Social Security retirement payment timing for mid-month birthday - when will I get first check?
I'm planning to retire on my 66th birthday which falls on May 19, 2025 (finally reaching my FRA!). I've got some basic questions about the timing that are making me nervous: 1. When would my first SS payment actually arrive? Would it be the June payment that comes at the end of June? 2. I want to have federal taxes withheld from my SS checks - which form/box do I need to check for this when applying? 3. My current job will pay me through May 29 for my final two weeks. Will this cause any problem with my May 19 retirement date? 4. How far in advance should I apply? Is one month before my retirement date (mid-April) too late to start the process? I've read through the SSA website but still feel confused about these specifics. I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly with no gaps in income. Thanks for any help!
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Ryder Everingham
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.
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Aisha Jackson
•Thank you so much for this clear information! One follow-up question - if I apply in February (3-4 months before), do I need to specify May 19 as my retirement date somehow? I'm worried about accidentally starting my benefits too early and getting a reduced amount.
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Lilly Curtis
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
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Aisha Jackson
•Thanks! Did your brother have any issues with the timing of his last paycheck? That's what I'm most worried about - I don't want to mess up the start date.
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Leo Simmons
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.
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Aisha Jackson
•Thank you! This is really helpful. I will definitely apply at least 3 months before then. Do you remember if they asked for any specific documents during your application that I should have ready?
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Lindsey Fry
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.
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Saleem Vaziri
•is that service legit? sounds sketchy to me... did u have to give them ur ssn or anything??
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Lindsey Fry
•It's totally legit. They don't ask for your SSN or any personal info. They just connect you with SSA's phone system and their technology keeps trying the line for you so you don't have to keep redialing. Then when they get through, you get a call back and you're talking directly to SSA. I was skeptical too but it worked perfectly.
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Kayla Morgan
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!!!!!
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Aisha Jackson
•Oh no, that sounds stressful! What kind of problem did they not tell you about? I'm worried about something falling through the cracks.
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Kayla Morgan
•They needed verification of my birth certificate but never CONTACTED me about it!!! Just let my application SIT THERE for weeks!!! I only found out when I finally got through on the phone. TERRIBLE system!!!
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James Maki
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!
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Leo Simmons
•This is partially correct but needs clarification. For Social Security retirement benefits (not disability), you get a full month's benefit for any month in which you're eligible for the entire month. Since benefits begin the month you reach full retirement age, if your birthday is on the 19th, you're not eligible for the entire month of May. Your first benefit would be for the month of June, paid at the end of June or early July. There is no prorating of monthly benefits in retirement - you either get the full amount or nothing for that month.
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Aisha Jackson
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!
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Ryder Everingham
•That's all correct! And one more tip - when you apply online, print or save a copy of your application confirmation. It's helpful to have the confirmation number if you need to follow up. Best of luck with your retirement!
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Saleem Vaziri
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?
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Leo Simmons
•Social Security pays benefits for the first full month you're eligible. For retirement benefits, you become eligible on the day you reach your full retirement age (FRA). Since the original poster's birthday is May 19, they won't be eligible for a full month until June. So their first payment would be for June benefits (paid in July). Your uncle might be thinking of the special rule for people born on the 1st of the month - they're treated as if they reached the age requirement in the previous month. So someone born on July 1 would get benefits as if they were born in June.
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Lilly Curtis
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
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Aisha Jackson
•That's good to know! I wasn't planning to work after May, but it's reassuring to hear I could pick up some part-time work later without affecting my benefits if I wanted to. Thanks for mentioning this!
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