When exactly do Social Security benefits start at age 70 - August or September 2025?

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!

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.

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.

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! 😫

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!!

just apply online it's way easier than calling, did mine in like 30 min

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.

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!

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...

One additional tip for your planning - since you're turning 70 in July and your first payment will arrive in August, make sure you have enough cash flow to bridge that gap if you're counting on that Social Security income. I made the mistake of not planning for the one-month delay and had to dip into savings unexpectedly. Also, your first payment might be slightly delayed as they process everything, so I'd budget for potentially waiting until late August just to be safe. The online application really is the way to go - much easier than dealing with their phone system!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm what others have said - you'll get your first payment in August 2025 for July 2025 benefits, and with your July 15th birthday, it'll arrive on the third Wednesday of August. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned: when you do apply online (which I highly recommend), make sure to print or save copies of everything you submit. They sent me a confirmation letter about 2 weeks after I applied, and then another letter closer to my first payment date with the exact amount and payment schedule. Also, double-check that your earnings record is accurate on your my Social Security account before applying - any discrepancies are much easier to fix before you start receiving benefits than after. Good luck with the application process!

Great question! I'm approaching 70 myself in a few months and have been researching this exact same timing issue. From what I've learned through my own research and talking to SSA representatives, the key thing to remember is that Social Security benefits are always paid one month in arrears. So if you turn 70 in July 2025, you'll be eligible for your full age-70 benefit amount starting in July, but that payment won't arrive until August 2025. And yes, with your July 15th birthday falling in the 11-20 range, your payments will come on the third Wednesday of each month. I'd also suggest creating your my Social Security account online if you haven't already - it makes the application process much smoother and you can track everything digitally. The online application really is the way to go compared to trying to call their overwhelmed phone system. Best of luck with your application!

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might help with your planning - when you do receive that first payment in August 2025, it will include all the delayed retirement credits you've earned by waiting until age 70. Those credits are worth about 8% per year beyond your full retirement age, so you'll see a significant jump from what your benefit would have been at your full retirement age. Also, if you're married and your spouse is eligible for spousal benefits based on your record, their benefits can also increase when you finally file, since spousal benefits are calculated as a percentage of your benefit amount. Just something to keep in mind as you're doing your financial planning! The timing really is perfect - apply in March/April, turn 70 in July, and get that first enhanced payment on the third Wednesday of August. You've done the hard part by waiting this long!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure to keep working if you're still employed until at least your birthday month in July! Since there's no earnings test after age 70, you can earn as much as you want without it affecting your benefits, but if you're still working before you reach 70, the earnings test could still apply to any benefits you might receive early. Also, continuing to work until July means those earnings could potentially increase your benefit calculation if they're higher than previous years in your earnings record. Just wanted to make sure you're maximizing everything possible since you've already done the hard work of waiting until 70!

I just want to echo what everyone has said about applying online - it really is so much easier than trying to get through on the phone! I applied for my benefits at 66 and the online process was pretty straightforward. Just make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand (birth certificate, W-2s, etc.) and double-check all the information before submitting. One tip I'd add is to take screenshots or print out each page as you go through the application, just in case there are any technical glitches. The system automatically saves your progress, but having your own copies gives you peace of mind. Also, you'll get email confirmations at various stages of the process, so make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see them in your inbox right away. Congrats on making it to 70 - those delayed retirement credits are really going to pay off for you!

I'm in a similar boat - turning 70 in September 2025 and planning to apply for benefits this spring. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful is to make sure you understand how your Medicare premiums will be handled once you start receiving Social Security. If you're currently paying Medicare premiums directly, they'll automatically start deducting them from your Social Security payments once you begin receiving benefits. This can reduce your net payment by a few hundred dollars, so factor that into your budgeting. Also, if you have any dependents who might be eligible for benefits based on your record (like a spouse under 62 or disabled adult children), make sure to mention that in your application as it could affect the overall family benefit calculation. The waiting has definitely been worth it for the guaranteed 8% annual increases - we're in the home stretch now!

As someone who works in retirement planning, I want to emphasize a few key points that will help with your timeline planning. First, you're absolutely correct that benefits are paid in arrears - your July 2025 benefit (when you turn 70) will arrive in August 2025 on the third Wednesday since your birthday is the 15th. However, I'd strongly recommend applying even earlier than March/April - consider applying in February 2025 to give yourself extra buffer time. The SSA has been experiencing processing delays, and while most applications go smoothly, having that extra month can prevent any stress if there are unexpected hiccups. Also, once you do receive that first payment in August, it will reflect your full delayed retirement credit benefit amount - essentially 132% of what your full retirement age benefit would have been (assuming your FRA was 66). That's a guaranteed 32% increase for waiting those extra 4 years, which is an incredible return that you can't get anywhere else risk-free. Make sure to check that your benefit estimate on ssa.gov reflects your most recent earnings, as 2024 earnings might not be included in the calculation yet when you apply early in 2025.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet that might be helpful for your planning - make sure to consider whether you want federal taxes withheld from your Social Security payments when you apply. Since you've been living off savings and waiting until 70, your Social Security benefit will likely be substantial, and depending on your other income sources, a significant portion of it may be taxable. You can elect to have 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% withheld for federal taxes right from the start, which can help avoid a big tax bill next April. This is especially important since you'll be getting that higher benefit amount from the delayed retirement credits. You can always adjust the withholding later if needed, but it's easier to set it up during the initial application process. Also, since you mentioned working with a financial advisor, make sure they help you understand how your Social Security benefits might affect your overall tax situation, especially if you have other retirement accounts you'll be drawing from. The combination of a maximized Social Security benefit plus other retirement income can sometimes push people into higher tax brackets than they expected.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this exact same situation! I turned 70 in June 2024 and applied in March. My experience confirms everything others have said about timing - I received my first payment (for June) in July 2024, right on schedule. One thing I'd emphasize is to make absolutely sure your direct deposit information is correct when you apply. I had an old bank account on file with SSA from years ago, and even though I updated it during the application process, my first payment still went to the closed account and took an extra week to get sorted out. So double-check that your banking info is current in your my Social Security account before you apply. Also, don't be surprised if your first payment is slightly different from your estimated amount on ssa.gov - mine was about $30 higher because they had processed some additional earnings from 2023 that weren't reflected in the initial estimate. It's a nice little bonus when it happens! The peace of mind of having that guaranteed income finally coming in after years of careful budgeting is incredible. You made the right choice waiting until 70!

I'm actually in a very similar situation - turning 70 in August 2025 and have been doing a lot of research on this exact timing question! From everything I've learned, you're absolutely right about the 3-4 month application window. I'm planning to apply in April/May to be safe. Just wanted to add one thing that helped me understand the payment schedule better: Social Security actually has a really clear chart on their website that shows exactly which Wednesday of the month you'll get paid based on your birth date. Since you're born on the 15th, you'll definitely get paid on the 3rd Wednesday of each month once payments start. I've also been tracking the delayed retirement credits on my Social Security statement online, and it's pretty amazing to see how much the benefit grows each month you wait past full retirement age. At this point we're so close to 70 that it would be crazy to claim early now! The finish line is in sight for both of us. Good luck with your application process!