When to apply for Social Security to start payments exactly at Full Retirement Age (66 and 10 months)?

Social Security benefits are paid the month after they're due. So if you want your first benefit to be for March 2026, that payment would arrive in April 2026. The general guidance is to apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. So if you're targeting March 2026 as your first benefit month, you should apply around November-December 2025. You'll specify March 2026 as your benefit start month on the application, and that's what matters - not when you submit the application. Just make sure when filling out the application that you specifically select March 2026 as your start month.

i did mine online last year and they ask you what date you want benefits to start. just make sure you pick march 2026 when they ask. the app is pretty easy but i would do it like 3 months ahead of time to be safe

Wait, I'm confused about something. You said your FRA is 66 and 10 months which would be January 31, 2026, but you want to start benefits in March 2026? Why would you wait past your FRA? There's no additional benefit to waiting those extra months unless you're trying to wait until 70 for maximum delayed retirement credits. Am I missing something? If your FRA is Jan 31, 2026, you could apply to start benefits for February 2026 without any reduction.

The SSA really makes this more complicated than it needs to be! Your FRA is not actually a specific day (January 31st), but rather the month you reach that age. So your FRA is the entire month of January 2026. Benefit payments are always for a month, not a specific day. So once you reach FRA in January 2026, you are eligible for full benefits starting with the MONTH of January 2026. If you want payments as soon as possible without reduction, you should select January 2026 as your benefit start month. And remember, your January benefit payment would arrive in February. I'd recommend applying around September or October 2025 to give them plenty of processing time.

I ran into EXACTLY this same confusion last year. Here's what I learned: 1. You reach FRA in the MONTH you turn 66 and 10 months, not on the exact day 2. Benefits are always for a full month, not prorated by days 3. You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin 4. When you apply, you'll see a screen that specifically asks which month you want benefits to begin So if you reach FRA in January 2026, you can select January 2026 as your first benefit month. That payment would arrive in February 2026. Also, the payment date depends on your birth date: if born on the 1st-10th, payment arrives on the 2nd Wednesday; 11th-20th, 3rd Wednesday; 21st-31st, 4th Wednesday.

MY BEST ADVICE is to actually TALK to someone at Social Security before filing!!! I waited on hold for 3 hours trying to get through last year when I was filing and kept getting disconnected!!! SO FRUSTRATING!!! But you really need to confirm all this directly with SSA because if you make a mistake on your application you might have to go through a whole appeals process to fix it!!!!

Just for clarity, the general rule is: * Apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin * Choose your start month during the application process (you'll see a specific screen for this) * Benefits are paid in the month AFTER they're due (January benefits arrive in February) * You reach FRA in the MONTH you attain that age, not on a specific day I think there's confusion sometimes because people mix up when they apply, when benefits begin, and when payments arrive. Three different things!

I think we're overcomplicating this. OP, just go to the SSA website and start an application. You don't have to complete it all at once - you can save it and come back. This will let you see the actual screen where you select your benefit start date, which might make things clearer. Remember that you can apply up to 4 months before your desired start month, so there's no rush either way. The most important thing is that YOU select the correct start month during the application.

wait im still confused about one thing - does the OP actually turn 66 and 10 months on jan 31 2026? or is that when they turn 67? if ur birthday is march 31 and u turn 66 in 2025, then ur FRA would be january 2026... so yeah i think ur right that benefits could start jan 2026

I went through this exact same situation two years ago and want to share what worked for me. The key thing that helped me was understanding that SSA processes applications differently than I expected. When you apply online, there's a specific section where you select your benefit start month from a dropdown menu. The system won't let you select a month before your FRA, so you don't have to worry about accidentally starting benefits early. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1. Apply in October 2025 (3-4 months before your FRA month) 2. Select January 2026 as your benefit start month (this is when you reach FRA) 3. Your first payment will arrive in February 2026 The application process took me about 45 minutes online, and I was able to save it and come back to finish it later. Don't stress too much about the timing - as long as you select the correct start month during the application, you'll be fine. One tip: print out a copy of your completed application for your records. It shows exactly which month you selected for benefits to begin, which gives you peace of mind.

I just want to echo what Faith Kingston said about the online application system - it really does prevent you from making timing mistakes. When I helped my mom apply last year, the dropdown menu for benefit start months was automatically filtered to only show months at or after her FRA. So you literally cannot select a month that would result in early filing penalties. The other thing that gave us confidence was that after you submit the application, SSA sends you a confirmation that clearly states your selected benefit start month. So you'll have written confirmation that you chose January 2026 as your start date. One small detail to add: if you're still working when you apply, make sure you understand the earnings test rules. Even though you'll be at FRA when benefits start, if you earn over the limit in the months before reaching FRA, it could affect your benefits. But since you're targeting January 2026 (your FRA month), this probably won't be an issue for you.

I am waiting because I STILL work. I want full benefits without worrying with how much I make a year

I understand your confusion about the timing - it's one of the most common questions people have when approaching retirement! Based on everything discussed here, you're on the right track now. Since you'll reach your Full Retirement Age in January 2026 (the month you turn 66 and 10 months), you can start receiving your full benefit amount beginning with that month. There's no need to wait until March 2026 unless you have a specific reason. Here's the timeline I'd recommend: - Apply online in October 2025 (gives SSA plenty of processing time) - Select January 2026 as your benefit start month - Expect your first payment to arrive in February 2026 on the 4th Wednesday (since your birthday is March 31st) The online application is pretty straightforward and has built-in safeguards to prevent early filing mistakes. You'll get a confirmation showing exactly which month you selected for benefits to begin. One other consideration: if you're still working, remember that once you reach FRA (January 2026), there's no earnings limit that would affect your Social Security benefits. So you could continue working if you wanted without any benefit reduction. Good luck with your application!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a similar situation (turning 66 next year with FRA at 66 and 8 months) and was completely confused about the timing. The key insights that really clicked for me from reading everyone's responses: - FRA is for the entire MONTH, not a specific day - You can apply 3-4 months early without risk as long as you select the correct start month - The online system prevents you from accidentally filing too early - Benefits are always paid the month after they're earned It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when explained by people who have actually been through the process. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's exactly what someone like me (and the original poster) needed to hear to feel confident about navigating this important decision. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for when I need to apply next year!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from my own SSA application experience last month. The confusion about timing is so common, and I made it more complicated than it needed to be! The most important thing I discovered is that when you're filling out the online application, there's a section that clearly states "I want my benefits to start in:" followed by a dropdown menu. The system automatically calculates your FRA and won't let you select any month before that date. For your situation, since you reach FRA in January 2026, that would be the earliest month available in the dropdown. The application also shows you exactly how much your monthly benefit will be based on the start month you select, which helps confirm you're getting your full amount. One tip that helped me: I called the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) just to verify my FRA calculation before applying. Yes, there's usually a wait, but they confirmed my understanding was correct, which gave me confidence to proceed with the online application. The whole process took about an hour online, and I received email confirmations at each step. Apply in October 2025, select January 2026 as your start month, and you'll be all set!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to add my perspective after reading through this incredibly helpful discussion. I'm in a similar situation - approaching my FRA and initially confused about the application timing. What really stands out to me from everyone's shared experiences is how the SSA's online system seems designed to prevent the exact mistake you were worried about (accidentally filing too early). The fact that multiple people have confirmed the dropdown menu is automatically filtered to only show valid months gives me a lot of confidence in the process. Your original plan to wait until March 2026 would have meant giving up two months of full benefits unnecessarily. Based on all the advice here, starting in January 2026 (your actual FRA month) makes much more sense. I'm planning to follow the same timeline when I reach this point: apply 3-4 months early, carefully select the FRA month as the start date, and expect the first payment the following month. This thread has been invaluable for understanding how the process actually works versus how complicated it initially seems. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's exactly what newcomers like us need to make informed decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! I'm not quite at retirement age yet, but I've been trying to understand the Social Security application process in advance, and this thread has cleared up so much confusion. What I found most valuable was learning that: - FRA applies to the entire month, not just a specific date - The online system has built-in safeguards to prevent early filing mistakes - You can apply months ahead of time as long as you select the correct start month - The confirmation documentation provides peace of mind The consensus seems crystal clear: apply in October 2025, select January 2026 as your start month (when you reach FRA), and expect your first payment in February 2026. For someone like me who tends to overthink these major financial decisions, seeing so many people share consistent advice based on actual experience is incredibly reassuring. This community seems like an amazing resource for navigating these complex government processes with real-world wisdom rather than just trying to decode official websites. I'll definitely be referring back to this thread when my time comes to apply. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm facing a similar situation with my own Social Security timing (turning 65 next year with an FRA of 66 and 6 months), and I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out when to apply. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been so much more valuable than trying to navigate the SSA website alone. The key points that really helped me understand the process: - Your FRA applies to the entire month, not a specific date - The online application system prevents you from accidentally filing early - You can safely apply 3-4 months before your desired start month - Always select your FRA month as the earliest start date to get full benefits What really stands out is how consistent everyone's advice has been - apply in October 2025, select January 2026 as your start month, expect your first payment in February 2026. Having multiple people who actually went through this process confirm the same approach gives me so much confidence. I especially appreciate those who shared details about the confirmation documents and system safeguards. Knowing that there are built-in protections against timing mistakes makes this feel much less risky. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating these important life decisions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and help fellow members understand this complex process!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm currently 64 and will be reaching my FRA of 66 and 8 months in a couple of years, so this thread has been like finding a treasure trove of practical guidance. What struck me most was how the initial confusion about timing (which I completely relate to) was so thoroughly addressed by community members who actually lived through this process. The distinction between application timing, benefit start month, and payment arrival was something I never fully understood until reading these explanations. The consensus advice seems bulletproof: apply 3-4 months before your FRA month, select that FRA month as your start date, and trust the system's built-in safeguards. Knowing that the online application literally won't let you select an invalid month removes so much anxiety about making a costly mistake. I'm particularly grateful for the details about confirmation documents and the explanation that FRA applies to the entire month rather than a specific date. These are the kinds of practical insights you just can't get from official government materials. For anyone else in planning mode like me, this thread should definitely be bookmarked as a reference guide. The real-world experiences shared here are invaluable for navigating what initially seems like a complex and risky decision but actually has strong safeguards in place. Thank you to all the experienced members who took time to help newcomers understand this process!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm 63 and approaching the same decision-making process, and I was honestly feeling pretty anxious about potentially messing up the Social Security application timing. What's been so reassuring is seeing how many experienced members took the time to share not just what to do, but why it works that way. The explanation that FRA applies to the entire month rather than a specific date was a huge "aha moment" for me - I had been thinking about it completely wrong! The consistent advice from multiple people who actually went through this process gives me so much confidence: apply 3-4 months before your FRA month, select that month as your benefit start date, and trust that the online system won't let you make timing mistakes. Knowing there are built-in safeguards takes away so much of the fear around accidentally filing too early. I especially appreciate everyone who shared details about the confirmation documents and dropdown menu functionality. These practical insights make what seemed like a complicated and risky process feel much more manageable. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these major life decisions with real-world wisdom rather than just trying to decode government websites alone. Thank you to everyone who contributed - I'll definitely be referring back to this thread when my time comes to apply!