Can I change my Social Security start date from December to November after job loss?

Yes, you can absolutely request to change your start date! I went through this exact situation last year. Call SSA immediately and request a change to your onset date to November. Since you haven't received your first payment yet, they should be able to adjust this without much trouble. Just make sure you understand that starting a month earlier means your monthly benefit will be slightly lower permanently (if you're starting before your full retirement age). But in your situation with the job loss, getting that payment in December might be worth it.

congrats on ur approval! sucks about the job tho. my cousin changed his start date but he did it b4 he got approved i think. good luck!

They MIGHT let you do this but expect to spend HOURS trying to reach someone at SSA!!! I had to change something on my application last year and spent literally 3 weeks trying to get through. Called 15+ times, got disconnected every single time after waiting on hold for hours!!! The system is BROKEN and they don't care about us seniors at all!!!

You can request a change to your benefit start month, but there are a few important things to understand: 1. You can request this change as long as you haven't received your first payment yet 2. If you're under Full Retirement Age (FRA), starting a month earlier will permanently reduce your monthly benefit amount by a small percentage 3. There are no retroactive benefits before your application filing date if you're under FRA 4. If you're past FRA, you can potentially request up to 6 months of retroactive benefits To make this change, call SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local office. Be prepared to explain your change in circumstances (job loss). Have your confirmation number or Social Security number ready when you call. I recommend making this request as soon as possible.

When I applied last year the agent told me that I could change my start date anytime before I got my first payment. But I think there's a form you need to fill out? Maybe someone else knows which form it is? Sorry I can't remember the details.

This happened to me too! Lost my job right after applying. I called and changed my date and it worked out fine. Just be prepared that the payment might be a bit smaller if you're taking it earlier than you planned. For me it was like $37 less per month but totally worth it to get money a month sooner when I needed it!

I'm so confused about something - I thought Social Security payments were always for the PREVIOUS month? So even if you get approved for November, wouldn't the December payment actually be FOR November? And January's payment would be FOR December? That's how mine works.

good luck!! hope it works out for u!

Update: I got through to SSA this morning! They said I can change my start date and it won't delay processing since I'm already approved. The representative was actually really helpful and sympathetic about my job situation. My benefit will be about $42 less per month compared to my December start date, but getting that first payment in December instead of January will make a huge difference right now. Thanks everyone for your advice!

That's wonderful news, Lucas! So glad you were able to get through to SSA and resolve this quickly. It's reassuring to hear that they were understanding about your situation - sometimes we hear so many horror stories about dealing with government agencies, but there are still helpful representatives out there. The $42 monthly reduction is definitely worth it for getting that December payment when you need it most. Thanks for sharing your positive outcome - it will definitely help others in similar situations know what to expect!

I'm so glad this worked out for you, Lucas! Your experience gives me hope - I've been dreading having to deal with SSA bureaucracy but it sounds like you got someone who actually cared about helping you. The timing of losing your job right after getting approved must have been so stressful, but at least now you have that financial cushion coming in December. It's really generous of you to come back and update everyone with the details about the $42 reduction and the smooth process. This kind of real-world experience is exactly what people in similar situations need to hear. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this transition!

This is such a helpful thread! As someone new to the Social Security process, I'm really grateful to see Lucas's positive outcome and all the detailed advice from experienced community members. It's reassuring to know that SSA can be flexible when life circumstances change unexpectedly. The fact that Lucas was able to get through quickly and make the change without starting over gives me confidence that the system can work when you need it to. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it makes navigating this process much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

What a wonderful update, Lucas! As someone who's been lurking in this community while researching my own Social Security options, your experience is incredibly valuable. It's so encouraging to see that SSA was not only accommodating but also sympathetic to your situation - that really speaks well of the representative you reached. The $42 monthly reduction for getting your first payment a month earlier seems like a very fair trade-off given your sudden job loss. I'm sure many people in similar situations will find your detailed account helpful for understanding both the process and what to expect. Thanks for taking the time to circle back with the resolution - it really completes the story and gives hope to others who might need to make similar changes!

Lucas, what fantastic news! As a newcomer to this community and the Social Security process, I found your entire journey so helpful to follow. It's really encouraging to see that SSA was able to work with you so quickly and compassionately regarding your job loss situation. The $42 monthly reduction for getting that December payment seems totally worth it given your circumstances. I'm just starting to research my own Social Security options and was honestly pretty intimidated by all the bureaucracy, but your experience shows that sometimes the system really does work when you need it to. Thank you for taking the time to update everyone with such detailed information - it gives those of us new to this process real hope that if we need to make changes, there are understanding people on the other end of that phone line!