Social Security delay at age 70 - Will December start date mean January payment?

You've got it exactly right! Social Security pays benefits for the previous month, so with a December start date, your first payment will arrive in January. And good job recognizing that trap about retroactive benefits - at age 70, taking the retroactive option would reduce your monthly benefit permanently, which defeats the purpose of delaying to maximize your benefit amount. Just make sure your application clearly indicates December as your start month. When you submit, verify that your benefit amount shows the full delayed retirement credits (DRCs) you've earned by waiting until 70.

I was in almost your exact situation last year when I turned 70. Just wanted to share that after waiting patiently to maximize my benefits, I had a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to Social Security to confirm everything was processing correctly. Kept getting disconnected after waiting for 2+ hours! Finally discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth every penny for the peace of mind, especially after waiting 8 years beyond my early retirement age to maximize those benefits!

When you get your first check, be prepared for possible tax withholding if you requested it. I turned 70 in september and got my first payment in october. it was less than I expected because I had checked the box for 10% federal tax withholding and forgot about it! just something to be aware of so your not surprised like i was lol

You're smart to wait until 70! I took mine at 62 because I needed the money and now I'm kicking myself. Each year you delayed added 8% to your benefit amount. My sister waited like you and gets almost DOUBLE what I get every month!!!

One important piece of information: Social Security payments are scheduled based on your birth date: - Birth date 1st-10th: payments on 2nd Wednesday - Birth date 11th-20th: payments on 3rd Wednesday - Birth date 21st-31st: payments on 4th Wednesday Since your birthday is December 24th, you'll receive your payments on the 4th Wednesday of each month. For January, that would be January 22nd, 2025. And yes, you made the right decision declining retroactive benefits. At 70, there's no advantage to taking retroactive payments since you've already earned all possible delayed retirement credits. Taking the retroactive option would only reduce your monthly amount permanently.

My uncle got a big backpay check when he filed at 70. Are you sure you cant get both the big retroactive payment AND the higher monthly amount??

Dont forget about direct deposit!!! Make sure your banking info is correct on the application. I had my payment delayed because I typed one digit wrong in my account number.

Is anyone else annoyed that SS doesn't just pay ON TIME instead of a month behind? Why do we have to wait an extra month for OUR money that we've earned? The system is ridiculous!!!

Since you're turning 70 in December, here's another important tip: Make sure you've also signed up for Medicare if you haven't already. While you can delay Social Security without penalty, delaying Medicare past 65 can result in permanent premium penalties unless you have qualifying coverage (like from current employment). If you delayed Medicare enrollment and don't have qualifying coverage, you'll want to discuss this during the Social Security application process. They can help determine if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to avoid penalties.

Congratulations on making it to 70 and maximizing your benefits! As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add a few tips that might help: 1. Keep checking your my Social Security account online in the weeks after you submit your application. You should see your estimated benefit amount update to reflect the December start date, and it's good to verify the numbers match what you expect. 2. If you're still working (even part-time), remember there's no earnings test at age 70, so you can earn as much as you want without affecting your Social Security benefits. 3. Consider setting up text or email alerts with your bank for when the deposit hits. That first payment can feel like it's taking forever, and having an alert gives you peace of mind. You definitely made the right call avoiding the retroactive payment trap. At 70, you've earned every penny of those delayed retirement credits - don't give them up now! Looking forward to hearing about your first successful payment in January.

Great question about the payment timing! Yes, you're absolutely correct - with a December start date, your first Social Security payment will arrive in January. Since you're turning 70 on December 24th, your payments will come on the 4th Wednesday of each month (that's January 22nd for your first payment). You made an excellent decision declining the retroactive benefits! At age 70, accepting retroactive payments would permanently reduce your monthly benefit by forfeiting some of those valuable delayed retirement credits you've worked so hard to earn. There's literally no advantage to taking retroactive benefits when you're already at maximum delayed retirement age. One thing to double-check: make sure your application clearly shows December as your benefit start month and verify that your estimated benefit amount reflects the full delayed retirement credits (32% increase from your full retirement age). You should be able to see this in your my Social Security account once the application processes. Congratulations on having the discipline to wait until 70 - that patience is going to pay off handsomely in higher monthly benefits for the rest of your life!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in retirement planning - you've absolutely nailed this decision! Waiting until 70 was the smart move, and you're right to be cautious about that retroactive payment "offer." It's essentially SSA's way of testing whether you understand what you're giving up. A few additional points that might help ease your mind: - Your December birth month timing is actually perfect - you'll get your full delayed retirement credits and start receiving benefits right away in January - That January 22nd payment date mentioned earlier is spot on for your December 24th birthday - The payment amount you see in your my Social Security account should reflect the full 32% bonus from delayed retirement credits One thing I always tell clients in your situation: take a screenshot or print out your benefit estimate from your online account showing that higher amount. It's a nice reminder of why the wait was worth it, especially when you see that first deposit hit! You've played this exactly right - enjoy reaping the rewards of your patience and planning!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 70 in a few months and have been delaying my benefits to maximize the monthly amount. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed: did you need to provide any documentation when you applied, or was it mostly just filling out the online application? I'm wondering if there's anything I should gather ahead of time to make the process smoother. Also, has anyone here had experience with how quickly SSA processes applications for people turning 70? I'm hoping to get everything submitted well before my birthday month to avoid any potential delays. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's exactly the kind of real-world information those of us approaching 70 need to hear!

I'm turning 70 in a few months and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been second-guessing my decision to wait until 70, especially when friends who took early retirement keep telling me I'm "leaving money on the table." But seeing the math laid out here - that 32% increase from delayed retirement credits - really drives home why patience pays off. One thing I'm curious about: for those of you who have already gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how SSA treats applications from people turning 70 versus younger applicants? I'm wondering if they prioritize these since there's no further benefit to delaying past 70. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of my earnings history just in case, but it sounds like the online application process is pretty streamlined. Has anyone run into situations where their benefit calculation seemed off and they needed to provide additional documentation? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually walked this path!

As someone who recently navigated this exact same decision at age 70, I wanted to share a few insights that might help put your mind at ease! First, you're absolutely correct about the payment timing - December start date means your first payment arrives in January, specifically on the 4th Wednesday (January 22nd based on your December 24th birthday). And yes, you made the perfect call declining those retroactive benefits! At 70, there's literally zero advantage to taking retroactive payments since you've already maxed out your delayed retirement credits. One tip I wish someone had told me: after you submit your application, log into your my Social Security account periodically to watch for updates. It's incredibly satisfying to see your benefit amount officially reflect those delayed retirement credits you worked so hard to earn - that 32% boost over your full retirement age benefit really adds up! Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is exactly right. A single digit error can cause delays, and after waiting this long to maximize your benefits, you don't want any hiccups with that first payment. Congratulations on having the discipline to wait until 70 - you're going to be rewarded with significantly higher monthly payments for life!