When to apply for Social Security for first payment in March after FRA in February 2025?

You're on the right track! SSA recommends applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. Since your FRA is February 2025 and you want your first payment in March (Social Security pays a month behind), you should apply in October/November 2024. I applied exactly 3 months before my FRA last year and everything processed perfectly - first payment arrived right on schedule.

congrats on reaching FRA! yep march is when you'd get paid for february. remember SS always pays a month behind. good luck!!

Just be aware that when they say you'll get your payment in March, they don't mean March 1st!! Social Security payments go out on different days depending on your birth date. The schedule is based on the date of the month you were born. If you were born on the 1st-10th of the month, you'll get paid on the 2nd Wednesday. 11th-20th means 3rd Wednesday, and 21st-31st means 4th Wednesday. So depending on your birthdate, your first payment could come mid to late March.

The previous responders are correct about timing, but I should point out an important exception. If your birthday is on the 1st or 2nd of February, your FRA might actually be January 2025, not February. SSA considers you to reach FRA on the day BEFORE your birthday in the month you reach full retirement age. So double-check your exact FRA date on your Social Security statement to be sure. As for applying, I always recommend applying 3 months before benefits should start. You can easily apply online at ssa.gov - it takes about 15-20 minutes if you have all your information ready.

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I've been helping people navigate Social Security for years, and I recommend applying about 3 months before you want benefits to begin. For your February 2025 FRA with first payment in March, aim to apply in November 2024. Here's what many people miss: the "month of entitlement" matters. When applying, you'll be asked when you want benefits to begin. Make sure you specify February 2025 as your month of entitlement, not March. Since Social Security pays a month behind, selecting February as your entitlement month means your first payment arrives in March. Also, if you're planning to file and suspend (to allow your benefit to grow while possibly enabling spousal benefits), that's a separate process with different timing considerations.

my sister waited til just 1 month before her FRA to apply and her first payment was delayed by 2 months. big headache. dont cut it too close

IMPORTANT QUESTION - are you still working??? Because that changes everything about when you should apply! If you're earning over the earnings limit before hitting FRA, you might want to time things differently. In 2023 the earnings limit was $21,240 per year before FRA, and I imagine it's a bit higher for 2025.

One last tip - when you actually apply online, have these documents ready: - Your birth certificate (or passport) - Your most recent W-2 or tax return - Marriage certificate if you've been married - Divorce decree if applicable - Military discharge papers if you served Having everything prepared makes the online application process much smoother. The system also lets you save and come back if you need to gather more information.