Social Security retirement timing: December vs January start date impact on widow benefits?

The timing absolutely matters! If you start in December, you'll get paid in January (for December). If you wait until January, you'll get paid in February (for January). The big difference is that starting in January gives you that year's COLA increase right away, while December means you miss it. For 2025, that could be significant. Also, remember that starting retirement will completely replace your widow benefits if your own retirement amount is higher.

I was in similar shoes last year! I chose January because SSA told me I'd get the COLA right away. Imo December is only better if u absolutely need the money asap. Also check if ur FRA yet- that matters too!

I think January is usually better but honestly does the one month really make that much difference?? I mean we're talking about maybe $50 difference because of COLA? I started in December because I was just ready to be done with paperwork.

I went through this exact scenario last year with my widow benefits! I ended up choosing January because: 1. I got the full COLA increase immediately 2. It made my tax paperwork cleaner (all in one tax year) 3. It gave me time to properly analyze how it would affect my earnings limit since I still work seasonally The SSA phone lines were IMPOSSIBLE to get through to when I had questions. I wasted days trying. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed January was better in my situation because of how my widow benefits would interact with retirement. Definitely worth getting personalized advice on this!

This is actually more complex than most people realize. Three key factors to consider: 1. If you start in December, your benefits are paid in January, but you MISS the COLA for that year. Starting in January means your first payment comes in February, but WITH the COLA increase. 2. Earnings limit considerations: December start means you're subject to 2024 earnings limit for that month. If you're still working and might exceed the limit, a January start could be better. 3. With widow benefits specifically, the transition calculation is unique. When you file for retirement, SSA will pay the HIGHER of your retirement or widow benefit. They don't stack. At 65, you're still under FRA for retirement benefits, so you'll get a reduced amount if you file now. Have you considered waiting until your FRA to maximize benefits?

My sister had this EXACT problem and the SSA office gave her the WRONG INFO and she lost money!!! Be careful and GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. The local office told her December was better but then she lost out on COLA and they wouldn't fix it!!

One more important consideration: if you start retirement benefits in December but have earned income that month that exceeds monthly limits, you might have a benefit reduction or even suspension for that month. January start gives you a clean slate with the new annual earnings limit. Since you mentioned you work seasonally, this timing could be crucial depending on when your work season falls.

After reading all these comments, here's a summary of the December vs. January filing decision for someone in your situation with widow benefits: 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀: - Get your first payment one month earlier (in January) - Might help if you urgently need funds 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀: - Receive the annual COLA immediately - Cleaner for tax purposes (all in one tax year) - Fresh annual earnings limit if you work - May help avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges Since your widow benefits are partial due to the earnings limit, I strongly recommend getting personalized advice from an SSA representative who can review your specific record.

Can I just say how COMPLICATED they make all this?!? Why can't they just have simple rules that normal people understand??? It's like they want us to make mistakes!

I went through this exact same decision 3 years ago when I was 62 and receiving widow benefits. After reading all these responses, I wanted to add one more perspective that might help. The key thing nobody mentioned is that your widow benefits calculation is based on your deceased spouse's record, while your retirement benefits are based on YOUR work record. At 65, you're still getting reduced retirement benefits (not full until your FRA), but your widow benefits might actually be higher than your reduced retirement amount. Before you make ANY filing decision, you should request a benefit estimate from SSA that shows BOTH your projected retirement benefit AND your current widow benefit amount. This will tell you which is actually higher. If your widow benefits are higher, you might want to stay on those until your FRA and then switch to your own record. Also, regarding the December vs January timing - I chose January specifically because of the COLA issue everyone mentioned. Over 20+ years of receiving benefits, that COLA difference really adds up. Plus the tax situation was much cleaner having everything in one tax year. The most important advice: don't rely on just one SSA representative's answer. Get a second opinion, and if possible, get it in writing. Good luck!

I'm in a very similar situation at 66 and have been wrestling with this same decision! After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing there are way more factors to consider than I initially thought. A few things I've learned from my own research that might help: 1. **Get your benefit estimates in writing** - I called SSA three times and got three different answers about my projected benefits. Finally went to my local office and they printed out official estimates. 2. **Consider your tax bracket** - Starting in January means all your SS income falls in one tax year, which can help with tax planning and potentially keep you in a lower bracket. 3. **Medicare implications** - If you're close to any IRMAA thresholds, the timing could affect your Medicare premiums for the following year. One question for those who chose January - did you have any issues with the gap between your last widow benefit payment and your first retirement payment? I'm worried about cash flow during that transition period. Also, has anyone used the "withdrawal of application" option if they realized they made the wrong choice? I've heard you can do this within 12 months but wondering if it's worth keeping as a backup plan. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

I'm also 65 and dealing with widow benefits - this thread has been a goldmine of information! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial planner: if you're still working seasonally like you mentioned, make sure to factor in how your work income affects the earnings test calculation. For 2024, if you're under FRA, you can earn up to $22,320 without any benefit reduction. But here's the tricky part - if you start retirement benefits in December and have ANY earnings that month over the monthly limit ($1,860), you could lose that month's benefit entirely. Starting in January gives you the full annual limit to work with. Also, since you mentioned getting widow benefits for only 6 months due to work restrictions, I'm wondering if your retirement benefit calculation might actually be higher than your current widow amount? At 65, your retirement benefit would be reduced, but depending on your work history, it might still exceed your widow benefit. One last tip - if you do decide on January, file your application in November or early December. SSA can take weeks to process applications, and you want everything ready to go for that January start date. Missing the timing could push you into February accidentally. Has your financial advisor run the actual numbers comparing your projected retirement benefit to your current widow benefit amount?

This has been such an enlightening discussion! I'm 63 and also receiving widow benefits while still working part-time. Reading everyone's experiences has really opened my eyes to how complex this decision is. One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been fully addressed - for those of you who made the switch from widow benefits to retirement benefits, did you notice any issues with how quickly SSA processed the transition? I've heard horror stories about people having payment delays during the changeover, and I'm wondering if filing in November/December for a January start actually gives them enough processing time to avoid glitches. Also, @3c26881dece6 you mentioned your advisor talked about comparing the benefits but hasn't run the detailed calculation yet - I'd definitely push for those specific numbers before making any decision. When I asked my local SSA office for estimates, they were able to show me exactly what my reduced retirement benefit would be at different ages versus my current widow benefit. It turned out to be eye-opening! The COLA timing issue everyone's mentioned really does seem like a no-brainer for January filing. Even a 2-3% difference compounded over 20+ years of benefits is substantial money we're talking about. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't get from the SSA website!

This discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm 64 and just started receiving widow benefits myself, so this timing question is exactly what I'll be facing soon. One aspect I haven't seen mentioned is the impact on spousal benefits for anyone who might be married to someone also nearing retirement. In my case, my current husband is 67 and considering when to file for his own benefits. Our financial planner explained that the timing of my switch from widow benefits to my own retirement benefits could affect our overall household strategy, especially if we're considering spousal benefit options. Also, for those dealing with the SSA phone system - I've found that calling first thing in the morning (right at 8 AM local time) tends to have shorter wait times. I actually got through twice this way in under 20 minutes, which felt like a miracle after reading about everyone's struggles! The January filing advice based on COLA timing makes so much sense. Even if it's "just" a few percentage points, when you're looking at potentially 25+ years of benefits, that really adds up. Plus the tax simplification aspect is appealing - I'm already dreading tax season complexity with the widow benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences. It's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the SSA website!

I'm 66 and just went through this exact decision last month! After reading through all these thoughtful responses, I wanted to share my experience and a few additional considerations that helped me decide. I chose January filing for these reasons: 1. **COLA timing** - Got the 2024 increase immediately (3.2% in my case) 2. **Tax planning** - My CPA said having all SS income in one tax year made estimated tax payments much easier to calculate 3. **Medicare considerations** - The cleaner income timing helped me stay under the IRMAA threshold **One thing I wish I'd known earlier:** Even though I was receiving widow benefits, I still needed to provide documentation when filing for retirement benefits. Have your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, and your birth certificate ready - SSA required all of them despite already having them on file for my widow benefits. **Processing timeline reality check:** I filed in mid-November for January benefits and everything went smoothly, but SSA called me twice asking for clarification on some details. If I'd filed any later, I might have missed the January start date. The earnings test considerations several people mentioned are spot-on. Since you work seasonally May-October, the December vs January timing probably won't affect you from an earnings perspective, but the COLA advantage is still significant. Bottom line: January filing seems like the clear winner unless you desperately need that one month of earlier payments. Good luck with your decision!

I'm 67 and made this exact decision two years ago when I was receiving widow benefits. After reading through all these excellent responses, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. The January filing strategy is definitely the way to go for most people, but there's one scenario where December might make sense: if you're concerned about potential legislative changes to Social Security. While rare, there have been instances where benefit calculations or rules changed between years, and having that locked-in December start date could provide some protection. That said, for your situation with seasonal work and no urgent need for funds, January is clearly better. The COLA advantage everyone mentioned is real - I got an extra $52/month by waiting for January, which over 20+ years is substantial money. One practical tip: When you do file (I'd recommend early November for January start), ask the SSA representative to walk you through the exact benefit amounts for both your retirement and widow benefits. Sometimes the difference isn't what you expect. In my case, my widow benefits were actually higher than my reduced retirement benefits would have been at 67, so I stayed on widow benefits until my FRA at 67 and then switched to my own record for maximum benefit. Also, definitely get everything in writing or at least detailed notes with the representative's name and date. SSA sometimes gives inconsistent information, and having documentation helps if you need to call back. Good luck with your decision - sounds like you're getting great advice from this community!

After reading through all these incredibly detailed responses, I'm convinced that January filing is the right choice for my situation. The COLA advantage alone seems to justify waiting that extra month, and when you add in the tax benefits and cleaner processing timeline, it's really a no-brainer. What's been most eye-opening is learning about the option to potentially stay on widow benefits longer and switch to my own retirement record later. At 65, I'm still below my FRA and would be getting reduced retirement benefits, so I definitely need to get those benefit estimates comparing my current widow amount to my projected retirement amount. I'm planning to: 1. Call SSA (early morning as suggested!) to get written estimates for both benefits 2. Gather all my documentation now so I'm prepared 3. File in early November for January start if retirement benefits are higher 4. Consider staying on widow benefits until FRA if they're actually the better option This community has been absolutely invaluable - I went from being completely confused about a simple timing question to understanding there's a whole strategic landscape I hadn't even considered. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical advice! One question for those who got benefit estimates: did SSA provide projections showing what your benefits would look like at different future filing dates, or just your current options?

I'm 68 and went through this exact decision 3 years ago while receiving widow benefits. Based on my experience and everything I've learned, January is absolutely the right choice for your situation. Here's what made the difference for me: **COLA Impact**: I gained an extra $63/month by waiting for January - that's over $15,000 over 20 years! The COLA increase applies immediately to your January benefit, while December filing means you miss that year's adjustment entirely. **Tax Strategy**: Having all your Social Security income fall in one tax year (starting January) made my tax planning so much simpler. My accountant was able to better manage my overall tax bracket and avoid some Medicare premium surcharges. **Processing Buffer**: Filing in November for January gave SSA plenty of time to process everything correctly. I've seen too many people file late and accidentally get pushed to the wrong month. **Key Insight**: At 65, you're still under FRA, so your retirement benefit will be reduced. Make absolutely sure to compare your reduced retirement amount to your current widow benefit - widow benefits might actually be higher! If so, consider staying on widow benefits until your FRA and then switching to your own record. The most important advice: get actual dollar amounts for both benefits in writing before deciding anything. Don't rely on assumptions about which benefit is higher. Good luck - you're asking all the right questions!

As someone who works in retirement planning, I wanted to add a few technical points that might help with your decision: **COLA Calculation Timing**: The January advantage is even bigger than most people realize. The COLA isn't just applied to your base benefit - it's applied to your total benefit amount INCLUDING any spousal or survivor benefit calculations. For widow benefits transitioning to retirement, this can create a compounding effect. **Deemed Filing Rules**: Since you're under FRA, when you file for retirement benefits, you're automatically deemed to be filing for the highest benefit available to you. SSA will automatically pay whichever is higher - your retirement or widow benefit - but you can't choose to receive the lower one and let the other grow. **Retroactive Payment Limitation**: One thing to be careful about - if you file late and miss your intended January start, SSA can only provide retroactive payments for up to 6 months for retirement benefits (different from widow benefits). So timing really matters. Given your seasonal work pattern and the fact that you're already managing the earnings test with widow benefits, January filing gives you the cleanest transition. Plus, if you later realize the timing wasn't optimal, you have that 12-month withdrawal option as a safety net. The key is getting those benefit estimates first - you might be surprised by the actual numbers when you see them side by side.