When exactly do Social Security benefits start at age 70 - August or September 2025?
I'll be turning 70 on July 15th, 2025, and plan to finally claim my Social Security retirement benefits at that time (I know, I waited the max!). I've read that I should apply about 3-4 months before I want benefits to start, but I'm confused about WHEN exactly my first payment would arrive. If I apply in March/April 2025 for my age 70 benefits, will my first payment be for July 2025 (the month I turn 70) or August 2025 (the month after)? And when would that payment actually hit my bank account? I'm trying to plan my finances carefully and need to know exactly when that first larger payment will arrive. My financial advisor mentioned something about SS benefits being paid for the previous month, which is adding to my confusion!
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Olivia Evans
Social Security retirement benefits are paid in the month FOLLOWING the month they're due for. So if you turn 70 in July 2025, your July benefit would be paid in August 2025. Specifically, payments are made on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of the month, depending on your birth date (1-10, 11-20, or 21-31). So your first payment would be for July 2025 (the month you turn 70), but you'd receive it in August 2025. And yes, applying 3-4 months before is the right timeline!
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Daniel Price
•Thank you for clarifying! So I'll get my first payment in August for the month of July when I turn 70. If my birthday is the 15th, does that mean I'd get paid on the 3rd Wednesday of August? Just want to mark the exact date on my calendar.
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Sophia Bennett
Just went through this myself! I turned 70 last December and started my benefits then. You definitely want to apply 3-4 months before turning 70. In my case, my birthday is December 12th, I applied in September, and my first payment (for December) arrived on January 17th this year. Was a nice belated birthday present! Just make sure all your docs are in order - they wanted my birth certificate even though I thought they'd already have that on file.
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Daniel Price
•That's really helpful to hear from someone who just went through it. Did they tell you when to expect the payment or did it just show up? And did they send any kind of confirmation when your application was approved?
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Aiden Chen
One IMPORTANT correction to what's been said - Social Security benefits are paid in arrears, meaning you receive the payment for a given month in the FOLLOWING month. If you turn 70 in July 2025, you become eligible for the increased 70-year-old benefit amount for July 2025, but you'll receive that payment in AUGUST 2025. As for payment dates: - Birth dates 1st-10th: Second Wednesday - Birth dates 11th-20th: Third Wednesday - Birth dates 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday So with a July 15th birthday, your payments would arrive on the third Wednesday of each month.
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Daniel Price
•This is great! So I'll get my first payment on the third Wednesday of August 2025 for my July 2025 benefit month. And that payment will include the delayed retirement credits for waiting until 70, correct?
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Zoey Bianchi
congrads on waiting till 70! smart move. i got impatiant and took mine at 67 and kinda regret it now. but ya they pay u for the month ur 70 but u get it the next month. my brother waited till 70 and got almost $1200 more than me per month! 😫
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Daniel Price
•Thanks! It hasn't been easy waiting, but I figured the guaranteed 8% per year increase was better than anything else I could get. Sorry to hear you're regretting your decision - that's a big difference in payment!
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Christopher Morgan
I TRIED to apply 3 months before my 70th birthday last year and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through to anyone at SSA!!! Kept calling and getting disconnected or waiting on hold for HOURS only to have the call drop! Ended up delaying my application by 2 months because of their terrible phone system, and STILL fighting with them to get my back payments!! So frustrating!!
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Aurora St.Pierre
•I had the same problem trying to call about my widow's benefits. Someone on another forum recommended using Claimyr.com to get through to a real person at Social Security. It worked amazingly well - got me through to a live agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much frustration, especially since I needed to get my application processed quickly.
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Christopher Morgan
•OMG thank you!!! Will definitely check this out. I have to call them AGAIN next week about the missing payments and was dreading spending another day on hold. Appreciate the tip!!
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Grace Johnson
just apply online it's way easier than calling, did mine in like 30 min
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Daniel Price
•I'm actually planning to do the online application! Did you find it straightforward? Any parts that were confusing?
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Olivia Evans
One more thing to remember: Social Security payments are for the previous month, but they're not prorated. So even though you turn 70 on July 15th, you'll receive a full month's benefit for July, not just for the portion of the month after your birthday. This is because you meet the age requirement at any point during that month.
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Daniel Price
•That's great to know - I wasn't sure if I'd get a partial payment for my first month. Getting the full amount right away is a nice bonus!
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Zoey Bianchi
make sure u check ur Medicare Part B is being taking out of ur SS check after u start getting it or theyll send u bills for it!
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Daniel Price
•Good point! I already have Medicare but I've been paying the premiums directly. I should make sure they switch to deducting it from my SS payment.
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Christopher Morgan
Wait I'm confused... don't you HAVE to apply for SS at your full retirement age even if you don't want the money yet? I thought there was some rule about that. Are you saying you haven't applied AT ALL until now at 70?? I think you might have messed up...
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Aiden Chen
•No, that's incorrect. You do NOT need to apply for Social Security at your Full Retirement Age if you want to delay benefits. You can apply anytime between age 62 and 70, and if you wait until 70, you'll receive the maximum possible benefit with all delayed retirement credits. The only exception is for certain restricted applications for spousal benefits that were available to people born before January 2, 1954, but that's a separate situation.
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Christopher Morgan
•Oh thank goodness! My cousin told me that and I was worried. Thanks for clearing that up!
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