I help Medicare beneficiaries apply for Extra Help and Other benefits. Sometimes they are just a few dollars a month over the allowable limits. Is there any way a beneficiary who filed at age 63 for instance, can ask SSA to either reduce their monthly benefit or refile at such earlier date that would reduce their monthly benefit so as to qualify for the Extra Help?

Hi,

Sorry, but the answer's no on both counts. If a person chooses to apply for Social Security benefits, they can't opt to be paid a lower benefit rate than the amount that they're entitled to. They could voluntarily waive receiving benefits altogether (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0202409001), but I assume that's not what you had in mind.

And, if a person files for Social Security benefits that are reduced for age, they can't choose to start their benefits any earlier than the month in which they filed their application, or the month that they established a protective filing date to apply (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200204030). If a person withdrew a previously filed application and then reapplied, it could only result in a later month of entitlement with either the same benefit rate or a higher rate.

Best, Jerry