Hello, I looked into signing up for SS benefits this morning on- line. I was signed in to my SS account and clicked on the tab to sign up for benefits. When the page changed the web browser that I was using came up that the page could not be accessed because the Internet was lost. I took off a VPN and tried again with the same results. There wasn’t any issue with the Internet. I then used another web browser; also, without the VPN and that one came up that it was not a secure site and that third parties would be able to see all information input. Has anyone else came across this issue when applying for your SS benefits?

My plan is to retire at the end of September 2026. I have a Medicare Insurance Specialist to help me obtain a Medicare Advantage plan and to start part B in October 2026. Medicare A was applied for three months before I turned 65 in 2025. I was telling the Insurance Specialist that I wanted to start my Social Security benefits in November of 2026 and was told that it would be best to wait until January 2027 because I would go over the $ 24,480 income limit amount for the year in 2026. My understanding is that Social Security doesn’t look at my income while working during this year of 2026 (January-September), only that if I did work during the last two months of this year (November-December), I would have to limit the working income to $2,040 for each month and that my benefit amount received would not be included with my working income for this year. I don’t plan on working during the rest of this year. Would I be wrong in starting my SS benefits in November of 2026 or would it be best to wait until January of next year?