Contributor ⭐

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

436 replies
320398 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.

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EdwardR42154

Contributor ⭐

My wife and I applied October 12. Got the standard reply. No action since then. First check should be today, February 1. Nothing. Anyone have experience with this amount of time? Presumably the first check if a month or more late will be retro?

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Tmgcme196361

Contributor ⭐⭐

I applied back in October as well. The end of October and I'm still waiting. Plus today is my birthday so I would officially have gotten my first check , as they have mentioned, the beginning of March. As far as retro pay or back pay I would assume that we would get it. But this is happened to a lot of people if you go here and read a lot of the comments we are all waiting. I pray that it comes through soon.

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garyst16

Contributor ⭐

Applied online November 25, 2024. Still in step two 2 months later. Website states "Typically it takes 30 days for a decision. This timeframe is an estimate for reference" For who's reference? Complete BS.

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StevenS868231

Contributor ⭐

I applied Nov 2, 2024. I'm also stuck at phase 2. *Shrug*

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bobandsherry

Contributor ⭐

My experience for my wife.... applied Nov 20th. Email confirming application received and assigned to office on Nov 21st. Email noting approval on Nov 26th. Under a week from start to finish.

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TheresaM224402

Contributor ⭐

How did she apply? Did she apply online or in person?

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CarrollB59738

Contributor ⭐

I also filed my application right before Thanksgiving and I'm still in the Step 2 process. When I applied, I also recall they said that I may get a call, possibly on a wkend, from SS with any questions they may have which I assume would be what % of taxes do I want withdrawn. As I'm under 65, Medicare deductions would not apply. I hope I don't have to wait much longer, I need to put my husband in daycare at least one day a week (Alz) and that SS is earmarked to pay for the costs. I don't want to incur debt paying for via credit cards in the interim.

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ChrisS1302

Contributor ⭐

I applied Nov.18, 2024, I was told 30 days to process. I was then told no more than 60 days.

It's Jan.28, 2025. They have all of my information, I was told that there was nothing else they needed from me, nothing more that I had to do to help, and that I was approved. Social Services have cut my food stamps from $291.00 to $136.00. I called to find out why and was told that Social Security sent them information that I was approved for S.S.I. old age benefits. I receive social security retirement. If I was approved for S.S.I. benefits then where is the money? No one wants to give me any answers. The agents online keeps telling me that they are requesting status reports, but nothing changes., all I get is " I can see some movement, they do seem to be working on it". Really? Why can't I see some movement. It's all B.S. If they had to work out of the office and not from home maybe they would do some actual work instead of signing in and then going on to run errands until it's time to sign off. B.S.

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Lisa2255

Contributor ⭐

Musk fired everyone. No one will get SS benefits for ages. Just remember to thank everyone you know who voted for a Republican. They love this **bleep**. It means less money to Americans, and more money to the filthy rich.

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PingL219766

Contributor ⭐

I applied Nov 20, 2024 to receive benefit in Jan 2025, and still not get approved. I visited the local ssa office after I applied, they said it will take up to 30 days, 30 days past in Dec, so I call SSA, they changed story and said it will take up to 60 days. Now almost 60 days and still nothing happened. Got assigned to Jamaica in another state. I checked SSA website, it said the on-time receipt of benefits for that office is 87%. Sounds to me this is not true.

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Lisa2255

Contributor ⭐

Musk fired everyone. No one will get SS benefits for ages. Just remember to thank everyone you know who voted for a Republican. They love this **bleep**. It means less money to Americans, and more money to the filthy rich.

D

dmvanryn

Contributor ⭐

I just got off phone with social security and was told my application of Nov 10, 2024 would begin in Feb 2024 as expected (FRA). FYI, online my application has been stuck in Step 2 for over a month. I called SSA at 866-226-2306. This number was given to me by my local SS office - they said I needed to call a different number as it was an online application. Since my application went through Jamaica Plain, I assume that is where the phone number is based. I called at 8:15 am and was on hold only an hour (usually I wait at least two when calling SSA)!

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dmvanryn

Contributor ⭐

Oops - that is will start Feb. 2025.

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annemarie401

Contributor ⭐

Hi Catherine, was your SS application ever processed? My spouse is over the full retirement age. Her application was started in October 2024. It is now mid-January 2025 and Martin, the clerk working on the application, has not responded to her inquiries. Her health insurance ends this month.

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YasminC909860

Contributor ⭐

Have you heard anything?

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c697281r

Contributor ⭐⭐

Partisan Congressional budget cuts to SS staff have had a significant impact to processing, similar to IRS. It will get worse with the new administration's cuts to "big government".

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StevenS868231

Contributor ⭐

Thank God for those cuts.

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Lisa2255

Contributor ⭐

It's nice, Steven, that you can find entertainment and joy in the misery of everyone of your fellow Americans who have to use the Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security that is guaranteed to all Americans and is now being chainsawed by Trump and his President Musk. It's sad, and it's a hollow victory, when the neighbors around you are starving and dying because you got to 'own the libs'.... but I guess you are probabaly not a very good person. Or you'd not think that way. Just my guess. So karma will get you in the end, it always does with evil.

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SiobhanP970130

Contributor ⭐

I read that it takes 6 weeks. I'm not surprised either with all the boomers retiring daily. We can apply 4 months ahead of when we expect to get our first check. That's what I did.

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rolocedoc

Contributor ⭐⭐

6 weeks is only a month and 2 weeks; I've waited 3-4 months and have not received any or update notification if there's any missing documents that I've submitted - should we wait longer to suffer?

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JuneH580660

Contributor ⭐⭐

I got the run around and all set now getting my deposits monthly. However I did find every SS number and called regularly. Look to see what office is handing yours. Mine was being handled in Jamaica queens even though I am in Jersey. I was on the phone everytime for a long hold. I would use my time to go thru paperwork or clean my house, not hanging up until I got a live person. Finally the person that helped and blessed me fixed the glitch, holding up my letter of approval and I was able to get a copy of it within hours. The squeaky wheel, as they say. Real Shane, but this is reality. Don't give up. Fight Fight Fight!

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KarenC940882

Contributor ⭐

Please close comments on your post. They are becoming redundant and the commenters are not reading to see what has already been answered. Surely by now you have the answers you were looking for. Thanks,

J

JuneH580660

Contributor ⭐⭐

No one on this has the answers they are looking for. Why the delays? Even when everything is correct and you have earned every dime and all the records match and there are no documents needed. These are people that worked for over the 35 year requirement and they are not asking for disability. They are asking to get what they have earned and asking what the delay is. No one has answered why the delay?. I know exactly when I am supposed to receive my first check, but why isn't the application approved., when it was submitted timely and said takes 2 to 4 weeks and it has been 6 now. For others on here the delay is much more severe.

@KarenC940882 wrote:
Please close comments on your post. They are becoming redundant and the commenters are not reading to see what has already been answered. Surely by now you have the answers you were looking for. Thanks,

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GailL1

@JuneH580660

For specifics on your account, you will have to contact them to find out about the delay. It could be just about anything -

Like a problem I was reading about recently - the beneficiary was making too much money at 62 to get a benefit since the benefit is reduced $ 1.00 for every $ 2.00 he makes over the earnings cap ( 2024 = $ 22,230 ) before FRA (Full Retirement Age)

He initially got the benefit for a few months in 2023 and then got a letter explaining that it would be stopped until he stopped working or made much less money.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/1ceflrs/comment/l1iln3i/?context=3

This has to do with the Earnings Test -because you are or will be 62

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302501021

Then there is the Entitlement rule that state you have to be 62 for a full month before benefits begin.

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0300201001

So you see it does have to go thru a process and for those who are 62 there are additional reviews like the ones above in the SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

Sorry it has been delayed for some reason.

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