A beneficiary has always been able to file for Retirement benefits up to (4) months before they want their benefits to begin. For a person that is full retirement age or over, their claim could be process pretty fast if they want them to begin faster - they get to pick the month to begin. If that date is missed - they get their benefits back to the date they wanted them to start.

This does not apply to those who are LESS than full retirement age - they do not get any back payments because frankly, there aren't any to get. There is also more checks that the SSA has to do on these filing for early benefits claims so processing takes longer.

Sometimes a person files for early benefits and makes a substantial income and are continuing to work - this does not work out too well because of the earnings cap that applies - it could be that much of their benefit is gonna be clawed back as a result of the earnings test.

So if a person is filing for early retirement between the ages of 62 and 66 (and whatever months) to 67, then yes, their claim is slower to process but it usually meets the months they have elected for their benefits to begin.

Also some people don't realize that Social Security benefits are paid one month in arrears - so if they file in Feb. and want their benefits to begin in June - they will not get their 1st benefit until July because that would be their June benefit.

There is also the rule that if retiring at 62 - you have to be 62 for the entire month for it to count.