When to apply for Social Security at age 70 - do I really need to start 3 months before my birthday?

Yes, applying 3 months before your birthday is the general recommendation from SSA to ensure your benefits start on time. I delayed until 70 last year and applied exactly 3 months before my birthday. The online application is actually pretty straightforward - took me about 30 minutes. One important thing: even though you apply 3 months early, your benefits won't start until your birth month, and your first payment will arrive the month after you turn 70. So for a July birthday, you'd get your first payment in August. Make sure to select "I want my benefits to begin at age 70" when asked about start date.

The 3 month guideline is a recommendation, not a requirement. You absolutely CAN apply less than 3 months before turning 70. However, if you wait until after your birth month to apply, you might lose some benefits. SSA can only pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits for retirement claims, but why leave money on the table? I'm a retired financial advisor and I've helped dozens of clients with this exact situation. The best approach is to apply 2-3 months before your birthday to give SSA time to process everything, but don't panic if you're a bit late. Just don't wait more than a month after your birthday.

just did this last yr... applied online, super easy. dont stress. took like 20 mins tops

The SSA website is terrible!! I applied online and then didn't hear ANYTHING for weeks. Then got a letter saying they needed more info but by then it was past my birthday. CALL THEM to confirm they got everything!!!

I went through this exact situation last year. The 3-month window is ideal because: 1. It gives SSA time to process your application before your eligibility date 2. It ensures your benefits start exactly on your 70th birthday 3. It allows time to resolve any issues that might come up One important thing to know: when you apply online, you'll need to have your bank information ready for direct deposit, your marriage/divorce history if applicable, and information about any other pensions you receive (especially government pensions that might trigger WEP/GPO reductions). If you're uncomfortable with the online application, you do have other options. You can call the national number (1-800-772-1213) to schedule a telephone appointment instead of trying to reach your local office. They're often more accommodating than local offices for scheduling.

After trying for WEEKS to get through to someone at Social Security, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA representative in under 10 minutes! I was seriously shocked because I'd been trying for ages. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. The agent I spoke with was able to help me schedule a phone appointment to complete my application since I was having trouble with the online system. Saved me so much frustration!

I think there's some confusion here about deadlines. When you turn 70, there's no "deadline" to apply since you're already past your Full Retirement Age (FRA). You can apply at any point after turning 70, but as others mentioned, you generally don't want to wait because: 1. SSA will only pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits 2. It takes time to process applications The 3-month recommendation is about efficiency, not a hard requirement. Your benefits will be the same maximum amount whether you apply 3 months before turning 70, right at 70, or even a month after. The amount doesn't increase after 70, so there's no advantage to waiting longer. As for the online application being mandatory - that's not entirely accurate. You can apply by phone if you call the national number and explain that you're not comfortable with the online process. They might try to encourage the online application, but they can't force you to use it if you request a phone appointment.

my neighbor waited til 71 to apply and got 6 months backpay but lost like 6 months of benefits... dont do that!

Building on my earlier comment, I want to emphasize a key point: applying at age 70 is different from applying at earlier ages. At 70, you've reached the maximum delayed retirement credits (DRCs), so your benefit amount won't increase further by waiting. Some specific advice for your July birthday: - Ideal application time: April-May 2025 - Latest application without losing money: January 2026 (this would get you 6 months of retroactive benefits back to July 2025) - First payment: You'll receive your first payment in August 2025 (for July 2025) Also, make sure you understand that the year you turn 70, you're no longer subject to the earnings test. This means you can earn unlimited income without affecting your Social Security benefits. This is a significant advantage of waiting until 70 to claim.

Just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment - I forgot to mention that when you apply online, you'll create a my Social Security account if you don't already have one. This is actually really useful even after you apply because you can: 1. Track the status of your application 2. See your benefit verification letter once approved 3. Change your direct deposit information if needed 4. Get tax documents (SSA-1099) each January I found the account really helpful for keeping tabs on everything without having to call SSA repeatedly.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I feel much better informed now. I'll plan to apply online in April (3 months before my July birthday) and make sure I have all my documents ready. I'll also create that my Social Security account ahead of time to get familiar with it. If I run into problems with the online application, I'll try the national number for a phone appointment or consider using that Claimyr service if I can't get through. I'm relieved to know that applying around 3 months before is optimal but not a strict requirement, and that waiting until 70 means I don't have to worry about the earnings test anymore. Appreciate all your guidance!