When to apply for Social Security at age 70 to get maximum benefits in December 2024?
My 70th birthday is coming up on December 15, 2024, and I want to make sure I get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit. I've waited all these years to get the delayed retirement credits, and I don't want to mess up at the finish line! I've heard different advice about when to actually submit my application - 3 months before? 1 month before? Should I apply now or wait until closer to my birthday? I'm worried that if I apply too early, they might start my benefits before I turn 70, but if I wait too long, I might miss out on my December payment. Anyone know the exact timing for applying to ensure I get my full benefit starting exactly in December?
14 comments
Join the conversation
Demi Lagos
You should apply 3-4 months before you want your benefits to begin. Since your birthday is in December, I'd recommend applying in August or September. Make sure you specify on your application that you want your benefits to START in December 2024, not before. SSA allows you to apply up to 4 months before your desired start date. The application will ask you which month you want benefits to begin - just choose December 2024.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Thank you! So when I apply, there's actually a specific question that lets me choose which month to start? That makes me feel better. I was worried they'd automatically start them based on when I apply.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
congrats on waiting til 70! most people cant wait that long. i took mine at 62 cause who knows how long any of us have right? lol
0 coins
Vera Visnjic
•Same here! Took mine early and have zero regrets. Life's too short to wait around for maybe a little more money later.
0 coins
Jake Sinclair
Your going to want to apply RIGHT NOW!! The SSA has a 6 MONTH backlog of applications and if you wait until August like someone else said YOU WILL NOT get your first payment in December!! I applied for my husband's SS last year and it took 7 MONTHS before his first payment arrived. The system is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! Apply today!!!
0 coins
Demi Lagos
•This is not accurate information for retirement benefits. While disability claims (SSDI) can take many months, standard retirement benefit applications are typically processed within 4-6 weeks. The 3-4 month recommendation is to ensure smooth processing, not because there's a 6-month backlog. Retirement claims are largely automated these days.
0 coins
Brielle Johnson
I went through this exact situation last year when I turned 70. Applied online 3 months before my birthday, specifically selected my benefit start date as my birth month, and everything went perfectly. My first payment arrived in January (for December benefits since SS pays a month behind). One tip: after applying online, I was having trouble reaching anyone at SSA to verify they received my application. I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a live SSA agent in under 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it to confirm my application was on track.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
•That's really helpful - thanks for sharing your experience! I might try that Claimyr service after I submit my application. I've tried calling SSA in the past and always end up hanging up after being on hold forever.
0 coins
Honorah King
I had a complicated situation when I turned 70 in 2023. Applied about 2 months before my birthday but then got nervous and called SSA 3 times to confirm everything was set up correctly. After lots of confusion, I finally got someone knowledgeable who explained that your first payment arrives the MONTH AFTER your first benefit month. So if your benefits start December 2024, your first actual payment will arrive in January 2025. Don't let anyone tell you the system isn't confusing. It absolutely is! But the online application is pretty straightforward now.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Oh that's a good point about the payment timing. So even though my benefits will start in December, I won't actually see the money until January. That's important to know for my budget planning. Thanks!
0 coins
Oliver Brown
There's a lot of confusion about this topic, so let me clarify the official SSA policy: 1. You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin 2. On the application, you select your "month of entitlement" (December 2024 in your case) 3. SS benefits are paid in the month following the month they are due (so January 2025 for December benefits) 4. Waiting until 70 gives you the maximum 8% per year delayed retirement credits (32% total if your FRA was 66) 5. There's no benefit to waiting beyond age 70 - the increases stop Apply 3-4 months before December for a smooth process. And congratulations on maximizing your benefits!
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•wait so if you wait til 70 you get 32% more than if you took it at wat age? is that from 62 or from the regular age? im confused
0 coins
Oliver Brown
•The 32% increase is compared to taking benefits at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is 66 for people born 1943-1954, and gradually increases to 67 for those born in 1960 or later. If you take benefits at 62 instead of waiting until 70, the difference is even larger - around 76% more at 70 compared to 62, depending on your exact FRA.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'll go ahead and apply in September and make sure to specify December 2024 as my start month. And I'll remember that the first payment will arrive in January. I appreciate all the suggestions and personal experiences shared here.
0 coins