How long before benefits start? (social security, 2015, retired, years)

[Im45us]

My wife had signed up for Medicare on-line and then a few days later decided to sign up for Social security. Was unable to sign up on-line so called on April 10 and made an appointment for sometime in May. We tried this weekend and she was able to sign up on-line and was asked when she wanted to start and we said April.

The question is when can she expect her first deposit and would it be for more than one month?

Thanks again

[sweetana3]

When I signed up for SS earlier this year, I got a letter in the mail that gave the specifics when everything was processed. Came in a week or two but I thought it was very fast.

[rjm1cc]

Try calling the 800 number. You should be able to get an answer. My guess is sometime in June but this is an uneducated guess.

[wit-nit]

When we retired many years ago we had to wait 90 days before benefits started. That may have changed now.

[Deelighted]

I qualified and signed up last April and got my first check in June. As sweetana3 said within just a week or two you'll get information on how much the benefits will be and when they will start.

In case you're not aware (at least I wasn't aware), SSA checks aren't made on a specific date of the month but rather on a specific day. For instance, I receive mine on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, so the date will vary from the 15th to the 22nd.

[Im45us]

Deelighted , was your first check for just June or did it include April & May also?

[mamasplace]

SS pays one month behind. I signed up in Jan 2015 and got my first check in Feb.

[Deelighted]

As mamasplace said it's one month behind. So the June check was for May (April 13th to May 13th).

[reed303]

As others have said, SS pays 1 month behind, so if she "starts" in April, the first check/deposit should be in May. See the panel at bottom of this SS webpage:
Retirement Planner: When To Start Your Benefits
where it says: "Note: Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due.
If you tell us you want your benefits to start in May, you will receive your first benefit check in June. (If you want to receive your first benefit check in May, you need to be eligible for benefits in April AND tell us you want your benefits to start that month.)"



Also the date of payment varies by her birth date. See this SS calendar http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2015.pdf.

SS does not "pro-rate" partial months. You get credit for the full month you are first eligible.

Depending on specific dates of FRA age vs start of claim you can get "retroactive" payments.

"Caution: If you apply for benefits more than 6 months after the month you reach full retirement age, we can only pay benefits for the previous 6 months."

[margarets1]

DH signed up for ss last day in March of this year for payments beginning in March. He received his first check/deposit within a few weeks, if that. He definitely received first check before the letter came in the mail. I think he receives his the 3rd week of the month. His bday is the 18th.