Social Security Birth-Month Rule Delays 2026 Claims for Most 62-Year-Olds
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 5
Social Security Birth-Month Rule Delays 2026 Claims for Most 62-Year-Olds
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 5
Summary
Most Americans turning 62 in 2026 cannot start Social Security in their birth month; only people born on the 1st or 2nd qualify that month.
English common law treats applicants as needing to be 62 for the entire month, pushing anyone born on the 3rd or later into eligibility the following month.
An Aug. 22, 2026 birthday, for example, would make benefits due in September, with the first payment arriving in October because Social Security pays one month in arrears.
That delay can leave near-retirees covering expenses longer than expected, though waiting the extra month raises benefits by 5/12 of 1%.