I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of people encouraging you to go with the online application! I was in almost exactly your situation about 6 months ago - turning 67 and wanting benefits to start a few months after my FRA. I spent way too much time agonizing over whether to apply online or keep trying to reach someone by phone. What finally pushed me to do it online was realizing that I was letting perfect be the enemy of good. Yes, I was nervous about making mistakes, but the stress of not having my application submitted was actually worse than the risk of needing to clarify something later. The application itself was much more straightforward than I expected - it felt like doing online banking or shopping, just with more important consequences. The questions flow logically, and there are clear explanations for anything that might be confusing. I also appreciated that I could see my progress as I went through it, which helped me feel like I was making steady progress toward finishing. One small tip that helped me: I did a "practice run" where I started the application just to see what kinds of questions it would ask, without actually submitting anything. That helped me figure out what documents I needed to gather and made me feel more prepared when I did it for real. You're making the right choice by applying now for September/October benefits. The timing is perfect, and you'll have such peace of mind once it's submitted!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - turning 67 next year and have been going back and forth about when and how to apply. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring, especially hearing how much more user-friendly the online system has become. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned being nervous about making mistakes, but then finding the process much smoother than expected. The fact that the system has built-in error checking and you can save your progress makes it seem much less intimidating than I initially thought. I'm curious about one thing though - for those who applied online, did you feel like you needed to have someone help you with the application, or were you able to handle it on your own? I'm pretty comfortable with technology, but this feels like such an important decision that I'm wondering if I should have a family member review it with me before submitting. Also, thank you to everyone who shared specific timing information. It's really helpful to know that most people received their first payment within 6-8 weeks of applying, and that you get confirmation of your benefit amount before the payments start. That makes the whole process feel much more predictable and manageable!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I filed my application about 6 weeks ago and have been second-guessing myself ever since. My financial advisor actually recommended I consider withdrawing since I'm still working and healthy. The delayed retirement credits really do add up - I calculated that waiting until 70 would increase my monthly benefit by almost $600 compared to filing at my FRA. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that you might also want to consider how this affects your taxes. Delaying benefits while still working can sometimes put you in a better tax situation later, especially if your current earnings are pushing you into a higher bracket. I'm planning to submit my SSA-521 form next week after reading all these success stories. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's made this decision much clearer!

I'm a federal employee nearing retirement and went through this exact process 8 months ago. The key thing everyone's mentioned is absolutely correct - submit that SSA-521 form IMMEDIATELY before your first payment. I actually did mine online through my MySocialSecurity account, which was faster than mailing or visiting an office. The withdrawal was processed in about 10 days and I got email confirmation. One additional tip: if you're planning to work another year, make sure you understand how your additional earnings might affect your future benefit calculation. That extra year of high earnings could potentially increase your benefit amount even beyond the delayed retirement credits, especially if this year's salary is higher than one of the 35 years currently being used in your calculation. The SSA website has a retirement estimator that can help you model different scenarios. You're making a smart financial decision - those delayed retirement credits compound over your lifetime and any spousal/survivor benefits. Good luck with the withdrawal process!

I'm in a similar situation - turning 70 in February and have been wondering about the same thing! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. It's great to see so many people confirming that you use the first day of your birth month as the start date. I had no idea about the earnings test not applying once you hit 70, so that's a huge relief since I'm also still working part-time. The tax implications mentioned here are definitely something I need to look into as well. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complicated decisions!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you definitely want to use April 1st as your start date! I made the same decision last year when I turned 70 in September. The key thing to remember is that Social Security operates on a monthly basis, so even though your birthday is April 29th, you're entitled to benefits for the entire month of April. I also highly recommend applying in January like others have suggested. Even though online applications are processed faster these days, giving yourself that 3-4 month buffer really helps ensure everything goes smoothly. One last tip - when you do apply, double-check that all your personal information matches exactly what's on file with SSA. Even small discrepancies in how your name is spelled can cause delays. You've done the hard part by waiting until 70 to maximize your benefits - now you just need to get the paperwork right!

I just went through this exact same situation last month! I was scheduled for a virtual SSA appointment and didn't receive my Teams link until literally the day before my appointment. I was checking my email obsessively for weeks thinking they had forgotten about me. When it finally came, it was from an address like "noreply.ssa.gov" and had "SSA Virtual Appointment Confirmation" in the subject line. A couple of things that might help while you wait: First, make sure you have the SSA office locator bookmarked (ssa.gov/locator) so you can call your local office directly if needed - they're sometimes easier to reach than the main 800 number. Second, definitely test Microsoft Teams ahead of time, even if it's just joining a test meeting by yourself. The SSA rep will expect your camera and microphone to work right away. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but from what I've experienced and seen others post here, getting the link 1-3 days before seems to be their standard (though frustrating) timeline. Hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! I have my SSA retirement appointment scheduled for March 15th and haven't received my Teams link yet either. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - it sounds like the 2-3 day timeline is pretty standard, even though it's anxiety-inducing for those of us waiting. I'm definitely going to start checking my spam folder daily and use that office locator tool to get my local SSA office number as backup. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - it's making me feel much more prepared and less worried that they forgot about me!

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. Reading about your sister's situation brought tears to my eyes - she absolutely would have qualified for survivor benefits and could have been receiving them for over a year before she passed away. At 61, unmarried, with a 15-year marriage to her ex-husband, she met every single requirement. What makes this even more heartbreaking is that the Social Security Administration literally had all the information they needed sitting in their databases. They knew when her ex-husband died, they had records of their marriage and divorce, they knew her age and status - yet they made the deliberate choice to stay silent while she struggled financially. The survivor benefit system allows both ex-wives to collect simultaneously without affecting each other's payments, and yes, benefits can start as early as age 60 (unlike retirement benefits). Even with the early filing reduction of about 28.5%, those payments could have made an enormous difference in her quality of life during those final months. Unfortunately, there's no way to file retroactively after someone passes away - benefits end at death. But please don't let your sister's struggle be meaningless. Consider reaching out to local senior centers, women's organizations, community groups, and your congressional representatives about this systemic failure. So many divorced women have no idea they're entitled to survivor benefits from ex-husbands. Your advocacy could prevent other families from experiencing this same devastating situation. Your sister's memory deserves that kind of meaningful action to help others.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. This breaks my heart - your sister absolutely would have qualified for survivor benefits at age 61. She met every requirement: 15-year marriage (well over the 10-year minimum), unmarried status, and over age 60. She could have been receiving these benefits for over a year before she passed away. What's most infuriating is that SSA had all the pieces of information they needed - your sister's marriage records, the divorce decree showing it lasted 15 years, her ex-husband's death notification, and her current status. Yet they chose to remain silent while she struggled financially, essentially relying on people to somehow magically know these complex rules exist. The system is designed this way deliberately - it saves money by keeping eligible people in the dark. Your sister's situation is tragically common, especially among divorced women who have no idea they're entitled to survivor benefits from ex-husbands. While it's too late to file retroactively (benefits unfortunately end when someone passes away), please consider channeling this pain into advocacy. Contact local senior centers, women's groups, community organizations, and your congressional representatives about this notification gap. Many people are struggling right now who could be getting help they don't even know exists. Your sister's memory could literally save other families from experiencing this same heartbreak. That kind of meaningful action is how we honor those we've lost while creating change for the living.