Ask Larry

When Should I Start Drawing Benefits?

I will turn 70 on April 15th of this year and filed on-line for my Social Security benefits to start on May 1st. I receive a call from SS saying that I should start my benefits April 1 because my 70 yr benefit would start the month of your birthday. Is this correct? I don't want to loose my 70 yr old bennifit if they start the month of April when I was only 69.

Hi,

For calculation purposes, Social Security considers you to be age 70 for the entire month of April. Therefore, you should choose April as your month of election to start benefits. Social Security pays benefits in the month following the month that they are for, so your payment for April should be received in May.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Jan 29 2017 - 6:30am
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