more on that below)

If you are living entirely off your Social Security check right now and have no other cushion, suspending is probably not realistic. But if you have even a modest bridge of savings or a working spouse, the math can be compelling.

How Do You Actually Suspend Your Benefits?

The process is straightforward. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office and request a voluntary suspension of benefits. You can do this any time between your FRA and age 70. There is no complex form — a phone call or in-person visit is enough.

Important: If your spouse is receiving a spousal benefit based on your record, their payments will also be suspended during this period. Make sure you factor that into your household budget before pulling the trigger.

Also note: Medicare premiums are not suspended. You will still owe your Part B premium — currently $185.00 per month in 2025 — and if you are no longer receiving a Social Security check to deduct it from, you will need to pay it directly by bill. Do not let that slip through the cracks.

How Much of Social Security Is Taxable — and Can This Help?

One underappreciated benefit of suspending is the potential tax relief during the suspension years. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit can be taxable if your combined income — that is your adjusted gross income, plus any tax-exempt interest, plus half of your Social Security benefit — exceeds $34,000 for single filers or $44,000 for married couples filing jointly.

When you suspend benefits and stop receiving monthly payments, your combined income can drop significantly. That may push you into a lower tax bracket, reduce Medicare IRMAA surcharges (explained below), or even eliminate Social Security taxes entirely for those suspension years. Think of it as a two-for-one: a bigger check later and a smaller tax bill now.

What Are IRMAA Surcharges and How Do They Connect?

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an extra charge added to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums if your income from two years ago exceeded certain thresholds. In 2026, single filers with income above roughly $106,000 (and joint filers above $212,000) start paying IRMAA surcharges on top of the standard Part B premium.

Because the IRS uses your income from two years prior to set IRMAA, the year you suspend Social Security could lower your income enough to avoid a surcharge tier in a future year. This is especially useful for people who retired recently and are transitioning from high W-2 income to fixed income. Mapping out your income two years in advance — what planners call “IRMAA lookback planning” — can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year in Medicare costs.

What About Required Minimum Distributions?

If you have a traditional IRA or 401(k), you are likely aware that the government requires you to start taking money out at a certain age. Under current rules for 2025 and 2026, required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73. These forced withdrawals count as taxable income, which can push your combined income higher — potentially triggering IRMAA surcharges or increasing how much of your Social Security is taxed.

This is why coordinating your Social Security suspension strategy with your RMD timeline matters. If you suspend benefits from 67 to 70, your RMDs do not begin until 73 (or later, depending on when you turn 73). That gives you a window to do Roth conversions — moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and paying taxes now at a lower rate — before RMDs pile income on top of resumed Social Security payments. A financial advisor or CPA who specialises in retirement income can help you sequence these moves.

Is There a Deadline or a Catch?

You can only suspend benefits between your FRA and age 70. Once you turn 70, the SSA automatically restarts your payments at the maximum delayed amount — the suspension game is over. You also cannot use this strategy if you are already receiving Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The one true catch: you need the financial runway to go without those monthly checks. For some people that is easy. For others it requires careful planning. Run the numbers before deciding — specifically, calculate your break-even age (typically the mid-to-late 70s) and consider whether your health and financial situation make it realistic to reach it.

Small moves made before 70 can echo through decades of retirement income. If you claimed early and have always wondered “what if” — this strategy is worth a serious look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I claim Social Security to maximise my benefit?

The latest you can claim is age 70, which delivers the highest possible monthly benefit — up to 32% more than claiming at full retirement age (67 for most people) and up to 77% more than claiming at 62. If you are in good health and have other income to bridge the gap, waiting as long as possible almost always produces the highest lifetime payout.

How much of my Social Security benefit is taxable?

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit can be subject to federal income tax if your “combined income” — adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest plus half of your Social Security — exceeds $34,000 for single filers or $44,000 for married couples. Keeping your combined income below those thresholds through careful withdrawal planning can significantly reduce your tax bill.

What are the RMD rules for 2025 and 2026?

Under current law, required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs and most employer retirement plans must begin at age 73 for both 2025 and 2026. The amount you must withdraw each year is calculated by dividing your account balance by an IRS life-expectancy factor. Failing to take your RMD triggers a steep 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn.

How do I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges?

IRMAA surcharges are based on your income from two years prior, so proactive income management is key. Strategies include delaying large IRA withdrawals, timing Roth conversions carefully, suspending Social Security during high-income years, and spreading capital gains across multiple tax years. If your income dropped significantly due to a life event like retirement or divorce, you can appeal your IRMAA determination directly with Medicare.

What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2025?

The standard Medicare Part B premium is $185.00 per month in 2025, up from $174.70 in 2024. Most people have this amount deducted automatically from their Social Security payment. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more due to IRMAA surcharges, which can push the monthly Part B cost above $600 per person depending on income level.