10 Strange Social Security Facts Everyone Should Know

7. You can get a do-over on when you claim

Some people claim benefits only later to discover that they would’ve preferred to wait. If you figure out your mistake within 12 months, you can file a request on Form SSA-521 to withdraw your original Social Security benefits application. If it’s granted, then you’ll have to pay back all the benefits you’ve received, but you’ll be treated as if you’d never claimed your Social Security in the first place. Beware, though – you can only make this do-over move once in your lifetime.