I retired in November 2023 but didn’t reach my full retirement age until this July, so I signed up for Medicare but delayed filing for Social Security. I had enough savings to get me through the first year, but I had to take a small distribution from my IRA to get me through the last six months.
I have to say, the whole thing has gone very smoothly. I was a bit concerned with the news of the Trump admin downsizing the SS staff and reports of people not getting paid or dealing with red tape. But the SS office in Birmingham, AL has evidently figured out how to keep it moving. The application was easy, it was processed timely, I got a notification of what my benefit would be and when to expect it, and then they paid on time. It’s good when things work right! I have income!
