When will I receive my first Social Security payment after reaching FRA of 66 and 8 months?

Social Security payments are scheduled based on your birth date: - Born on 1st-10th: Second Wednesday of the month - Born on 11th-20th: Third Wednesday of the month - Born on 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday of the month Since you'll be eligible for May, you should receive your first payment on the appropriate Wednesday in May 2025 based on your birth date. As for dos and don'ts, make sure to create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already to track your application status and future payments. Also, keep in mind that even at FRA, if you decide to work, there's no earnings limit, so you can earn as much as you want without affecting your benefits.

Congrats on reaching FRA! Make sure you print out confirmation pages for EVERYTHING. I applied last year and somehow SSA lost my application. Took 3 extra months to get it all sorted out and I had to reapply. So frustrating!!!!

You'll get paid in May based on your birthdate like the other person said. I found out the hard way that they pay a month behind though! So May's payment is actually for April. Just something to keep in mind for your budget.

One thing I'd recommend is checking if your bank account information was correctly entered in your application. That's the #1 reason for payment delays in my experience. Also, while your application is processing, don't be alarmed if you call SSA and they initially can't find record of your application - it can take 7-10 business days for online applications to show up in their main system. If you need to reach them about your application status, Claimyr (claimyr.com) helped me get through to an agent without the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to fix an issue with my application.

doesnt matter when u applied ur payment date is based on ur bday like others said. my advice is dont spend the money before it hits ur account lol. SSA is always having computer problems or whatever excuse they use when things get delayed

Since you applied in April 2025 for benefits to begin in May 2025, everything should process smoothly. A few important points: 1. Your first payment should arrive on the third Wednesday of May (since your birthday is on the 17th) 2. The payment will be for the full month of May 3. You may receive a letter in the mail before your first deposit confirming your benefit amount 4. Keep an eye on your mySSA account for status updates As for dos and don'ts: - DO make sure SSA has your correct contact information - DO report any address changes promptly - DON'T worry if the online status doesn't update immediately - DO keep records of all confirmation numbers - DON'T ignore any mail from SSA as they may request additional information One last thing - your first payment will be the full FRA amount since you waited until 66 and 8 months. Good planning on your part!

I just went through this process! Applied in January, got my first payment in February. The letter with my official benefit amount showed up about 3 weeks after I applied. Then the payment hit my account on the 3rd Wednesday as expected. The whole process was actually smoother than I anticipated after hearing all the horror stories. One thing - I noticed my Medicare premium was already being deducted from my SS payment, so the deposit was less than the full benefit amount they quoted. Just something to be aware of if you're already on Medicare.

My mom applied at FRA last year and her application got stuck in processing for almost 3 months! When she finally got through to someone, they said there was a flag on her account because she had worked overseas for a few years in the 90s. The system got confused even though she'd been back working in the US for 25+ years after that. So if you've ever worked outside the US, you might want to proactively call them.

One additional point: since you're applying right at your FRA (66 and 8 months), double-check that the SSA correctly notes your FRA date in your application status. Sometimes their automated system can miscalculate by a month if you're right at the cutoff. Your benefit amount should be 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) since you're claiming exactly at FRA - not reduced for early claiming or increased for delayed credits. Also, in May when you get your first payment, take a moment to verify that the amount matches what was shown on your Social Security statement. If there's a discrepancy, contact them right away. It's much easier to fix payment issues in the first few months than trying to correct them years later.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help ease your nerves - since you applied online, you should receive an email confirmation within 24-48 hours if SSA needs any additional documentation from you. No news is usually good news in this case! Also, once your application is approved, you'll get what's called a "Notice of Award" letter in the mail that breaks down your exact benefit amount, when payments start, and any deductions (like Medicare premiums). This usually arrives 2-3 weeks before your first payment, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately. One last tip: if you're planning to travel internationally after you start receiving benefits, make sure to notify SSA beforehand. Some countries have restrictions that could temporarily suspend payments, and it's easier to handle this proactively than to deal with suspended benefits later. Sounds like you've done everything right by waiting until FRA and applying at the right time. The third Wednesday in May should be your day!

Welcome to the Social Security journey! I'm currently navigating this process myself and your post really resonates with me. I'm turning 66 and 4 months next month and have been trying to decide the best timing for my application. A few questions if you don't mind sharing your experience: Did you find the online application process straightforward? I've heard mixed reviews about the SSA website. Also, what made you decide to wait until exactly your FRA rather than claiming a bit earlier or delaying for the delayed retirement credits? I'm leaning toward applying soon since I'm also already on Medicare, but I keep second-guessing myself about the timing. Your approach of applying about a month before you want benefits to start seems smart - gives them time to process everything without rushing. Thanks for starting this thread! It's been really educational reading everyone's responses. The tip about printing confirmation pages is definitely going on my to-do list.

I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 (my FRA) in June and planning to apply next month. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! A few things I wanted to add based on my research: The Social Security Administration actually recommends applying 3 months before you want your benefits to start, so you're right on track applying in April for May benefits. Also, I learned that if there are any issues with your application, they can sometimes backdate your benefits to your intended start month as long as you applied on time. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have a spouse, make sure they understand how your claiming decision affects their potential spousal or survivor benefits. Even though you're claiming at FRA, the timing can still impact their future options. Also, keep an eye out for any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announcements later this year. Your payment amount could increase in January 2026 based on inflation adjustments. Congrats on reaching this milestone! It sounds like you've been really thoughtful about the timing and process.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since it might help calm your nerves! I applied for Social Security at my FRA of 66 and 6 months back in February, and the whole process went much smoother than I anticipated. A few things that might be helpful: - I received my approval letter about 10 days after applying online - My first payment hit exactly on the scheduled Wednesday (I was born on the 23rd, so fourth Wednesday) - The amount matched my Social Security statement perfectly after accounting for Medicare Part B deduction One tip I don't think anyone mentioned yet: if you have direct deposit set up, you can usually see the payment pending in your account 1-2 days before the official payment date. My bank shows pending transactions, so I actually saw my first Social Security deposit on Monday even though the official payment date was Wednesday. Also, don't stress too much about the application status not updating immediately in your online account. Mine showed "processing" for almost 3 weeks, then suddenly switched to "approved" with all the payment details populated. Sounds like you've done everything right by applying at the perfect time. May will be here before you know it!

I went through this exact same process last year when I turned 66 and 8 months! Your timing sounds perfect - applying in April for May benefits gives SSA plenty of processing time. Since your birthday is on the 17th, you're absolutely right that you'll get paid on the third Wednesday of May. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts with my bank so I'd get notified the moment any deposit hit my account. Made that first payment feel more real when I got the alert! Also, don't be surprised if you get a phone call from SSA in the next week or two asking to verify some basic information from your application. It's totally routine - they called me about 5 days after I applied just to confirm my mailing address and direct deposit info. The whole call took maybe 3 minutes. You mentioned being nervous even though you waited until FRA - I felt the exact same way! But honestly, claiming at full retirement age is the sweet spot. You get your full benefit without any early filing reductions, and you don't have to gamble on delayed retirement credits. You made a smart choice. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you've got everything lined up perfectly. That third Wednesday in May is going to feel pretty great!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! I just turned 66 and 8 months last week and submitted my application online on Monday. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who've successfully navigated this timeline recently. One thing I wanted to add that I learned during my research: if you're still working (even part-time), make sure SSA has your most recent earnings information. I called them before applying because my 2024 W-2 showed higher earnings than what was reflected in my Social Security statement, and they were able to update my record which actually increased my projected benefit amount by about $30/month. Also, I set up account alerts on my MySocialSecurity account so I'll get email notifications for any status changes. Might be worth doing if you haven't already! The anxiety about this whole process is so real, even when you've done everything by the book. But reading everyone's positive experiences here gives me hope that our May payments will arrive right on schedule. Here's to joining the ranks of Social Security recipients! 🎉