When to apply for Social Security at Full Retirement Age - 3 months before or exact month?

You should apply 3 months before your FRA, which would be May for your August birthday. This doesn't reduce your benefit amount at all - it just gives SSA time to process your application so payments can start right when you're eligible. If you wait until August to apply, you might not see your first payment until September or October due to processing times.SSA recommends applying 3 months before to avoid any gaps in expected income. Your benefit amount is calculated based on your FRA and earnings history, not your application date (as long as you're not claiming early).

Thank you so much! That's a relief - I was worried applying \

i applied exactly 3 mo before my FRA and got my first payment the month of my bday. its just about giving them time to process everything. doesnt change ur $$ at all

Not everyone gets their first payment that quickly! My husband applied 3 months before and STILL had to wait an extra month after his birthday to get his first payment. SSA is sooooo backlogged right now!!!

Actually, I think you need to be more careful about WHICH DAY of the month you were born. Social Security payments are based on birth dates - if you were born on the 1st-10th, you get paid on the second Wednesday; 11th-20th get paid third Wednesday; and 21st-31st get paid fourth Wednesday. This might affect when you should apply since processing times could vary based on your payment date. Just something else to consider!

That information is about when monthly payments arrive, not about when to apply. The payment schedule based on birth date doesn't impact the recommendation to apply 3 months before FRA. Everyone should still apply 3 months before regardless of their birth date within the month.

Oh thanks for clarifying! I misunderstood how those two things connected.

I want to emphasize what others have said - applying 3 months before your FRA is the optimal strategy. It gives SSA enough time to process your application without delaying your payments. Your benefit amount is determined by your age when benefits begin (FRA), your lifetime earnings, and various other factors - NOT by when you submit the application.Also, remember that your first payment covers benefits for the previous month. So even if you reach FRA in August, your first payment (received in September) will be for August's benefits. If you wait until August to apply, your first payment might be delayed until October or even November in some cases.One more tip: If you're still working, make sure you understand how the earnings test might affect your benefits, though at FRA this becomes less of an issue.

Has anyone tried using Claimyr to get through to SSA on the phone? I was stressing about my application timing like you and had questions that weren't answered on the website. After trying for THREE DAYS to reach SSA and getting constant busy signals, I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUThe agent confirmed that 3 months before FRA is the perfect time to apply and answered my other questions. Saved me so much stress!

does it actually work? seems suspicious that you have to pay to talk to a government agency you should be able to reach for free

It worked for me! I understand the hesitation - you SHOULD be able to reach them for free, but after days of trying and getting nowhere, I was desperate. They don't replace the SSA service - they just help you navigate the phone system to get through faster.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm definitely going to apply in May then. One more question - do I need to have any specific documents ready when I apply? I have my birth certificate and social security card, but wondering if I need anything else?

Good question! You should have:- Your birth certificate- Your Social Security card or number- Your most recent W-2 or tax return- If applicable: military discharge papers- If applicable: marriage certificate (if widowed or divorced and claiming on a spouse's record)- Bank account information for direct depositMost applications are done online now, and you may not need to submit all documents immediately, but having them ready will make the process smoother.

Perfect, thank you! I have all those documents ready. Planning to apply online this weekend.

I HATE that nobody tells you this stuff clearly!!! I waited until my exact FRA month to apply and then had to live on SAVINGS for almost 2 months while waiting for my first payment!!! The SSA website should put this in HUGE BOLD LETTERS at the top of every page!! Apply 3 months early!!! And even then, be prepared for delays because they are ALWAYS behind on everything.

My sister's FRA was last year and she did the 3-month early application thing but then got confused because she thought she was applying for

That's an unfortunate misunderstanding. To clarify for everyone:\

This distinction is super helpful - thank you! I can see how people would get confused between these two completely different things.

oh also make sure ur bank info is correct when u apply!!! my friend had an old account number and his first payment went to a closed account. was a huge mess to fix

Great advice from everyone here! I'm in a similar situation - turning 66 and 8 months (my FRA) in November. Reading through all these responses really clarified the timing for me. It sounds like the key takeaway is that applying 3 months early is purely administrative to avoid payment delays, not because it affects your benefit calculation. I was also worried about "leaving money on the table" by applying too early, but now I understand that as long as you're not claiming before your FRA, the application timing doesn't impact your monthly benefit amount. Thanks for sharing your experiences - especially the warnings about potential processing delays even when applying early. Better to be prepared for that possibility!

Just wanted to add another perspective on the timing question! I work as a benefits counselor and see this confusion all the time. The "3 months before FRA" rule is absolutely correct for avoiding payment delays, but I always tell my clients to also consider their personal financial situation. If you're still working and earning good money, there's no rush to start benefits exactly at FRA - you could even delay beyond FRA to earn delayed retirement credits (8% per year until age 70). But if you need the income to start right at FRA, then yes, definitely apply 3 months early. The key is that SSA processes thousands of applications and 3 months gives them adequate time to review everything, verify your earnings record, and set up your payments. I've seen people wait until their birthday month and then stress for months waiting for their first check. Don't be that person!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm that applying 3 months early is definitely the way to go! I turned 67 in September and applied in June. Got my first payment right on schedule in October (which covered September benefits). One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - when you apply online, save/print a copy of your confirmation page and application summary. I had a minor glitch where SSA's system didn't show my application for a few days and I was panicking, but having that confirmation number helped when I called. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to verify some information from your work history. They had questions about a job I had 15 years ago because the employer name in their system was slightly different from what I remembered. Just be prepared to provide as much detail as you can recall about past employment. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected once I stopped overthinking the timing. Three months early = no benefit reduction, just gives them processing time. You've got this!