What year must you have been born before to apply for a restricted application?

To apply for a restricted application for Social Security benefits, an individual must have been born before 1954. This is significant because the rules regarding restricted applications changed with the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Prior to this change, individuals who turned 62 before January 1, 2016, had the option to file a restricted application. This allowed them to selectively claim one type of benefit (typically spousal benefits) while allowing their own benefits to grow until a later age.

Individuals born in 1954 or later do not have the same option available; the ability to use a restricted application has been eliminated for them. Therefore, understanding the importance of the year 1954 is crucial, as it marks the cutoff for those who can take advantage of this strategy, allowing those individuals to make informed decisions about their Social Security claiming strategies.