Social Security application timing - turning 62 in June, when to apply for first benefit payment?

Yes, you're on the right track. Social Security recommends applying about 3 months before you want benefits to begin, so March would be appropriate for your June start date. Since you're born on the 3rd, your first month of eligibility is the full month of June. And you're correct - SS pays one month behind, so your June benefit would be paid in July. Just be aware that by taking benefits at 62, you're accepting a permanent reduction compared to your Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit amount. For someone turning 62 this year, that's a reduction of about 30%. Make sure this fits your overall financial plan!

congrats on retirement! i got my first check last yr and wasnt prepared for how SMALL it was after the reduction. make sure u have other $ sources if possible

When I turned 62 last year, I applied 4 months early because I was nervous about delays. BIG MISTAKE!!! They processed it immediately and gave me a start date earlier than I wanted! Then I had to deal with the earnings limit because I was still working part-time. If you're still working AT ALL be careful because there's a $21,240 earnings limit for 2025 (I think) and they'll take back $1 for every $2 you earn over that!!! Read the instructions VERY CAREFULLY when applying!!!

I had such a headache reaching someone at SSA when I was applying last year. Took me weeks of calling and getting disconnected. Finally I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in under 10 minutes. They literally call SSA for you and connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration with the busy signals and holds. I think their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I'd recommend applying online first, but if you have any questions or need to speak with someone to confirm your application went through properly, keep this option in mind. So much better than waiting on hold for hours.

Something everyone always forgets - if u turn 62 on the 3rd, ur eligible for the WHOLE MONTH of june because u were 62 for more than 1 day in the month. But benefits always come the month after they're due. So june benefits will come in july, but dont freak out when they dont show up on july 1st! They come based on birthdate - early, middle or end of month. Check the SS website for the payment schedule based on ur birthday.

When I submitted my retirement application last year, I planned everything perfectly... then my bills started coming due and I realized I had a 4-6 week gap with no income! My last paycheck from work was gone but my first SS payment hadn't arrived yet. Just something to plan for in your budget. My sister had the same problem and had to use credit cards to get through those weeks.

Make sure to double-check your earnings record before applying! I discovered my employer from 2010-2012 had reported my income incorrectly, and it took MONTHS to fix. This affected my benefit calculation by almost $200/month. You can check your earnings record on mySocialSecurity. If there are any errors, fix those BEFORE applying for benefits. Also, if you're married, have you considered spousal benefit coordination strategies? Sometimes it makes sense for the higher-earning spouse to delay benefits while the lower earner claims early.

dont forget about TAXES! i was shocked when i had to pay taxes on my SS benefits. if ur total income is over like $25k (single) or $32k (married) u might have to pay federal taxes on up to 85% of ur benefits. big surprise to me!!!

Great question! I went through this exact process 3 years ago when I turned 62. Here's what I learned: Yes, apply in March for June benefits - that 3-month window is perfect. Your first payment will arrive in July (SS pays the month after). But here's what nobody tells you: make sure you have a cushion for living expenses during that transition period! One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - when you apply online, PRINT everything and keep copies. I had to reference my application details multiple times during the process. Also, if you have any periods of military service, make sure those are reflected correctly in your earnings record as they can boost your benefit calculation. The online application is pretty straightforward, but don't rush through it. Take your time on the sections about when you want benefits to start and whether you plan to work. Those choices matter more than you might think! Good luck with your retirement planning!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're planning to apply online in March, make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand! You'll need your birth certificate, W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the previous year, military discharge papers if applicable, and bank account information for direct deposit. I'd also recommend creating your mySocialSecurity account NOW if you haven't already. It takes a few days to verify your identity, and you'll want to review your earnings history and benefit estimates before applying. Plus, once you're receiving benefits, you'll use this account to manage everything - tax documents, address changes, benefit verification letters, etc. The whole process was much smoother than I expected when I applied at 62, but having everything organized ahead of time definitely helped. And definitely agree with everyone about budgeting for that gap between your last paycheck and first SS payment!