Social Security start date

[Kenneth in Texas]

My sister is turning 62 first week in january, she has decided to take her SS early, she signed up in late october I believe. She called and said she got a letter that says her first payment will begin the first week of march, a full 2 months after her birthday. Is this normal? I was under the impression they started on your birthday or even perhaps 30 days later, but 60 days after her birthday? normal or is something wrong?

 

[Opti-Mist]

There may be no rhyme nor reason. Example: my wife started collecting SS. Some years later SS decided that they had been overpaying her and required thousands of dollars to be repaid. Did that and her reduced payment began. About a year or so later SS decided that she had been underpaid, made up the underpayment and increased her monthly to an amount greater than the original. Its now about the same elapsed time so we are kind of waiting for another "upon review" letter. Go figure.

 

[PHPaul]

My birthday was in late October, got my first check in December.

 

[George2615]

I retired in April and signed up online 2 weeks before I retired. There is a section for starting date and you can set that date for 30,60, or 90 days from signup. She may have clicked on 60 days for a start date. I postponed my starting payment for 90 days because I had a separate work paycheck for unused vacation and sick time. I wanted to postpone till Aug. or Sept. but 90 days was the max. I received my first payment the last week of July. The letter I received says my payment will come each month within a week of your birth date (in my case Oct. 28th) meaning if your date of birth is the 28th your check will come around that time every month. It does not start on exactly your birthday.

 

[Oldtink]

yes. She doesn't qualify for benefits the month of her birthday and they are always a month behind in payment as I remember.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

and of course you cant call them and ive found no logical answers on their web site, but 2 months after her birthday? wonder if she will get back pay or is this just the way the social security gods work?

 

[boomer1025]

My sister is turning 62 first week in january, she has decided to take her SS early, she signed up in late october I believe. She called and said she got a letter that says her first payment will begin the first week of march, a full 2 months after her birthday. Is this normal? I was under the impression they started on your birthday or even perhaps 30 days later, but 60 days after her birthday? normal or is something wrong?

.
Yes it's normal. I retired June 10th and SS started July 1st, my first check was in mid-August which was for July.

 

[/pine]

and of course you cant call them and ive found no logical answers on their web site, but 2 months after her birthday? wonder if she will get back pay or is this just the way the social security gods work?

That delay is normal...but your sister should have received some correspondence that included the phone numbers and extension of the agent that filed her claim...I have found them very accommodating...you usually get voicemail and have to leave a message but they have always returned my calls...

 

[windy acers]

birthday 1st week of may. applied march 1. first check 2nd week of july. FELT BROKE EVER SINCE!!!!!

 

[TnAndy]

Got my first check with a note "Can you hold this until next Monday ?".........

 

[turnkey4099]

yes. She doesn't qualify for benefits the month of her birthday and they are always a month behind in payment as I remember.

Same as when one dies. No pay for the month you die in. Die on the 31st and they will require a repayment of anything they paid for that month. Wife died on 26 Oct, Had to repay 26 days of SS.

 

[oosik]

In the case of my wife - she died on June 30 and because they are a month behind in payment - I did not have to repay anything.

 

[Ken]

Same as when one dies. No pay for the month you die in. Die on the 31st and they will require a repayment of anything they paid for that month. Wife died on 26 Oct, Had to repay 26 days of SS.

My Father died at home and as required called the Sheriff to report and upon his arrival while making out the proper death papers received a SS call to return the past months funds. Told her Dad still in the house and waiting for the coroner. they can get in hurry when it is there money.
ken

 

[Bird]

My wife's birthday is the last day of the year; December 31. When she applied, the first payment came on February 22 (not quite 2 months later) and it stayed on about the 22nd of each month for that year, at least. But some years ago, they changed to the 3rd of each month instead of the 22nd.

 

[TractorGuy]

My sister is turning 62 first week in january, she has decided to take her SS early, she signed up in late october I believe. She called and said she got a letter that says her first payment will begin the first week of march, a full 2 months after her birthday. Is this normal? I was under the impression they started on your birthday or even perhaps 30 days later, but 60 days after her birthday? normal or is something wrong?

Same happened to my wife. Her birthday is 1/30. She signed up in October and didn't get first payment till March.

My birthday is 1/15. I signed up 10/14 and it says my first payment will be 2/15. Go Figure?

 

[k0ua]

My sister is turning 62 first week in january, she has decided to take her SS early, she signed up in late october I believe. She called and said she got a letter that says her first payment will begin the first week of march, a full 2 months after her birthday. Is this normal? I was under the impression they started on your birthday or even perhaps 30 days later, but 60 days after her birthday? normal or is something wrong?

Unfortunately it is normal. My DOB is in November, and my first check will be in late January.

 

[turnkey4099]

In the case of my wife - she died on June 30 and because they are a month behind in payment - I did not have to repay anything.

But you didn't get any pay for June. I don't understand how they can get away with that. No pay for the first month, no pay for the last.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Learn something everyday! Stupid me i always thought soon as one turned the age to draw SS that it started. At the very least looks to me that they would owe her back pay from her BD to when the check started, but again i learn they dont.

 

[skipmarcy]

I just started my SS too, the payment is 1 month behind for sure. According to my birthday, my payment is the 4th Wednesday of every month. I wasn't told how they figured that schedule but that's what it is.

 

[fishheadbob]

I worked for SS 28 years explaining all the hooey to normal folks. Here is how things work. 1) To get SS as early as possible you have to be old enough for the ENTIRE month. Unless you were born on the first, the first full month you are old enough is the month after your birthday.
2) SS always pays for the month gone by.
What does all that mean in English ? Here's an example: If Donald turns 62 On January 2nd, he would be eligible for SS for the month of February, payable sometime in March.
If he dies on Feb 28, he wasn't due a check. Period. Realistically, if he dies on Feb 28 that check will still go out since it wouldn't get stopped in time. It wasn't due but then someone on his joint account dipped into the money. The Treasury Department debits the bank the amount of the check, and you'd best believe the bank is going to get its' money.

Your actual payment date is determined by the last digit of your SS number.