When to apply for Social Security at 70 while still working - timing question
I'll be turning 70 in September 2025 and need advice on when to actually submit my SS retirement application. I'm still working full-time ($94,000/year) and might continue for another year or two depending on how I feel. I know 70 is the maximum age for delayed retirement credits, but I'm unclear on the exact timing. Should I apply 3 months before my birthday? 1 month? The exact month? I don't want to leave any money on the table by applying too late, but also don't want to deal with the earnings test if I apply too early. My local SS office is impossible to reach by phone. Anyone been through this recently with similar circumstances?
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Makayla Shoemaker
Three months before is the standard recommendation from SSA. Since you're still working at 70, there's no earnings test to worry about - that stops at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which would have been 66 or 67 depending on your birth year. At 70, you'll get your maximum benefit regardless of how much you earn from working. The 3-month advance application gives SSA time to process everything so your payments start on time.
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Mason Stone
•Thank you! That's a relief about the earnings test. So to confirm - if my 70th birthday is September 15, I should ideally apply around mid-June?
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Christian Bierman
I just went through this in March!!!! Wait until EXACTLY 3 months before - not 3.5 or 4 months early. My neighbor applied too early and it caused confusion with her paperwork. Also make sure you have your birth certificate ready - they might ask for it even if you think they shouldn't need it. Congrats on making it to 70 before claiming!!!
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Mason Stone
•Thanks for the specific timing advice. Did you continue working after 70? Did that cause any complications with the application process?
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Emma Olsen
I'm in a similar situation - turning 70 in December and still working. When I talked to an SSA rep (finally got through after numerous tries), they told me the exact same thing about applying 3 months before. The earnings test doesn't apply anymore after FRA, but what they don't always mention is that you'll still need to report your estimated earnings for the year when you apply. Have your 2024 tax return and recent pay stubs handy when you fill out the application. Also, since you're still working, make sure you're enrolled in Medicare properly to avoid late enrollment penalties.
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Lucas Lindsey
•This is so confusing. Why do they need your earnings if there's no more earnings test? I thought SS and Medicare were totally separate. The entire system is designed to be overcomplicated on purpose!!! I spent HOURS on hold trying to sort out my retirement benefits last year.
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Emma Olsen
•They ask for your earnings because it could potentially increase your benefit amount if your recent years of work are among your highest 35 earning years. It's actually to your advantage. And while Medicare is separate administratively, they're connected for enrollment timing purposes. I agree the system is frustratingly complex though!
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Sophie Duck
Apply exactly 3 months before your birthday month. SSA starts counting from the beginning of the month, so even though your birthday is September 15, your benefits will start with September regardless of the day. Make sure to specify in your application that you want benefits to begin in September 2025, not earlier. Also, if you haven't already, create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to verify your earnings record is correct before applying. This is especially important since you've had high earnings that could impact your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) calculation.
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Mason Stone
•I checked my SSA account last month and was surprised to see they were missing 2 years of earnings from when I was self-employed in the early 90s. Should I get that corrected before applying for retirement benefits, or can that be handled separately?
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Sophie Duck
•Definitely get that corrected before applying if possible! Missing earnings years can significantly impact your benefit calculation. You'll need to submit form SSA-7008 (Request for Correction of Earnings Record) along with proof of those earnings, like tax returns or W-2s. If you don't have those documents, you might need to order transcripts from the IRS. Better to delay your application by a few weeks to get this fixed than to leave benefits on the table forever.
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Austin Leonard
I had a NIGHTMARE trying to reach SSA by phone when I was applying. You might want to try using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they somehow get you through to SSA quickly instead of waiting for hours. There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I used it when I had issues with my application and got through in minutes rather than hours of redial hell.
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Anita George
•does this actually work?? seems too good to be true after spending literally DAYS trying to reach a human at ssa
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Austin Leonard
•It worked for me! I was skeptical too but was desperate after 3 days of trying to get through. Their system somehow gets you in the queue properly. It saved me a massive headache.
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Christian Bierman
What i wanna know is will they back pay you if you apply a little late?? my brother turned 70 last year and didn't apply until 2 months after his bday and they wouldn't give him those 2 months!!
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Makayla Shoemaker
•Unfortunately, SSA generally only provides up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, and that's only for people who file after their Full Retirement Age. But there's a catch with delayed retirement credits - if you file after 70, you won't get credits for the months after 70. So your brother likely lost those two months of higher benefits permanently. That's why it's so important to apply on time when you're approaching 70.
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Mason Stone
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'll plan to apply in June, 3 months before my September birthday. I'll also start gathering my documentation now - birth certificate, tax records for those missing earnings years, etc. I'm going to check my Medicare enrollment status too since a couple of you mentioned that could be related. If I have trouble reaching SSA by phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's frustrating how complicated they make this process, but I feel much better prepared now.
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Sophie Duck
•Sounds like a solid plan. One final tip: when you do apply, print a copy of the confirmation page or take a screenshot. Sometimes applications get lost in their system, and having proof of when you applied can help resolve issues. Good luck!
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