Over the last few years, journalists started to publicize a little known strategy of starting Social Security at age 62 and then paying the money back at age 70 and restarting your Social Security benefits. In effect, it was an interest free loan.

Less than a 1000 people a year took advantage of this strategy, but with the increasing press, Social Security decided to be proactive and change the rules and will no longer allow people to repay their Social Security benefits and restart the clock after more than 12 months have elapsed since starting Social Security.

For those using the file and suspend technique, they have also tightened up on suspensions so that you cannot file a suspension retroactively (i.e., pay back monthly payments already received).