I wanted to get an early start on applying for Medicare A but I went to the wrong place and started Apply for Benefits. Has not been submitted but it says if they don’t receive it by a certain date I will be penalized. I turn 65 soon so I can apply for Medicare A but I can’t get social security for another year and some odd months. I cleared out as much info on the form I could so it will not submit. I can’t delete it. Can’t change the start date. what the heck to do.

Hi. When you start an online application for Medicare or monthly Social Security benefits, there is a question that asks if you want to apply just for Medicare and not for monthly benefits. If you answered that question wrong, then don't submit the application. The notice about a penalty is just telling you that if you don't submit your application before it expires, your application won't protect your filing date. It doesn't mean that you can't apply later, or that your benefit rate will be penalized.

As far as I know, you can't delete an online application once you've started it. But, as long as it isn't submitted it will expire after roughly 6 months with no harm done. I'm not an expert on the Social Security website, so I don't know if it will allow you to start a new application on which you could correctly answer that you only wish to apply for Medicare and not monthly Social Security benefits. If not, you can call Social Security and make an appointment to apply for Medicare either by phone or in person.

With regard to applying for monthly Social Security benefits, you should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry