Social Security benefits - application date vs. start date impact on FRA benefit amount

Your benefit amount is based on the month you choose to START receiving benefits, not when you apply. You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin. So yes, you could apply in February but select April as your start month to get the higher amount. The growth in your benefit amount between February and April is due to the Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) you earn by waiting past your FRA. These increase your benefit by 2/3 of 1% per month (or 8% per year) that you delay past FRA, up until age 70.

your overthinking this. just go in and do it when your ready. the ssa peeps wil figure it all out for you. i did mine last year and got confused to so i just walked into the office and they helped. the ladies there know what there doing.

I was in the EXACT same situation last year! I applied in August 2024 but selected October 2024 as my start month to get the higher amount. It worked perfectly - my benefit amount was calculated based on October (with the extra DRCs) even though I applied in August. One tip though: Make sure you're very clear about your intent when filing. On the application, there's a specific section where you select your benefit start month. Double-check this before submitting! After submitting my application online, I couldn't get through to anyone at SSA to confirm they processed my start date correctly. I was so anxious! I tried calling for DAYS but kept getting disconnected or told the wait was 2+ hours. Finally, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent within 20 minutes. Totally worth it to confirm everything was correct! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

You can't trust what SSA tells you!! I applied last year and they told me one thing but did another. My sister-in-law got TOTALLY different information when she called. The whole system is designed to CONFUSE people and pay out LESS!!! No matter what date you pick, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING and DOCUMENT every conversation!!! I'm still fighting with them after 7 months because they calculated my amount wrong and now they're claiming I never sent in paperwork that I DEFINITELY DID!!!!

Here's the technical answer you're looking for: Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) calculation is finalized at FRA, but Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) are applied on top of this amount for each month you delay after FRA. The system works like this: 1. You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to start 2. Your benefit amount is based on your elected start month, not application date 3. Each month of delay past FRA adds 2/3 of 1% to your benefit (8% annually) 4. The DRCs are applied through the month before benefits begin So yes, apply in February and select April as your start month. You'll get the higher amount including DRCs for February and March. Just make absolutely sure the "month of election" field on your application shows April 2027, not February 2027.

my husband did exactly this! he applied in october but choose december to start. it was fine and he got the december amount. but be warned it takes longer to get first payment than expected so plan accordingly!!! took almost 7 weeks from his december start date to see money.

To directly address your question one more time to be super clear: 1. Apply in February 2027 2. Select April 2027 as your benefit start month on the application 3. Your benefit amount will be $2,725 (including DRCs through March) After you apply, you'll receive a confirmation letter from SSA showing your elected start month. Review this carefully. You can also check your MySocialSecurity account online, which should show your benefit start date. One final tip: If you apply online, at the end there's a confirmation page with all your selections. Take a screenshot of this page showing your selected start month as evidence in case there's any confusion later.

My friend applied for SS last month but then read that waiting even ONE more month would increase her payment. She called SSA immediately to change her start date but they told her it was too late! She had to withdraw her ENTIRE application (there's a special form) and then reapply with the later date. So just be super careful when you submit!

This is such valuable information for anyone approaching FRA! I'm still a few years away from my full retirement age, but I've been trying to understand how the timing works. One question for those who have been through this process: When you applied online and selected your future start date, did you receive any interim communications from SSA between your application date and your chosen start month? I'm wondering if they send reminders or confirmations during that waiting period, or if you just wait until the start month arrives. Also, @Anastasia Romanov, have you considered using the SSA's benefit calculators to double-check those projected amounts? Sometimes the online estimates can vary slightly from the final calculated benefit, though usually not by much.

I'm about 5 years away from my FRA but following this discussion closely since I want to maximize my benefits too. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have successfully done this (applied early but selected a later start date), did you notice any difference in how quickly SSA processed your application compared to people who applied with an immediate start date? I'm wondering if selecting a future start date might actually give you more time to resolve any potential issues with your application before benefits need to begin. Seems like it could be a smart strategy beyond just the financial benefits of earning those extra DRCs. Also, @Anastasia Romanov, I'd be interested to know if you've factored in the tax implications of the higher monthly amount versus receiving benefits sooner. Sometimes the total after-tax benefit over time can be different than the gross monthly comparison, especially depending on your other retirement income sources.