Social Security application timing - how many months before September eligibility should I file?

The official SSA recommendation is to apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. I applied exactly 4 months before my FRA last year and everything processed smoothly. My first payment arrived right on schedule the month after my birthday. Here's what I'd suggest: - Apply online in May 2025 (4 months before September) - Make sure you have all your documents ready (birth certificate, any marriage/divorce papers if relevant) - Print a copy of your confirmation page when you finish - Check your my Social Security account weekly after applying The online application is pretty straightforward and will actually let you schedule when you want benefits to start. Just make sure you select September 2025 as your benefit start month.

Apply 3 months b4 ur eligible. thats what they told me. anything more is just sitting in their system

I'm turning 67 in August and just submitted my application last week (March 2025). The online system accepted it without any problems, and I was able to select August as my first month of benefits. I was worried it might be too early too, but the confirmation page said my application was received and being processed. One tip - make sure your mySocialSecurity account is set up and fully verified before you start the application. I had to wait 2 weeks for a verification code to come in the mail when I first created mine last year, which would have been stressful if I was trying to apply right then.

I work at a senior center and help people with SS applications all the time. The official guidance is 3-4 months, but honestly, with the way processing times have been fluctuating lately, I recommend 4-5 months before your eligibility date. Some things to know: 1. Applying too early (more than 6 months) can cause problems as the system may not be ready to process your application 2. Applying too late (less than 2 months) risks delayed payments 3. If your application is submitted too early, they'll generally hold it until the appropriate processing window 4. Online applications typically process faster than paper or in-person applications Since your birthday is early September, applying in May (4 months prior) should be perfect timing. Just make sure all your information is accurate - especially earnings history and birth date verification.

My sister applied 6 months early and they just held her application until the right time. Her benefits still started right on time. I think the system just queues them up anyway so might as well get it done sooner rather than later?

I had a NIGHTMARE trying to reach someone at Social Security to confirm my application was being processed correctly. Applied 4 months before my FRA but then noticed an error in my application. Spent THREE WEEKS calling every day and either getting busy signals or disconnected after 2+ hour waits. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Whatever you do, apply at least 4 months early so you have time to fix any issues. And if you need to speak with someone at SSA, save yourself the frustration of calling directly.

I WAITED TOO LONG and it was a huge mistake!!! Only applied 2 months before I turned 66 and 4 months. My first payment was DELAYED by over a month and then they didn't backpay me properly! Had to fight with them for WEEKS to get it fixed. DON'T RISK IT - APPLY 4 MONTHS EARLY MINIMUM!!!!!

does anyone know if it matters what day of the month you apply? like is it better to do it at the beginning of May vs the end of May if targeting September benefits?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply in early May, which will be about 4 months before my September eligibility. I'll make sure my mySocialSecurity account is up-to-date first and have all my documents ready. One more question - does anyone know if I need to provide my birth certificate even if I'm applying online? I have a passport, but my original birth certificate is in a safety deposit box that's not very convenient to access.