Social Security retirement payment timing for mid-month birthday - when will I get first check?

Here's what you need to know about each of your questions: 1. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month they are due. Since your birthday is on the 19th, you'll receive your payment on the third Wednesday of each month based on SSA's schedule. So your first payment would arrive on the third Wednesday of June. 2. For tax withholding, you'll need to complete Form W-4V (Voluntary Withholding Request). You can choose to have 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit withheld for taxes. 3. Working until May 29 shouldn't affect your May 19 retirement date. SSA looks at your retirement date, not your final paycheck date. 4. You should ideally apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. One month before (mid-April) is cutting it close but possible. I'd recommend applying sooner if you can - maybe in February or March 2025.

congrats on hitting ur FRA! i got so confused w/ all this stuff too lol. my bro got his first check like 6 weeks after he applied so dont cut it too close!!! also the withholding thing is on a separate form they'll give u or u can download, not on the main application i think

I recently went through this exact process. Here's what you should know: 1. When you apply, you'll specify your "onset date" - that's when you want benefits to start. You'll explicitly choose May 19, 2025. 2. For tax withholding, you'll need Form W-4V as mentioned. You can submit this at the same time as your application or later. 3. The payment schedule is based on your birth date: if born on the 1st-10th, you get paid on the second Wednesday; 11th-20th (that's you) get paid on the third Wednesday; 21st-31st get paid on the fourth Wednesday. 4. Your final paycheck won't affect your benefits as long as you're truly retired after May 19. However, be aware of the earnings test if you haven't reached your Full Retirement Age - but it sounds like you'll be at your FRA, so this shouldn't be an issue. One month before is technically possible but risky - I applied 3 months before and it went smoothly.

I went through ABSOLUTE HELL trying to reach SSA when I applied last year. Spent WEEKS calling and getting disconnected. Finally discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at SSA in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Seriously saved me so much frustration. I was able to confirm all my application details and make sure everything was set up correctly. Might be worth considering if you run into trouble reaching them - especially if you're trying to apply closer to your retirement date.

I STILL remember the nightmare I had with my retirement application!!! Applied 2 months before my date and it was BARELY enough time. My advice: apply EARLY and keep CALLING to check status until they CONFIRM everything!!! Don't trust the online system - it showed "processing" for WEEKS even when there was a problem they never told me about!!!!!

My mom retired last year and she told me something important - she got confused because her first payment wasn't for the full month. Since you're retiring on the 19th, your May benefit will be prorated starting from that date. So your first payment (which comes in June) will only be for those days in May after your birthday. Just something to budget for!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm definitely going to apply in February to give plenty of time for processing. I'll make sure to have my birth certificate, tax forms, and employment information ready. It's clear I need to be proactive about checking the status too. Just to confirm my understanding: 1. I'll receive my first payment on the third Wednesday of June 2025 2. I need to submit Form W-4V for tax withholding 3. My May 29 final paycheck won't affect my retirement date 4. I should specify May 19, 2025 as my "onset date" Really appreciate all the advice!

wait so if ur born on may 19 do u actually get may benefits or just june onwards? im confused bc my uncle said u get benefits for ur birthday month but only if ur birthday is before like the 3rd of the month or something weird like that?

i remember my dad telling me all about how he kept working part time after claiming SS at his FRA... u might wanna look into that bc u can earn AS MUCH AS U WANT after FRA with no reduction in benefits!! could be good if u wanna ease into retirement instead of stopping completely

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you have your most recent W-2 forms and tax returns handy when you apply. SSA sometimes needs to verify your earnings history, especially for your highest earning years. Also, if you've ever had name changes (marriage, etc.), bring those documents too. I'd also suggest creating your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can check your earnings record there and get an estimate of your benefits before you apply. It's really helpful to double-check everything looks correct before starting the application process. The online application is pretty straightforward, but don't hesitate to call if you get stuck on any questions. Despite what some people say about long wait times, I've found calling early in the morning (around 8 AM) usually gets you through faster.

Great advice from everyone here! I just wanted to add one more important tip - when you apply in February, make sure to double-check that your earnings record is complete and accurate in your my Social Security account. I discovered that one of my employers from about 10 years ago had reported my earnings incorrectly, which would have reduced my benefit amount. It took a few months to get it corrected with documentation, so finding this early gave me plenty of time to fix it before my retirement date. SSA was actually really helpful once I provided the right paperwork (old W-2s and tax returns). Also, about the tax withholding - you can change your withholding amount anytime after you start receiving benefits, so don't stress too much about getting the percentage perfect right away. You can always adjust it based on your actual tax situation. Congratulations on reaching your FRA - it's such a relief when you finally get there!

One more thing to consider - if you're married, you might want to discuss spousal benefits with SSA when you apply. Even if your spouse isn't ready to retire yet, there could be strategies to maximize your combined benefits over time. Also, I'd recommend setting up direct deposit for your benefits when you apply. It's much more secure than paper checks and you'll get your money faster. You'll need your bank account and routing numbers handy during the application. The February application timeline sounds perfect - gives you plenty of buffer time to handle any unexpected issues. And definitely keep calling to check status if you don't hear back within a few weeks of applying. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with SSA!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that really helped me: 1. When you apply online, save your application as you go - the system can time out and you'll lose your progress if you take too long on any section. 2. Have your spouse's Social Security number ready even if they're not applying yet, as the system asks for it during the application process. 3. Consider applying for Medicare at the same time if you're not already enrolled through an employer plan. The timing can be tricky and there are penalties for late enrollment. 4. Keep a record of everyone you speak with at SSA (names, dates, what was discussed). This saved me when there was confusion about my application status later. 5. If you have any military service, disability history, or periods where you lived/worked outside the US, gather those documents ahead of time as they may be needed. The peace of mind from applying early and being thorough with documentation is so worth it. You're being smart by planning this far ahead!

I'm also approaching retirement age and this thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to add from my research - if you're planning to retire in May 2025, you might want to consider whether delaying your retirement by just a few months could increase your benefit amount through delayed retirement credits. Since you mentioned you're reaching your FRA at 66, you can earn delayed retirement credits up until age 70, which increases your monthly benefit by about 8% per year of delay. Even waiting until your 67th birthday could boost your monthly payment significantly. Of course, this depends on your personal financial situation and health considerations, but it's worth calculating whether the higher monthly payments for the rest of your life might outweigh getting benefits sooner. The SSA website has calculators that can help you run these numbers. Either way, applying in February as you planned gives you flexibility to make any last-minute changes to your retirement date if needed. Best of luck with your decision!

I'm glad I found this thread as I'm in a similar situation! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding how your Medicare enrollment timing coordinates with your Social Security application. Since you're retiring before age 65, you won't be automatically enrolled in Medicare when your SS benefits start. However, if you're planning to keep your employer health insurance through COBRA after retirement, make sure you understand how that affects your Medicare enrollment timeline. You'll want to sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (which starts 3 months before you turn 65) to avoid late penalties, even if you're continuing COBRA coverage. Also, I've heard that some people get confused about whether their SS benefits are subject to state income tax - this varies by state, so you might want to check your state's rules when you're figuring out your tax withholding percentage on that Form W-4V. The February application timeline everyone's recommending sounds solid. I'm planning to do the same thing for my retirement next year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been really educational!

As someone who works in the retirement planning field, I want to emphasize something that's been touched on but is really crucial - make absolutely sure you understand the difference between your "retirement date" and when you want your Social Security benefits to begin. Since you're reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA) of 66 on May 19th, 2025, you have some flexibility here. You could technically start your benefits the month you turn 66 (May), but as others mentioned, you'd only get a partial month's worth since you weren't eligible for the full month. Most people in your situation choose to start benefits the month after they reach FRA (June in your case), which means your first payment would arrive on the third Wednesday of July, not June. This gives you a full month's benefit rather than a partial one. When you apply in February, you'll specify your "entitlement date" - this is when you want your benefits to actually begin, which should probably be June 1, 2025 for your situation. This is separate from your work retirement date of May 19. Also, definitely take advantage of the online application process, but don't hesitate to call SSA after submitting to confirm they received everything correctly. The confirmation number from your online application will be your lifeline if you need to follow up. Good luck with your retirement - you're being very smart to plan this thoroughly in advance!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone approaching retirement myself, I wanted to add one more tip that saved me a lot of stress. When you create your my Social Security account to check your earnings record (as others suggested), also download and print your Social Security Statement. This gives you an official record of your projected benefits that you can reference during your application. Also, I'd recommend setting up text or email alerts through your my Social Security account so you'll be notified of any important updates to your case once you apply. This can help you stay on top of the process without having to constantly call to check status. One last thing - if you have any direct deposit changes between now and when your benefits start (new bank account, etc.), make sure to update SSA immediately. Delayed payments due to incorrect banking information can be a real hassle to sort out. You're being so smart to plan this far ahead and ask all the right questions. February application timing sounds perfect!