Confused about when to apply for Social Security at 70 - March birthday after the 2nd

You're doing the right thing by applying about 4 months before you want benefits to begin. Since your birthday is after the 2nd of the month, your benefit month will be March 2025 (the month you turn 70). Your first payment would arrive in April 2025, as Social Security pays benefits in the month following the month they're due. Go ahead and complete your application now - you're right on schedule!

I went through this exact same confusion when I turned 70 last year! The Social Security website is so unclear about this. For what it's worth, I applied 3 months before my birthday (which is on the 25th), selected my birth month as the start date, and everything worked perfectly. My first check came the following month with the full delayed retirement credits included. Just make sure to specifically select March 2025 on the application.

The 2nd of the month rule is confusing! If born on 1st or 2nd, you get paid for the previous month. Since your birthday is the 17th, your benefit month IS March, and you'll get paid in April. Applying 4 months early is PERFECT timing!

You're right on track applying 4 months in advance. Since your birthday is March 17th, your benefit month is March 2025. The SSA recommends applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin, so your timing is perfect. The rule about birthdays on the 1st or 2nd is called the "Special Rule for Month of Birth." Essentially: - If born on the 1st or 2nd: Your benefit month is the previous month (February in your case, if this applied) - If born on the 3rd-31st: Your benefit month is your birth month (March in your case) For payment timing: Regardless of when your benefit month is, you always receive the payment in the following month (so April for your March benefit). Select March 2025 as your benefit start month, and you're good to go!

i waited til 70 to get my ss also and REGRET IT!!! they told me i shoulda applied earlier cuz u can only get 6 months backpay!! did anyone tell you about that?? so if u wait too long after 70 u LOSE money forevre!!

Have you tried calling the Social Security office directly? I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my own retirement application and keep getting disconnected or told to call back. It's beyond frustrating when you just need a simple answer about your benefits that will affect your entire financial future.

Everyone here is mostly correct but there's a detail missing. When you turn 70, delayed retirement credits stop accruing. There's absolutely no benefit to waiting beyond that point. The only reason to wait would be if you're still working and earning enough that the earnings test would reduce your benefits, but that doesn't apply after FRA anyway. So yes, apply now to start benefits in March. And congrats on maximizing your benefit by waiting until 70!

One more tip from my experience - save/print a copy of your submission confirmation page after you complete the online application. I didn't do this and regretted it later when I needed to reference my application number. Also, set up your my Social Security account online if you haven't already - you can track your application status there.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process. I turned 70 in August and applied in April (4 months early, just like you're doing). The online application was actually pretty straightforward once I understood the timing rules everyone has explained here. One thing that helped me was double-checking my earnings record on my mySocialSecurity account before applying - I found a small error from 2019 that I was able to get corrected, which actually increased my benefit amount slightly. Since you've waited until 70 for maximum benefits, it's worth making sure your earnings history is completely accurate before you submit. Also, after you apply, you should receive a letter within a few weeks confirming your application and estimated benefit amount. Don't panic if it takes a bit longer than expected - mine took about 3 weeks to arrive. Good luck with your application!

As a federal employee who recently retired and went through this same process, I can confirm everything others have said about the timing. You're absolutely doing this right by applying now for March 2025 benefits! One additional tip that might help: when you complete the online application, make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand - birth certificate, most recent tax return, bank account info for direct deposit, etc. The system times out after a certain period of inactivity, and it's frustrating to lose your progress halfway through. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for additional documentation after you submit. I had to mail in a copy of my birth certificate even though I uploaded it during the application process. Just part of their verification procedures. You've made a smart financial decision waiting until 70, and your timing for the application is perfect. Your March benefit will reflect all those delayed retirement credits you've earned!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 70 in February 2025 and just submitted my application last week! Like you, I was confused about the timing at first, but after reading through all the SSA materials (and getting help from this community), I can confirm what everyone else is saying: you're doing everything right. Since your birthday is March 17th (after the 2nd), March 2025 is definitely your correct benefit month, and you'll receive your first payment in April 2025. Applying 4 months ahead is exactly what SSA recommends. One small tip from my recent experience: when you get to the section about "when do you want benefits to start," make sure you select March 2025 even though that might feel counterintuitive since you won't get paid until April. The system is asking for your benefit month, not your payment month. Also, I found it helpful to call my local SSA office after submitting just to confirm they received everything correctly. Even though the online system gives you a confirmation, talking to someone gave me extra peace of mind. Good luck with your application - you've made a smart choice waiting for maximum benefits!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - turning 70 in April 2025 with a birthday on the 22nd! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I was also confused by that dropdown menu and the 2nd of the month rule, but now I understand it completely thanks to everyone's explanations. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is about the timing. It sounds like applying 3-4 months ahead is the sweet spot, and selecting your actual birth month (not the payment month) is key. I'm planning to submit my application next month following the same approach you're taking. One question for those who have been through this - after you applied online, did you receive any kind of estimated benefit amount confirmation? I'm curious if the system shows you what your monthly payment will be with all the delayed retirement credits included, or if you have to wait for the official award letter. Congratulations on making it to 70 and maximizing your benefits! It takes discipline to wait that long, but it sounds like you'll be rewarded with those extra delayed retirement credits.

I went through this exact process 6 months ago when I turned 70 in September! The confusion about timing is so common - the SSA website really could explain this more clearly. You're absolutely doing everything right by applying now. Here's what I learned: since your birthday is March 17th (after the 2nd), your benefit month is March 2025, and your first payment arrives in April 2025. The 3-4 month advance application window you're in is perfect timing. One thing that really helped me was understanding that "benefit month" and "payment month" are different concepts. You select March 2025 as your benefit start month in the application, even though the actual payment comes in April. This confused me initially too! After I submitted my online application, I got a confirmation number immediately, and then received an official letter about 2-3 weeks later confirming my application and showing my estimated benefit amount with all the delayed retirement credits included. It was so satisfying to finally see that higher amount after waiting until 70! You've made a smart financial decision waiting for maximum benefits, and your timing is spot-on. Go ahead and select March 2025 as your benefit start month - you're all set!

I'm a newcomer here but have been lurking and reading all these responses with great interest! I'm turning 70 in June 2025 and was having the exact same confusion about timing and which month to select. This thread has been incredibly educational - thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences! What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's advice is about applying 3-4 months early and selecting your birth month (not payment month) as the benefit start date. The distinction between "benefit month" and "payment month" was the missing piece I needed to understand. I'm curious - for those who have completed this process, did you find the online application itself straightforward once you understood the timing rules? I'm wondering if there are any other common pitfalls or confusing sections in the actual application that I should be prepared for when I apply in a couple months. Also, it sounds like gathering all documents beforehand is crucial to avoid timeout issues. Has anyone made a comprehensive checklist of everything needed for the application?

As someone who just turned 70 last month and successfully navigated this exact same process, I want to echo what everyone else has said - you're doing everything perfectly! The timing confusion is so real, but you've got it right. I applied in August for my December birthday (also after the 2nd), selected December as my benefit month, and received my first payment in January with all the delayed retirement credits included. The whole process went smoothly once I understood that distinction between benefit month vs payment month that several people have explained so well here. One additional tip I'd add: when you complete your application, take screenshots of every page, not just the final confirmation. I ended up needing to reference some of my application details later and was glad I had them saved. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is correct in your bank account - you don't want any delays once that first payment is ready to go! Congratulations on making it to 70 and maximizing your benefits. It's such a relief to finally start receiving those payments after years of planning and waiting. You're so close to the finish line now!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm turning 70 in May 2025 and was completely lost about the application timing until I found this discussion. Reading through everyone's real experiences has cleared up so much confusion. The key points that really helped me understand: - Apply 3-4 months before your 70th birthday (which you're doing perfectly) - Select your birth month (March 2025) as the benefit start month, NOT the payment month - Since your birthday is after the 2nd, March is definitely your correct benefit month - Your first payment will arrive in April 2025 What I found most reassuring is how consistent everyone's advice is, and hearing from people who literally just went through this process in recent months with successful outcomes. The distinction between "benefit month" and "payment month" was the missing piece I needed to understand. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing SSA processes! I feel so much more confident about applying for my own benefits in the coming weeks.