Can I start Social Security benefits in the SAME month I reach FRA if my birthday is on the 2nd?
I'm turning my Full Retirement Age on June 2nd, 2025, and I'm trying to figure out exactly when to start my Social Security benefits. I know that taking benefits before FRA results in a reduction, but I'm not clear about the exact timing rules when your birthday falls early in the month. If I apply to start benefits in June (the month I actually reach FRA), will I get my full benefit amount without reduction? Or do I need to wait until July to avoid any potential reduction? The SSA website mentions something about months and birthdays, but it's really confusing me. I don't want to accidentally lose money by filing just a few days too early!
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Amara Nwosu
You're in luck! Social Security has a special rule for people born on the 1st through the 10th of the month. You are considered to have attained your age for the entire month. So since your FRA is on June 2nd, you're considered to have reached your FRA for the entire month of June. You can safely start your benefits in June 2025 with no reduction at all.
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Liam O'Donnell
AuthorThat's fantastic news! I was worried I'd have to wait another month. So just to be 100% clear - when I fill out the application, I should select June 2025 as my benefit start month, correct?
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AstroExplorer
my mom started hers on her birthday month last year and got the full amount. your fine
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Giovanni Moretti
This is technically correct advice but for the wrong reason. It's not because "your mom did it" - it's because of the specific SSA rule about being born in the first 10 days of a month. If someone's birthday is on the 11th or later, different rules apply! Always important to understand WHY something works rather than just following anecdotes.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
I was LITERALLY just dealing with this same question last month!!! My FRA birthday was on the 5th, and I was so paranoid about getting it wrong that I called SSA like 3 times and got 3 slightly different answers which was INFURIATING!!! One rep told me to wait until the following month just to be "safe" but another one confirmed I could start it the same month. The whole system is designed to confuse us I swear!!!!!
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Liam O'Donnell
AuthorOh wow, that's frustrating! What did you end up doing? Did you start your benefits in the same month as your FRA or wait until the next month?
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Fatima Al-Farsi
I ended up starting them the same month because I found the actual rule in writing on their website finally. But trying to get consistent info from their phone reps was impossible!
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Dylan Cooper
SSA has what they call the "birthday rule" - if you're born on the 1st through the 10th, you reach that age on the first day of the month. Born on the 11th through the 20th, you reach that age on the 11th. Born on the 21st through the end of the month, you reach that age on the 21st. Since your birthday is on the 2nd, you're considered to have reached your Full Retirement Age on June 1st, 2025. You can start benefits that month without reduction. Make sure your application clearly states June 2025 as your benefit start month.
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Liam O'Donnell
AuthorThank you for explaining the complete rule! That helps me understand how the whole system works. I'll make sure to specify June 2025 when I apply.
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Sofia Perez
I thought it depended on whether you were born on a weekend? My cousin told me that if your birthday falls on a Saturday or Sunday then you have to wait till the following month... is that not right?
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Giovanni Moretti
No, that's completely incorrect. The day of the week (weekend vs. weekday) has absolutely nothing to do with when you reach FRA or when you can claim benefits. It's solely based on the date of the month you were born, as others have correctly explained above.
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Dmitry Smirnov
I tried calling SS to ask a similar question and was on hold for 2 HOURS before giving up. Tried again the next day, same thing. How does anyone actually reach them?? So frustrating.
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AstroExplorer
have you tried calling right when they open? thats what i had to do
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Dmitry Smirnov
Yeah, tried that too. Still waited forever!
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Dylan Cooper
I had similar problems reaching SSA by phone. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of waiting and frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - definitely worth it for important questions like benefit timing where you want an official answer documented in your account.
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Giovanni Moretti
To add some additional context that might be helpful: this rule about birthdays in the first 10 days of the month is formally called the "Date of Attainment Rule" in SSA's Program Operations Manual. The exact same rule applies to when you turn 62 (earliest eligibility age), when you reach FRA, and when you turn 70 (maximum benefit age). One important note - even though you can start benefits in the month you reach FRA with no reduction, your actual payment for that month will arrive the following month. So your June 2025 benefit payment would arrive in July 2025. This sometimes confuses people who are expecting a payment right away.
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Liam O'Donnell
AuthorThank you for that clarification about when the payment actually arrives! That's really helpful for my financial planning. I'll make sure not to expect the first payment until July even though the benefits technically start in June.
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Liam O'Donnell
Thank you all for the great information! Just to summarize what I learned so the next person with this question can benefit: 1. Since my FRA is on the 2nd of the month (within the first 10 days), I'm considered to have reached FRA for the entire month 2. I can safely start benefits in June 2025 with NO reduction 3. When applying, I should specifically select June 2025 as my benefit start month 4. My June benefit will actually be paid in July This has been incredibly helpful and saved me from potentially making a costly mistake or having to spend hours trying to reach SSA directly. Thanks again everyone!
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Andre Laurent
You're very welcome! I'm glad we could help clear this up for you. Your summary is perfect and will definitely help future readers who find themselves in the same situation. The birthday timing rules can be really confusing at first, but once you understand them they make sense. Best of luck with your application - you've got all the information you need to do it right! And congratulations on reaching your FRA!
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