How long it took to get your first Social Security check

Drake3287 said:
Would her PIA be the same as the monthly amount prior to taxes and Medicare Part B being taken out? I was assuming I'd get 50% of her pre tax and Medicare amount.
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Not unless she retired at exactly her full retirement age.
 
I applied on-line Dec. 27, 2024 for my own and spousal benefits. Spouse has been receiving benefits for three years. I was rejected on January 9, 2025.

I have 40 quarters, the last two quarters were in 2023 with my small business income. I previously received a statement that I have the 40 quarters. I receive a government pension. Married once to the same person for 40 years. I am a natural born citizen; married and still live in the same county.

I have 60 days to appeal, but I have to wait for the letter (10-15 days) to find out the reason for my denial.

What could this rejetion be about?

Thanks for any ideas.
 
Doribe said:
I applied on-line Dec. 27, 2024 for my own and spousal benefits. Spouse has been receiving benefits for three years. I was rejected on January 9, 2025.

I have 40 quarters, the last two quarters were in 2023 with my small business income. I previously received a statement that I have the 40 quarters. I receive a government pension. Married once to the same person for 40 years. I am a natural born citizen; married and still live in the same county.

I have 60 days to appeal, but I have to wait for the letter (10-15 days) to find out the reason for my denial.

What could this rejetion be about?

Thanks for any ideas.
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Since you applied before the new law abolishing GPO/WEP was signed, you could have been rejected because of your pension amount for spousal benefits. Can you clarify which application was rejected? What did your SS online account say about each application result?
 
Luvtoride said:
Yes, a few days letter she received the letter detailing the payment and expected future payment amounts and dates. We still need to contact them to work out the tax withholding.
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Well, what's the results? Did she get her benefits on the 12th?
 
Okay so if one has a birthday on Feb 15th, the first check will be in April, one month in arrears for the first full month one is 65 as an example.
Is this correct?
 
Dtail said:
Okay so if one has a birthday on Feb 15th, the first check will be in April, one month in arrears for the first full month one is 65 as an example.
Is this correct?
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Actually, since you are eligible to take social security the first whole month in which you are 62 or any time after that, that is not strictly correct. But that's basically how it works - you get a social security check the month after you actually start, which is the first month you are 62 for the whole month or any month thereafter that you have asked them to start.

If you were starting at 62 and your birthday was 15 Feb 1963, you would get your first check on 16 Apr 2025, which is the third Wednesday after the first month of your eligibility.
 
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Dtail said:
Okay so if one has a birthday on Feb 15th, the first check will be in April, one month in arrears for the first full month one is 65 as an example.
Is this correct?
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You don’t have to be 65 the whole month for SS to start, so you can start the month you turn 65, and your first check would be in March.

Turning 62 has different rules.
 
audreyh1 said:
Turning 62 has different rules.
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I get so confused so easily trying to understand the basic question of when I will get my first check......Can someone interpret government speak to answer the question:

"What day do I finally get my money?"

I turn 62 on 2/28/26.....

I was always told that "I could get social security when I turn 62" but that seems not true...It seems to be 62 and a couple of months?

Is it 17 days after the first half moon following the fall equinox as long as that day is not Arbor Day?
(that is my attempt at humor)

Let's say I successfully get my sorry self thru the application hurdles of the website and/or the friendly, prompt and efficient government servant on the phone....and I am all grade A approved prior to the magic 62 birthday......

What day will $$$ finally arrive in my bank account from my Uncle Sam?

Many thanks for those on here that are smarter than I and know the answer.
 
Based on your 2/28 birthday and assuming your application for benefits starting at 62 is filed on time and approved, you should receive your first payment on 4/22/26, the fourth Wednesday of the month. That is based on the following:

There is a one-month lag in benefit payments. Since you were born later in February than Feb 2, your first benefit month is March, and you will be paid in April.
 
Gumby said:
Actually, since you are eligible to take social security the first whole month in which you are 62 or any time after that, that is not strictly correct. But that's basically how it works - you get a social security check the month after you actually start, which is the first month you are 62 for the whole month or any month thereafter that you have asked them to start.

If you were starting at 62 and your birthday was 15 Feb 1963, you would get your first check on 16 Apr 2025, which is the third Wednesday after the first month of your eligibility.
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Thanks, but I also now see Audreyh1's response and that was the nuance I was missing in that effectively Feb at 62 has a different rule than Feb at 65 y.o.
 
audreyh1 said:
You don’t have to be 65 the whole month for SS to start, so you can start the month you turn 65, and your first check would be in March.

Turning 62 has different rules.
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Ah this was the nuance that had me confused. Thank you so much.
 
REWahoo said:
you should receive your first payment on 4/22/26, the fourth Wednesday of the month.
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Awesome....Thanks Wahoo!

I'm marking my calendar now.......Funny how the first payment is almost two months after being eligible.....turning 62.
 
Except that you are getting paid one month after you are eligible.

The point is that reaching age 62 you have to be 62 for the whole month to be eligible to start SS. If your birthday is on the 1st or 2nd then you are considered to be 62 that whole birth month, otherwise you are not eligible until the following month.

Once past 62 there is no such rule, you are eligible to start SS any month.
 
The acting Social Security Commissioner just stepped down. Hopefully this will not affect the time to get our checks.
 
So, for people who got their first SS check, was your Medicare premium deducted from that first check?

When you got the email outlining the details of your first check, did it include details on the Medicare premium deduction? This email is usually sent late during your start month for the check that will be deposited the following month.

Thanks!
 
When we started SS, we went to a local office and filed in person( 6 years ago). We didn't need an appointment, it was walk in only, and we had about one hour wait time. We both filed at the same time, as our birthdays are one month apart, and filed a paper form to have taxes withheld.
SS started on time, but we didn't get any notification of approval until after the first check hit our bank account! :).
We filed papers to have medicare paid from SS checks when we signed up for medicare.
We went to a small local city office, rather than the one downtown. That little office has since closed.
 
I thought Medicare premiums were automatically deducted from SS checks. My question is really about timing. DH is starting SS after having been on Medicare for a few years.

We did everything online which I believe is our only option here these days. Denver CO is processing DH’s SS application.

For DH we’re paying premiums through May, and I’m expecting the first SS check to be received in June to deduct his June Medicare premium automatically. I’m hoping by at least late May we’ll know if our expectations are correct. But I hoped someone here could share their experience starting SS after Medicare.
 
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My first check took about 6 weeks after my birthday.
Lately they were early, mine was two days early last week and wife's was one day early this week.
 
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