Why January is supposedly the best month to start Social Security benefits - is this a myth?

January isnt magical LOL. Its all about how SSA pays benefits. You get paid for the PREVIOUS month (so January payment is for December). Also sometimes ppl confuse this with the earnings test - if you work in the year you claim SS & make over the limit, they count your WHOLE annual income. So starting in Jan sometimes means less complications for the ppl who still work.

There are a few legitimate reasons why some financial advisors recommend January as a starting month, but it definitely doesn't apply to everyone: 1. Social Security pays benefits for the previous month (you receive February's payment in March). When you first file, there's a potential one-month gap where you don't get paid for your first month of eligibility. 2. If you're still working and might exceed the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025 for people under FRA), starting in January gives you a clean calendar year for earnings test calculations. 3. COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments) take effect in January, so there's occasionally a small advantage to having your benefit calculation include the most recent COLA. For someone at FRA like yourself who's not working, the month probably doesn't matter that much. The differences would be minimal.

My sister waited til January to start her ss and she got a BIG surprise when they told her the first check wouldn't come until FEBRUARY!! No one told her about the month delay thing and she had already quit her job in December. Had to borrow money to pay January bills. So watch out for that!!

I actually find the January myth super frustrating because it's oversimplified advice that doesn't apply to everyone. There are some specific cases where starting in January might make sense: 1. If you're still working and might hit the earnings test limit 2. If you're trying to coordinate spousal benefits 3. If you're dealing with the family maximum across multiple beneficiaries But for most people at FRA who aren't working, it makes ZERO difference. You're just delaying benefits for no reason which means LESS money overall. For you, claiming at 67 in April makes perfect sense - you'll get your first payment in May.

I tried calling SSA to ask this same question last month and spent TWO HOURS on hold before getting disconnected. Then tried again and couldn't even get in the queue! So frustrating when you just need a simple answer about when to start benefits.

Something important that hasn't been mentioned yet: If you're dealing with taxes, starting in January can sometimes simplify your tax planning for that first year of benefits. Since Social Security is potentially taxable (depending on your combined income), having a clean calendar year of benefits can make tax preparation easier. But that's more about convenience than actually increasing your benefit amount. For someone already at FRA with no earnings test concerns, pick whatever month makes sense for your personal situation. The "January magic" mostly applies to specific scenarios involving the earnings test or complex family benefit calculations.

i think ppl get confused with Medicare too which has diff enrollment periods & can penalize u if u miss them. SS is much more flexible once ur at FRA

One last thing to consider - some people find it psychologically helpful to start benefits in January as a "fresh start" for the new year. It's not a financial advantage, just a mental organizational preference. Since you're already at FRA, you've maximized your base benefit amount, so you can claim whenever is most convenient for your personal situation without any penalties.