Applying for SS at 62

[Elan]

I will be 62 in just under 4 months. From what I read online, I could apply for SS starting 4 months ahead of my intended start date. So, I went online and started the application. On first page there's a question effectively asking if I'm disabled. I answered no and submitted. The form immediately kicks me out with message that I "must answer yes" to the disability question to proceed. All I can figure is that I'm perhaps applying a bit too early for retirement benefits, and therefore the software thinks I'm only eligible for disability benefits. I went back and restarted application a few times to ensure I was indeed applying for retirement benefits. Anyone have any insight on this? I googled and found some others that had experienced similar, but there was no posted resolution. Someone speculated that you had to wait for end of the month in which you turned 61 years and 8 months, but it was purely speculation.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I would just wait a month and try it again.

 

[susieq]

When I applied, I was told 3 months ahead. Like stated above, just wait a month. ( I applied March 1, my birthday is in June. )

 

[callwill]

Good info at this link:

When to Apply for Social Security to Start Benefits at 62

The earliest you can apply is four months before the month you want your benefits to begin. Read to learn about exceptions and payment schedules.

www.aarp.org

 

[Passepartout]

Jim, I am pretty sure it's 3 months ahead of your 62nd birthday month. And if you need a little help with that foodstamp application, I know a good lawyer.

 

[davidvel]

I will be 62 in just under 4 months. From what I read online, I could apply for SS starting 4 months ahead of my intended start date. So, I went online and started the application. On first page there's a question effectively asking if I'm disabled. I answered no and submitted. The form immediately kicks me out with message that I "must answer yes" to the disability question to proceed. All I can figure is that I'm perhaps applying a bit too early for retirement benefits, and therefore the software thinks I'm only eligible for disability benefits. I went back and restarted application a few times to ensure I was indeed applying for retirement benefits. Anyone have any insight on this? I googled and found some others that had experienced similar, but there was no posted resolution. Someone speculated that you had to wait for end of the month in which you turned 61 years and 8 months, but it was purely speculation.

The earliest you can apply is four months before the month you want your benefits to start, and the earliest your benefits can start is your first full month as a 62-year-old. For example, if you turn 62 in June, your benefits can begin in July, and you can apply as early as March. (There is an exception: If you were born on the first or second day of a month, you can begin collecting your benefits in that month.)

So, if you were born in November (?), you cannot start drawing benefits until December 1, and 4 months prior to that (when you can apply) is August 1.

 

[clifffaith]

I took SS at 63 and one month. Cliff was in earshot when I was talking to someone at SS (I believe they called me at some point after I applied online) and with his help we started it in January rather than my December birth month, thus waiting until the rate for the next year kicked in.

 

[davidvel]

I took SS at 63 and one month. Cliff was in earshot when I was talking to someone at SS (I believe they called me at some point after I applied online) and with his help we started it in January rather than my December birth month, thus waiting until the rate for the next year kicked in.

You can't start in the month of your birth unless you were born on the 1st or 2nd. (See above.)

If you could, why would you throw away a whole month of pay waiting until January?

 

[Elan]

Ok, thanks everyone. I guess I must've misinterpreted what I'd read. Not the first time and won't be the last...
I'll try again next month.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I think it's a matter of semantics (and timing) but you are eligible the month you turn 62 (or FRA, whatever) . . . but they pay you a month later for that first month. I'm a November birth date and my FRA was in May. I filed for benefits starting in May . . . but that first payment wasn't until late June. But I did start in May at 66y6m.

Also from my filing experience, stay on top of it via online and then call SSA if you need to. I filed the suggested 4 mos prior, but my application just sat there without approval. I finally called and got through to someone at my local SSA office. There were questions that needed answered, but nobody had bothered to contact me. I finally received my approval letter around April 15th (again, for May benefits).

 

[Janann]

I took SS at 63 and one month. Cliff was in earshot when I was talking to someone at SS (I believe they called me at some point after I applied online) and with his help we started it in January rather than my December birth month, thus waiting until the rate for the next year kicked in.

It wasn't the rate for the next year, it was the rate for the next month. The payment rate increases slightly every month, not every January.

 

[Elan]

You can't start in the month of your birth unless you were born on the 1st or 2nd. (See above.)

If you could, why would you throw away a whole month of pay waiting until January?

Yeah, I was gonna wait to start mine Jan 2025, just to have "cleaner" tax years. Then I realized that's a missed few thousand dollars that will take decades to come back to me. So I'm taking it from day 1.

 

[VacationForever]

The rule for 62 yo is a little different in that you need to have been 62 yo for a full month before the claim starts. So if your birthday is on Nov 5, your full month of 62 is in Dec, and the SS payment will be in January.

 

[Elan]

The rule for 62 yo is a little different in that you need to have been 62 yo for a full month before the claim starts. So if your birthday is on Nov 5, your full month of 62 is in Dec, and the SS payment will be in January.

I'll take the check whether it comes. Just want to make sure claim is filed on earliest possible date.

 

[Elan]

I have applied and been approved for SS retirement benefits. First check scheduled to arrive in January.
An unexpected twist to my filling is that due to having a dependent minor, that child will be able to collect benefits until he graduates from HS. I was not previously aware of this extra benefit and I've never seen it mentioned in the dozens of articles I've read on "best age" to apply for benefits. I completed this additional application by phone with a SSA representative and it was very simple. Anyone have experience with SS benefits for minor dependents?

 

[SmithOp]

I have applied and been approved for SS retirement benefits. First check scheduled to arrive in January.
An unexpected twist to my filling is that due to having a dependent minor, that child will be able to collect benefits until he graduates from HS. I was not previously aware of this extra benefit and I've never seen it mentioned in the dozens of articles I've read on "best age" to apply for benefits. I completed this additional application by phone with a SSA representative and it was very simple. Anyone have experience with SS benefits for minor dependents?

My son is disabled and collects SSDI based on my SS earnings. Not exactly the same as a dependent minor because I was not eligible before he turned 18. He was evaluated by SS appointed Dr prior to age 22 and found to have a permanent disability, he was awarded SSI until I filed, and then it was converted to SSDI.

There are a lot of complicated rules, I got a book written by a retired SS employee, it really helped.