When to apply for Social Security with July 2025 retirement - will working through June affect my benefit?

You're fine applying 3-4 months before retirement. Your current earnings won't affect your benefit calculation or eligibility since you'll be at Full Retirement Age (FRA) when benefits start. The earnings test only applies to people receiving benefits before their FRA. SSA calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so these final months of work might actually slightly increase your benefit amount if they're among your highest-earning years. I went through this exact scenario last year. Applied in February for June benefits, while still working full-time. Had zero issues with the application process. Your benefit amount won't be finalized until after you stop working and SSA verifies your final earnings, but that happens automatically.

im in almost same boat (retiring september) and my brother told me to wait until after i stop working to apply because otherwise they might mess up the calculation?? now im confused

I just went through this exact situation last year! I applied online 3 months before retiring, and I'm so glad I did because there were several back-and-forth questions with SSA that took time to resolve. One tip - if you need to talk to someone at SSA to verify everything is on track (which I definitely recommend), use Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to a real person at SSA in under 15 minutes when I was panicking about my application status. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I would've waited on hold for HOURS otherwise. The agent confirmed everything was fine despite my continued employment and helped me make sure my Medicare enrollment was also properly synchronized.

WAIT!!! There's something important nobody mentioned yet. If you have a PENSION that starts in July 2025, you might get hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)!!!! These can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce your Social Security benefit if your pension comes from work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes. The SSA doesn't always catch this during the initial application and then BAM - they come back years later demanding huge repayments. Happened to my cousin. Make sure you disclose EVERYTHING about your pension during the application process!!!

my sister said to apply exactly 3 months before not earlier or they might mess it up and start your benefits at the wrong time just fyi

I'd highly recommend applying about 3 months before your intended start date, but be very explicit in your application. There's actually a specific field where you indicate the month you want benefits to begin. Make sure that's filled in correctly with "July 2025". What I did (retired last year) was apply online, then immediately called SSA to confirm they understood my intended start date. They even sent me a confirmation letter showing the correct benefit start month. Regarding your earnings: Since you'll be at FRA, your current earnings won't reduce your benefit amount at all. In fact, SSA will eventually recalculate your benefit amount to include those final months of earnings, which might increase your monthly payment slightly if 2025 is among your 35 highest earning years. If you wait until after retiring to apply, you risk having a gap in income, as initial processing can take 2-6 weeks. Much better to have everything set up in advance.

Slightly off topic but make sure you also figure out your Medicare timing! That has different enrollment periods and deadlines than regular Social Security benefits and it gets super confusing when you're retiring right around age 65-66.

wait does anyone know if they backpay you for the months you had to wait for processing?? i heard they do but my neighbor said they didnt get anything retroactive

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better about the timing now. I'll plan to apply online in early April for my July start date, and I'll make sure to specify the July start date clearly on the application. Good to know my current earnings won't reduce my benefit since I'll be at FRA when benefits begin. And I'll definitely check out Claimyr if I run into any issues contacting SSA directly. The peace of mind of confirming everything is on track would be worth it. I appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you apply online, save screenshots of every page showing your benefit start date as July 2025. I had a minor hiccup where there was confusion about my start month, and having those screenshots made it super easy to resolve with SSA. Also, after you submit your application, you'll get a receipt number. Write that down and keep it handy! If you need to call about your application status, that number will help the representative pull up your case immediately. You're smart to plan this out in advance. The transition from working to retirement benefits can be stressful enough without worrying about timing issues. Sounds like you've got a solid plan now!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have all your documentation ready before you apply in April! You'll need your most recent W-2, tax returns, and any other income documentation. Also, if you have a my Social Security account online (ssa.gov), check it beforehand to make sure all your earnings history is accurate. Sometimes there are gaps or errors that can delay processing. It's much easier to fix these issues before you apply rather than during the application process. I went through this two years ago and having everything organized upfront made the whole process much smoother. The online application itself only takes about 15-20 minutes if you have all your documents ready to go.

This is such great advice from everyone! I'm in a similar situation (retiring in August 2025) and was really worried about the timing. Reading through all these responses has cleared up so much confusion. One quick question for those who've been through this - after you applied online, how long did it typically take to hear back from SSA with confirmation that everything was processed correctly? I know Ethan mentioned planning to apply in April for July benefits, but I'm wondering if there's usually enough time to fix any issues that might come up during those 3 months. Also, has anyone here had experience with the automatic recalculation that happens after you stop working? I'm curious how long that takes and whether they notify you when your benefit amount gets adjusted for those final months of earnings. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually navigated this process!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been researching this exact scenario for months, I'm relieved to see so many people confirm that applying 3-4 months early while still working is the right approach. One thing I'd add from my research - when you apply online, there's actually a "remarks" section where you can add notes about your situation. I plan to write something like "Currently employed through June 30, 2025. Request benefits to begin July 2025 upon retirement." This gives SSA additional context about your timeline and intentions. Also, for anyone worried about the earnings calculation - I called SSA last month (waited 2+ hours!) and the representative confirmed that they routinely handle applications from people who are still working. It's completely normal and won't cause any delays or complications as long as you're clear about your intended benefit start date. The key is just being very explicit about when you want benefits to begin. SSA processes thousands of these applications every month from people in similar situations!