Should I start Social Security benefits on my FRA birthday (23rd) or wait until the next month?
I'm turning Full Retirement Age on the 23rd of next month and I'm confused about when exactly to start my Social Security benefits. If I apply for benefits to begin on my actual FRA date (the 23rd), will I get a partial payment for that month? Or should I just request benefits to start on the 1st of the following month to get a full month's payment? Does it make any financial difference? The SSA website isn't clear about this, and when I called, I couldn't get through to anyone who could explain it properly. Has anyone dealt with this timing issue before?
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Kolton Murphy
Social Security pays benefits for the month, not partial months. The check you receive in June is actually for May's benefits. So if your FRA is on the 23rd of a month, you're eligible for benefits for that entire month. You should apply for benefits to start the month you reach FRA. There's no advantage to waiting until the next month - you'd just be losing a month of payments.
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Jackson Carter
•Thank you! So if I understand correctly, even though I reach FRA on the 23rd, I'll actually get paid for the entire month? The SSA representative I talked to briefly (before getting disconnected) mentioned something about benefits being paid the month after eligibility and I got confused.
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Evelyn Rivera
i hit my fra last year in the middle of the month too and i just had them start my benefits that month. dont wait til next month, you'll just lose money. they pay for the whole month regardless of what day you turn fra
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Jackson Carter
•That's a relief to hear! Did you have any issues with the first payment being prorated or anything like that?
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Julia Hall
Let me clarify this since there seems to be some confusion. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due. There's an important distinction: 1. You become ENTITLED to benefits the month you reach FRA, regardless of which day of the month that falls on. 2. You receive the PAYMENT for that month's benefits in the following month. So if you reach FRA on June 23rd, you're entitled to full benefits for the entire month of June, but you'll receive that payment in July. There's absolutely no reason to delay your entitlement date to July 1st - you'd just be giving up a month of benefits you're legally entitled to receive. Make sure you specify June (or whatever month you reach FRA) as your benefit start month on your application.
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Jackson Carter
•Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I'll definitely make sure to specify the month I reach FRA as my benefit start month. So much conflicting information out there!
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Arjun Patel
Congrats on reaching FRA! 👍 Always take the money as soon as eligible - that's my philosophy!
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Jade Lopez
I had THE EXACT SAME QUESTION last year and wasted THREE HOURS on hold with SSA trying to get an answer!!! Their phone system is TERRIBLE!! I finally gave up and just selected my FRA month on the application. Later found out that was correct but WHY is it so hard to get simple answers from them?????
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Tony Brooks
•I hear you about those ridiculous wait times! When I was dealing with my application issues, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. It was super helpful for getting my benefits questions answered when I couldn't get through the normal way.
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Ella rollingthunder87
my sister waited til the next month after her birthday to start and she regrets it now. said nobody told her she could get the full month even though her birthday was on the 18th. don't make the same mistake!
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Kolton Murphy
Another point worth mentioning: If you're planning to work after claiming benefits, remember that once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies. So even if you reach FRA on the 23rd of the month, the earnings test doesn't apply for the entire month. This is another reason why you should definitely claim for the month you reach FRA, not the following month.
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Jackson Carter
•That's really good to know! I do plan to keep working part-time. So there's no earnings limit at all once I hit FRA? Even if I make quite a bit?
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Julia Hall
•Correct. Once you reach FRA, there is no earnings test/limit at all, regardless of how much you earn. Your benefits will not be reduced no matter how much you make. However, depending on your overall income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may become taxable, but that's a separate issue from the earnings test.
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Evelyn Rivera
when i filed online it asked me what month i wanted to start. just put the month u turn fra don't overthink it
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Ella rollingthunder87
I turned FRA in april but i had so many problems with the website i just went to the local office instead. less headache that way for me anyway
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Jade Lopez
•HA! Our local office is STILL appointment only and they're booking 3+ MONTHS out! Online is frustrating but at least it doesn't take half a day sitting in those awful plastic chairs with 50 other people!
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Jackson Carter
Thank you all for the helpful information! I've gone ahead and applied online, requesting benefits to start in the month I reach FRA. I'm relieved to know I'll get the full month's benefit even though my birthday is on the 23rd. This forum has been more helpful than hours of trying to get through to SSA!
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