Contributor ⭐

Huge delays in Social Security processing new retirement applications, does anyone know why

436 replies
320393 views

The website for Social Security used to say that it would take up to 30 days to process new applications for retirement benefits. In a week it will have been three months. Now the website says 2-4 weeks, but that has got to still be wrong.

I gather from other forums, that a delay of 2-3 months is now normal.

What I would like to know is, why?

Every time I try to search for information, all of the results are about disability, not retirement. And not a single results explains why it is taking so long when they already have my entire work history of 47 years, etc. They have all the information they need.

What exactly is it that they do to process applications which turns 2-4 weeks into 2-3 months.

Does anyone know why?

I cannot work a job right now, my arthritis is too painful.

I can't wait more months to begin getting retirement checks, I will be homeless.

Show previous replies

P

PaulaH805383

Contributor ⭐

Where is the outrage from AARP about all of this! Social Security is being destroyed and AARP sits by and says almost nothing. This isn't the same org that fought for prescription drug cost savings and many other things. I'm considering cancelling my membership. I want AARP to fight for us, not capitulate.

G

GailL1

@PaulaH805383

Your do realize that you are responding to a post that was made on 04/14/ 2023 - that’s (2) years ago - so really for some, not too much has changed.

M

mo5298

Contributor ⭐⭐

I applied for retirement benefits Jan 6 2025 at 62 and 9 months old. I checked many times and it showed as on step 2 of 3. I checked again today and it doesn't show anything, just a message saying they cannot show me the status of my application. What to do? I live abroad so cannot go to any office. Should I try to call? Very worried!😔

SummerOnTheWay1

📎@mo5298 , I would be worried too!!! Is there an American Embassy near you? 🤔 When I lived in Jamaica, West Indies as a child of an American working there for an American Company - they HELPED Americans with this. NOT sure IF they still do. Lol, CALLING - take a chair and prepare for HOURS on hold IF you get through. Take care, Nicole 👵

[*** @mo5298 wrote 4/8/25:
I applied for retirement benefits Jan 6 2025 at 62 and 9 months old. I checked many times and it showed as on step 2 of 3. I checked again today and it doesn't show anything, just a message saying they cannot show me the status of my application. What to do? I live abroad so cannot go to any office. Should I try to call? Very worried!😔 ***]

M

mo5298

Contributor ⭐⭐

I spent 100 minutes today on hold trying to get through to Social Security in the US… time wasted. I guess my next step is the Embassy but they’re impossible to get a hold of too…. Shameful after contributing all my life to the system 😢

R

rolocedoc

Contributor ⭐⭐

For those waiting : Here's an update -

What To Know

In an effort to clear up confusion regarding new rules, the SSA posted on X, formerly Twitter, on April 3: "If you are receiving #SocialSecurity benefits or #SSI, you do NOT need to visit an office to prove your identity to continue to receive your payments on time.

"You do not need to call or visit us if you are already receiving #SocialSecurity benefits or #SSI and do not have a current need to do business with us," a separate post reads.

The posts come after the federal agency updated its requirements for new benefit applicants. The SSA has implemented a new rule that will make it no longer possible for applicants to verify their identity with the SSA over the phone when making claims, or when current beneficiaries need to change direct deposit information.

M

mo5298

Contributor ⭐⭐

I applied for benefits January 6th, it was stuck on step 2 of 3 until recently (I looked about 3 weeks ago). Today I get the message that they cannot even show me the progress (or lack thereof) of my application. I live abroad. Is it time to call them? Have I been scammed? Pretty desperate right now!

R

rolocedoc

Contributor ⭐⭐

SummerOnTheWay1

📎 [Thursday 4/3/25]

@rolocedoc , I am confused. I get the part of you posting this info. Yes, I read it online. My question - in the TAG AREA you have "share it here if you have received". Received our monthly Retirement Social Security benefit payment for THIS MONTH (April 2025)? NO pressure to respond. Take care, Nicole 👵

[*** @rolocedoc wrote 4/3/25:

📸Screenprint attached ***]

R

rolocedoc

Contributor ⭐⭐

Maam - there's no confusion - share - meaning, let the group know that you have received your pension despite of this report from MUSK - if you receive your benefits then maybe you're one of the lucky ones who have not been scammed - if this has been happening - ok - I'm clearing the confusion - I hope my explanation is clear enough for everyone - I have no intentions to make a SSA pension delayed - we need to give time to the NEW administration to work - on our favor - their intentions that WE - all retirees should be compensated for our hard work - have a blessed week!

R

r803761p

Contributor ⭐

How long is it taking now for approval of retirement benefits? I applied on 2/22/25 and seem to be stuck on step 2 of 3. Just want to know what I should realistically expect in terms of approval. Thanks!

G

GailL1

@r803761p

The SSA works on Retirement applications received based on (1) whether the claimant is filing early or is at or over their FRA. (2) The month one chooses to have their benefits begin.

Social Security benefits are paid one month in arrears so if one wants their benefits to begin in June, the 1st payment would come in July based on ones birth DAY based on this calendar. The legend for the calendar is at the bottom of the page.

SSA.gov- Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2025

If they have any questions on your benefit or your eligibility, the SSA will contact you.

The final approval letter is posted on your mySocialSecurity account and is also mailed to you shortly before your benefits begin - in fact you may see the benefit posted or pending in your bank account before you see your letter. Seeing it online in your account is faster than waiting for the mail.

You can apply for Retirement benefits UP TO (4) months before your chosen month of when you want your benefits to begin. If you are applying for early benefits at age 62, this is strictly adhered to by the system and if you apply earlier than that (4) month period from your 62nd birthday, then the system will keep trying to give you a disability claim form than retirement application because SSDI would be the only benefit you can apply for if you are younger than 62 years old (within that 4-month application period).

You will continue to see the 2/3 showing until right before your benefits begin - you also might notice a test Treasury deposit on you bank account with no money - just to make sure the account is ready.

So don’t sweat the process until you go over that benefit payment start date + the (1) month in arrears positing date. If more people understood the timing and process perhaps the system would be a lot less back up with people calling, fretting, - you asked for that date so that’s what they are trying to meet.

M

maryd666163

Contributor ⭐⭐

Your information was very helpful. I wonder if you know the answer to this: I am not at fra, I'm applying at 62, I applied about 6 weeks ago with an April start date requested.

Assuming it may still be months before I find out, will I get payments retroactive to April when they finally begin?

Thanks for your time!

Q

quidduo

Contributor ⭐

Social Security and many government systems are antiquated and OLD! The systems can process basic new accounts, but if there are problems with information to set the account it goes into limbo! Outdated legacy software and systems are the reason. A close relative of mine worked for the federal government and he says it is unbelievable how out of date these systems are. He now works in the private sector after 20 years of government service. He couldn't stand the bureaucracy and inaction of the government any longer so he left! These systems are not just social security, but are basically every federal government system!!!!

G

GailL1

@quidduo

Yes, the system of SSA is old but the mysocialsecurity account is now being updated with further ID requirements to make it as secure as the ID.me program. So if you are setting the account up for the 1st time or are going back in after a while of not going in, and if you are using login. gov then it will ask you to update your account -

M

maryostrem

Contributor ⭐

I'm so sorry to hear it. The new Administration seems to be doing it intentionally, since these are efficient systems that have functioned well for decades until they got the job. IRS is equally slow this year. We seniors may be old and hurting, but we have power. Let's speak up.

J

JamesL772796

Contributor ⭐

Washington Post is reporting

"

The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk.

And the phones keep ringing. And ringing.

The federal agency that delivers $1.5 trillion a year in earned benefits to 73 million retired workers, their survivors, and poor and disabled Americans is engulfed in crisis — further undermining the already struggling organization’s ability to provide reliable and quick service to vulnerable customers, according to internal documents and more than two dozen current and former agency employees and officials, customers and others who interact with Social Security."

C

ChristopherG582289

Contributor ⭐

The OP's complaint about processing times taking 2-3 months is dated April 14, 2023, seven months before Trump was elected, 10 months before DOGE was in place. It doesn't sound like that 'customer experience system' is doing much good. The SSA is a classic example of a sclerotic federal bureaucracy with no incentive to improve.

It's time to think outside of the box. It may be too late for you and me but if every dollar given to SS by myself and my employers had instead been conservatively invested it would be worth about $2 million dollars at my FRA. Do you think you (or your heirs) are ever going to see that kind of return from those monthly stipends?

K

KarenF958848

Contributor ⭐

I applied on Feb 2, 2025, with an expected begin date of April 1st, thinking this would be gracious plenty time to receive my first SS deposit. I’ve had my final Federal FERS Supplement upon my birthday last month, and now am extremely concerned about making ends meet, as I have a little part-time job, but am a caretaker for two severely handicapped parents, so cannot work more hours. I am at my wit’s end and a nervous wreck. I plan on going to out local SSA office in town this week. I sure hope this helps. An insight?

D

DonaldD413774

Contributor ⭐

My wife retired 4/21/25 and applied for benefits the 2/3/25 for her benefits to begin 4/1/25. In checking the website all it indicated was in process. She called their number in the morning after 30 days. The wait on hold was about an hour. When someone finally came on all they could tell her was that her application looked in order and was in process. She was told that processing time was typically running 60 days and she should see something around April 5th.

G

GailL1

Social Security benefits are always paid a month in arrears.

So if she chose April as her beginning benefit month, her 1st benefit will come in May.

The date a benefit is paid depends on the calendar which SSA has established and is dependent on her actual DAY of birth. (see the bottom of the calendar for what the codes mean)

SSA.gov - Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2025

For retirement benefits, SSA works on the claims

(1) based on the month selected for benefits to begin in the application

(2) then by the age of the applicant with those at Full Retirement Age given 1st priority

(3) benefits are paid a month in arrears and the date of the payment goes by the beneficiary’s DAY of birth - this corresponds with either the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday of the month.

Second Wednesday 1st – 10th

Third Wednesday - 11th – 20th

Fourth Wednesday 21st – 31st

(4) Different pay dates for those with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and also those who are receiving a Medicare Savings Program that is linked to Medicaid.

If you received Social Security before May 1997 or if receiving both Social Security & SSI, Social Security is paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st

(5) A benefit award letter will be received shortly before the 1st payment hits the bank account - usually. The benefit letter will be posted on the beneficiary’s Social Security account and then it should also come by snail mail too.

B

bobhudak

Contributor ⭐

I applied for regular ss on 12/9/24 with a check expected in April. Still on step 2 but I made a phone appointment for my wife who will move from her benefit to spousal benefits when I collect. I was told that on her call 3/25/25 they would be able to check my benefits to give her the correct amount. Wish me luck!!

Show more replies

What To Know

Sign up

Login with SSO

Login to the community

Login with SSO