When to apply for Social Security before reaching FRA - 3 months or 6 months ahead?
I'm turning 67 (my full retirement age) in September and I'm confused about when exactly I should submit my Social Security retirement application. The SSA website says something about applying 4 months before, but my neighbor applied 3 months before and my brother insists I should do it 6 months ahead. I don't want to mess this up! Will applying too early or too late affect my benefit amount? Does anyone know the ACTUAL correct timeframe for applying before FRA? I'm planning to stop working completely in August if that matters.
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Javier Hernandez
You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to start. So if you want your first payment in October (for September), you could apply as early as June. But honestly you could do it 3 months before and be fine too. I applied exactly 3 months before my FRA and everything went smooth.
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Natasha Petrova
•Thank you! So June would be the earliest I should do it then? What happens if I wait until July or even August? Will my payments be delayed?
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Emma Davis
SSA recommends applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. If you're turning 67 in September and want benefits to start that month, applying in June would be ideal. Applying too early (more than 4 months) doesn't affect your benefit amount, but it means your application sits in the system longer than necessary. Applying less than 3 months before could potentially delay your first payment. Your benefit amount is determined by your earnings history and age at claiming, not by when you submit your application. Since you're claiming at exactly your FRA, you'll receive 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
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LunarLegend
•This is WRONG! My cousin applied 2 months before his birthday and got his payment ON TIME. SSA just wants you to apply early so they have time to process but it dosent always take that long!!! I think 6 weeks is actually enough time
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Malik Jackson
Dont listen to ppl saying 3-4 months is enough!!! I applied only 2 months before my FRA and my first payment was DELAYED by 6 weeks!!! The SSA is EXTREMELY backed up right now in 2025, way worse than before. Some offices are taking 5-6 months to process applications!!! Apply 6 months early to be safe!!!
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Natasha Petrova
•Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about! I definitely don't want my payments delayed. Maybe I should apply right now then? I'm only about 5 months from my FRA.
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Emma Davis
•While processing times can vary by office, 6 months is generally earlier than necessary. The official SSA recommendation remains 3-4 months before. Extremely long delays are the exception, not the rule.
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Isabella Oliveira
i applied 3 months before and got my first check right on time. just make sure you have all your documents ready when you apply. birth certificate, ssn card, etc.
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Ravi Patel
My situation is kinda similar to yours. I'm turning 67 in July and planning to stop working in June. I've been trying to call SSA for weeks to ask these same questions but can't get through. Always says "all representatives are busy" then hangs up on me! So frustrating!!
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Freya Andersen
•I had the same issue trying to call SSA about my application status. After dozens of failed attempts, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed that 3-4 months is the right timeframe to apply before FRA. She said applying 6 months early is unnecessary unless you have a complicated case (like foreign work credits or pension offsets).
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LunarLegend
My uncle waited til just 1 month before his FRA to apply and his payments were delayed by 3 months! Don't cut it too close. But 6 months is definitely TOO early. SSA website says 4 months is the earliest they even accept applications for retirement benefits. So your brother is wrong.
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Javier Hernandez
Also dont forget that SS benefits are paid a month behind. So your September benefit gets paid in October. Some people get confused about this.
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Natasha Petrova
•That's really helpful to know! So even if I apply perfectly on time, I still won't get my first payment until October? I need to plan for that gap.
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Isabella Oliveira
my son works for ssa. he says apply online its WAY faster than going to the office or calling
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Emma Davis
To summarize what everyone has shared: 1. The official SSA recommendation is to apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin 2. You can't apply more than 4 months before (so your brother's advice about 6 months is incorrect) 3. If you want benefits to start for September (your birth month), applying in June would be ideal 4. Benefits are paid the month after they're due, so your September benefit will arrive in October 5. Applying online is typically faster than other methods 6. Having all your documents ready will help speed up the process Since you're reaching FRA and have a straightforward case, 3-4 months should be sufficient.
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Natasha Petrova
•Thank you so much for this clear summary! I feel much more confident now. I'll plan to apply in June for my September FRA. I appreciate everyone's help!
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