Filing for Social Security at 66+4 months - too late for March benefits or should I wait for April?
I just realized my Full Retirement Age hits in November 2025, and I want to start collecting Social Security ASAP. Not interested in waiting until FRA since I could use the money now. Is it already too late to apply if I want March payments, or should I just aim for April? Really want to maximize what I can get this year. I've got my mySocialSecurity account set up already and plan to apply online. Quick question - will they ask for my bank info during the application? Need to have my routing and account numbers ready if so. Any tips from folks who've recently applied would be great! Trying to get this done this weekend if possible.
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Sophia Miller
You should apply immediately if you want March benefits. SSA generally needs your application by the month before you want benefits to begin, but they do sometimes pay for the month of application. The online application takes about 15-20 minutes if you have all your information ready. Yes, they will ask for your routing and account number during the application, so have that information handy. They'll also want information about your work history, marriages, and other basic personal information. Make sure you understand that by filing before your FRA in November, your benefit will be permanently reduced by about 0.5% for each month you claim early. That's roughly a 4% reduction from your full benefit amount if you start in March.
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Elijah Jackson
•Thank you! Going to start the application right now then. I figured there would be some reduction but honestly I'm ok with that - need the income stream more than the extra percentage down the road.
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Mason Davis
Apply ASAP!! I waited til the last minute last year and ended up missing a whole month of payments! Such a headache.
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Mia Rodriguez
I had the WORST time trying to apply online last month. The website kept timing out and losing all my information. I tried calling SSA directly and was on hold for 3+ HOURS before getting disconnected. TWICE!! Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it instead of wasting days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent walked me through everything and confirmed my application was submitted correctly. So much easier than fighting with that website!
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Jacob Lewis
•does that really work? might try it myself since ive been trying to reach ssa for 2 weeks
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Mia Rodriguez
•Yep, worked great for me. The agent was actually really helpful once I got through. Saved me a ton of frustration.
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Amelia Martinez
The 2-page SSA application literally asks for: 1. Your personal info (SSN, DOB, place of birth) 2. Citizenship status 3. Payment details (bank account info for direct deposit) 4. Whether you've been married (marriage/divorce dates if applicable) 5. Whether you've worked in the last 2 years 6. When you want benefits to start Worth noting - they'll only backpay up to 6 months if you're past FRA, but since you're before FRA, they'll only start payments from application date forward. So yes, apply immediately if you want March! And yes, they absolutely ask for bank details for direct deposit.
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Elijah Jackson
•This is super helpful, thank you! I've gathered all this information so I should be good to go. Really hoping I can still get March benefits if I submit this weekend.
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Ethan Clark
I'm confused about something. If your FRA is in November, aren't you giving up a lot of money by filing now? I thought the reduction was pretty significant? Can someone explain why someone would file early? (I'm still a few years away from even thinking about this, so trying to learn
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Sophia Miller
•Good question! For each month you claim before FRA, your benefit is reduced by about 5/9 of 1% for the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% beyond that. So in this case, filing 8 months early means approximately a 4.4% permanent reduction in monthly benefits. Some people prefer taking reduced benefits earlier rather than waiting for the full amount, especially if they need the income now or have health concerns. It's very much a personal decision based on individual financial situations and life expectancy estimates.
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Ethan Clark
•That makes sense, thanks for explaining! I guess everyone has different circumstances.
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Mila Walker
just wantd to mention they mail you a confirmation letter after you apply online. dont panic if you dont get an email right away. took bout 2 weeks for mine to come last yr.
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Jacob Lewis
my sister applied in january and got her first payment mid-february so ya its not too late for march if u do it like right now
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Mason Davis
Wait don't u need to provide proof of age?? I had to send in my birth certificate when I applied. Maybe that's just if u don't have the mysocialsecurity account already set up?
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Amelia Martinez
•If you already have a verified mySocialSecurity account (like the OP mentioned), they generally don't need additional identity verification during the application process. The system should already have verified your identity when you created the account. However, in some cases they might still request supporting documentation later if there are any discrepancies in their records. It varies case by case.
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Elijah Jackson
Update: I just finished applying! Took about 25 minutes total. They definitely ask for bank info for direct deposit. The site says they'll process my application and send me a letter with their decision. Fingers crossed I'll get March benefits since I applied before the end of the month! The reduction amount works out to about $160 less per month than if I waited until November, but that's fine with me. I'd rather have 8 months of slightly reduced payments than no payments at all during that time. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Sophia Miller
•Glad you got it submitted! One thing to keep in mind - your first payment for March (if approved) would come in April, as Social Security is paid the month after it's due. So don't panic if you don't see anything in March.
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Darcy Moore
Congrats on getting your application submitted! That's a smart move applying before month-end. Just wanted to add a couple things that might be helpful: 1. You can track your application status through your mySocialSecurity account - there's usually an "Application Status" section that gets updated as they process it. 2. If you don't hear anything within 2-3 weeks, don't hesitate to call the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) to check on status. Sometimes applications get held up for minor reasons that can be resolved quickly with a phone call. 3. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submitted, including screenshots of your completed application if possible. You made the right choice for your situation - having income now vs waiting for a slightly higher amount later is totally valid, especially since you'll still be collecting for many years to come. Best of luck with the approval!
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