You can cancel your SSDI benefits at any time by contacting Social Security directly

Stopping your SSDI payments is straightforward: you contact Social Security, tell them you want to stop, and they process the cancellation. You do not need a reason, and you do not need to wait for a specific date. The process takes a few minutes on the phone or in person, though the actual stop date depends on when you report it and how Social Security processes the request.

Most people cancel SSDI because they have returned to work and earn enough that benefits would stop anyway, or because they no longer need the income. Some cancel temporarily and reapply later — Social Security has rules that can protect your case if you do this within a certain window. Others cancel because they reached full retirement age and want to switch to retirement benefits instead, which may be higher.

The key thing to know upfront: canceling is not the same as a temporary pause. Once you cancel, your case closes. If you want benefits again later, you will have to file a new claim and go through the approval process again, which takes months.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213, visit your local office, or use your my Social Security account online to request cancellation.
  • Your benefits will stop the month after Social Security receives your cancellation request, though you may receive one more payment depending on timing.
  • If you cancel and reapply within 12 months, you may be able to restart your old case instead of filing a completely new claim — ask Social Security about this before you cancel.
  • Canceling SSDI does not automatically cancel Medicare or Medicaid, so you must contact those programs separately if you want to stop coverage.
  • If you are working and earning over the limit, your benefits will stop anyway — canceling just formalizes what will happen regardless.

Three ways to contact Social Security and request cancellation

By phone: Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. You will speak to a representative who will ask you to confirm your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Tell them you want to cancel your SSDI benefits. They will explain what happens next and answer questions about your specific situation. The call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Social Security is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the address and hours at ssa.gov/locator. Bring your Social Security card and a photo ID. Tell the staff member you want to cancel your SSDI benefits. They will process the request on the spot. Wait times vary by location; calling ahead to ask about current wait times can save you a trip.

Online through my Social Security: If you have a my Social Security account, you can log in at ssa.gov/myaccount. However, the online system does not currently have a direct cancellation option. You can send a message to Social Security through the account asking them to cancel your benefits, and they will contact you to confirm. This route is slower than calling or visiting in person — expect a response within a few business days.

When your benefits actually stop and what you receive

Social Security stops your SSDI benefits the month after they receive your cancellation request. This means timing matters. If you call on June 15 and request cancellation, your last payment will be for June, and July's payment will not be sent. If you call on June 1, the same thing happens — you still receive June's payment and lose July's.

You will receive one final payment that covers any remaining days in the month you cancel. Social Security does not prorate payments within a month, so you get the full monthly amount for the month you cancel, even if you cancel mid-month. After that, no more payments arrive.

If you have overpayments on your record — money Social Security says you were not supposed to receive — they may hold back from your final payment or ask you to repay the amount. Ask Social Security whether you have any overpayments before you cancel, so you know what to expect.

What happens to Medicare and Medicaid when you cancel SSDI

Canceling SSDI does not automatically cancel your Medicare or Medicaid coverage. You must contact those programs separately if you want to stop.

Medicare: If you are on Medicare because of SSDI, your coverage will end the month after your SSDI ends — but you have to report the cancellation to Medicare for them to process it. Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and tell them you have canceled your SSDI. They will confirm your coverage end date. If you want to keep Medicare after SSDI ends, you can pay the premium yourself, though the cost is substantial. Ask Medicare about your options before you cancel SSDI.

Medicaid: Medicaid rules vary by state. In most states, your Medicaid ends when your SSDI ends, but some states have programs that let you keep Medicaid even after you lose SSDI if your income stays low enough. Contact your state Medicaid office to find out what happens in your state. You can find your state office at medicaid.gov/about-us/contact-us.

Restarting your case if you cancel and change your mind

If you cancel your SSDI and then decide you want it back, you can reapply. However, the process depends on how long you have been off benefits.

Within 12 months of cancellation: You may be able to restart your old case without filing a new claim. This is called expedited reinstatement. You do not have to go through the full approval process again — Social Security can restart your old case quickly. To use this option, you must contact Social Security and ask for reinstatement within 12 months of the month your benefits ended. You will need to explain why you want benefits again. Social Security will review your situation and decide whether to restart your case. This usually takes a few weeks.

After 12 months: You must file a new SSDI claim. This means going through the entire approval process again, which takes three to six months or longer. Your old case is closed, and Social Security will treat your new claim as if you have never received benefits before. You will need medical evidence that you are still disabled, and you will wait through the same timeline as a first-time applicant.

Before you cancel, ask Social Security whether you might want benefits again. If there is any chance you will reapply within a year, ask about expedited reinstatement so you understand your options.

Canceling because you are working and earning too much

If you are working and your earnings have gone over the limit, your SSDI benefits will stop automatically — you do not have to cancel. Social Security monitors your earnings reports and stops payments when you exceed the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which changes each year. In 2024, the limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries, though these amounts change annually.

You do not need to contact Social Security to stop your benefits in this situation. However, you should report your earnings to Social Security as soon as you start working, because they need accurate information to calculate when your benefits end. If you do not report and Social Security finds out later, you may owe back an overpayment.

If you think you might go back to work part-time or your earnings might drop again, do not cancel. Let your benefits stop due to earnings instead. This preserves your case and makes it easier to restart if your work situation changes.

Switching from SSDI to retirement benefits at full retirement age

If you have reached your full retirement age (which depends on your birth year, ranging from 66 to 67), you can switch from SSDI to retirement benefits. You do not cancel SSDI and then explore for retirement separately. Instead, Social Security automatically converts your case when you reach full retirement age.

Your retirement benefit amount may be higher, lower, or the same as your SSDI amount — it depends on your work history and earnings record. Social Security will send you a notice explaining the new amount before the switch happens. You do not have to do anything; the conversion is automatic. If you want to delay retirement benefits to get a higher amount, you can contact Social Security and ask them to hold off on the conversion, though this is uncommon.

If you want to cancel your benefits entirely rather than switch to retirement, you can still do that by following the steps above. But most people let the automatic conversion happen, because retirement benefits are usually worth keeping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my benefits for just a few months and then restart them?

You can restart within 12 months using expedited reinstatement, which is faster than a new claim. After 12 months, you must file a new claim and wait through the full approval process again. If you think you might need benefits again soon, ask Social Security about expedited reinstatement before you cancel.

Will I have to repay benefits if I cancel?

Only if Social Security says you were overpaid — meaning you received money you were not supposed to get. They will tell you if this applies to your case. If you do owe an overpayment, they may hold it back from your final payment or ask you to repay it separately.

What if I cancel but then realize I still need the money?

Contact Social Security when ready and ask about expedited reinstatement. You have 12 months from the month your benefits ended to restart your old case without filing a new claim. After 12 months, you must file a new claim and go through the approval process again, which takes months.

Do I lose my Social Security number or record if I cancel?

No. Canceling SSDI does not affect your Social Security number or your work record. Your earnings history stays on file. If you reapply for SSDI or retirement benefits later, Social Security will have your full history available.

What happens to my case if I cancel and then become unable to work again?

If you cancel and later become disabled again within 12 months, you can ask for expedited reinstatement and restart your old case. After 12 months, you must file a new SSDI claim. Bring medical evidence of your current disability. The approval process will take several months.