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

[CatherineP879665]

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.

[AnthonyA847984]

I don't understand the lack of communication. I applied on December 10th with the expectation of receiving my first check on or around March 19th (based on my birthday). It's been 107 days and they still have yet to make a decision. What could be possibly wrong? I've been calling and calling with no callback, a notification letter, or any information. Amazing when they want something, they give you a date and you BETTER get it to them by or before or else!!

[GailL1]

Did you say that you wanted your benefits to begin in March?  If so the SSA determines this to be your March benefit and since Social Security is paid one month in arrears, then that means they will pay the March payment in April.

That could be one of the reasons you haven’t heard anything - your benefit award letter isn’t sent out until right before your payment is scheduled to begin.  So, if the above explanation is correct, you should hear something in about early to mid April.  

This is the way it has always been - They work on new claims based on the month people want them to start with those at or over FRA 1st followed by those who are getting benefits early.

If you haven’t heard anything about needing more info - you can just wait for your letter of benefits - check you online acct because it will probably show up there before you get it in the mail.

One other thing - Have you already set up your Medicare benefit if older than 65?

[WhereIsSpring]

[Monday 3/17/25] Anthony @AnthonyA847984 .

➡️  One poster had said after visiting their LOCAL office to check on their ONLINE application = they were APPROVED.

➡️  Another poster had suggested the following.

Jeffrey @JeffreyA826398 WROTE:
‎Calling or emailing your local congressional representative's office and asking for help is effective. They have power to push things through. It also alerts government reps of the delay issues.

*** Maybe one or both might work for you. ***

Good Luck,

Nicole 👵

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[*** @AnthonyA847984 wrote:

I don't understand the lack of communication. I applied on December 10th with the expectation of receiving my first check on or around March 19th (based on my birthday). It's been 107 days and they still have yet to make a decision. What could be possibly wrong? I've been calling and calling with no callback, a notification letter, or any information. Amazing when they want something, they give you a date and you BETTER get it to them by or before or else!! ***]

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[GailL1]

@WhereIsSpring 

Maybe a good idea IF they know the SSA schedule for establishing  benefits and then think there is a problem of some sort.  Most likely it is just the normal wait. 

Claims are processed based on the month that the beneficiary indicates they want them to begin - i.e. if you say March then your March benefit will be paid in April since benefits are paid one month in arrears.

They will 1st work on those benefits for those who are AT or OVER their Full Retirement Age followed by those who are wanting to start early.  

If you want your benefit early and are still working and making an income over the earning limit, you maybe contacted because the deductions for being over the limit could cancel out the whole benefit.

You will be contacted if they have any questions or concerns -

I realize people are anxious right now but it just take time - the normal amount of time based on the number of baby boomers retiring especially since a lot of them like to do it at the end of a year or the beginning of the next.  

Also if one is already over 65, they need to make sure that they have their Medicare Part A set up already or all of it unless they are still working and have a HDHP with an HSA as an employer group health plan.

[rolocedoc]

Hi there! If I were you, I would just keep myself busy with a part time work rather than worrying about on something you can't do about - it's delayed - once it become good again then they will just do a direct deposit if you have set-up your bank account, if not, they're likely to send a check in the mail - I'm just saying, that's what I did - I've waited and it just arrived to my bank account - please be patient - have a nice week!

[GailL1]

@fffred The folks I talk to who work there all say they work on claims based on start date requested, 1st by those at or over their FRA.  Then those that are filing for early benefits.

I just think some people are panicking and they build up all kinds of doom and gloom in their head.  

Sure there was lots of claim filing at the beginning of this year - somehow people like a marking point to their SS retirement - so they do it at the end of one year or the beginning of the next - 

The also had the repeal of the WEP/GPO and those people wanted their money or they wanted to file for it since many didn’t initially.  

[WhereIsSpring]

[Sunday 3/16/25] @fffred , when I applied back in 2020 BEFORE the pandemic was OFFICIALLY here (stuff started to SHUT DOWN March 2020 I think) - all went well.  👍

I am SO GLAD it did.

I feel so bad for those still WAITING with NO idea WHEN they will receive their 1st payment. NOT all seniors are in a financial position to survive this wait.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

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[*** @fffred wrote:

When applying on the SSA website there is a small disclaimer as follows. "After you apply, you can expect a letter letting you know if your benefits are approved or if we need more information. If you apply early -- say two to four months before your chosen start month -- you should expect the letter towards the end of your chosen start month. Otherwise, you'll typically get it within 30 days of applying."

I haven't seen this information elsewhere. I was very annoyed myself when I applied for SS a few years ago and it "took forever". In my case, it seemed that the disclaimer above was not shown once the application was submitted (if I had even seen it in the first place). If I was presented with that disclaimer each time I checked my application's status I would have had better understanding of the process and I wouldn't have been so worried or annoyed. Now that we are planning for my wife's application I have seen this disclaimer and understood the process better.

The disclaimer explains a lot. If the application is submitted "early" (as per SSA, 2 to 4 months before your planned start) you are not gonna hear from them until near the end of your chosen start month. By definition, this means that an early applicant will be waiting for up to 4 months. This is regardless of that little blurb they show on My Social Security how your application is in progress and it seems like it's hung up forever.

Per the SSA (https://www.ssa.gov/ssa-performance/processing-time-benefits) about 85% of all old age applications are processed on-time. A pretty good record in my view. I suppose that, by definition, that includes those applications that were submitted early and did not get approved until up to 4 months later. Again, this seems reasonable because they tell us (see above) what they're going to do. 

I suspect that most people who wonder about their application are probably on the standard timeline and just need to be patient, waiting for that target date. ***]

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[joyn424973]

I called in January, got appointment in February, so now I’m told approval will be several months and I have no income

[WhereIsSpring]

[Saturday 3/15/25] @joyn424973 , I am SO SORRY to hear this!!!  😤

Another poster had suggested the following. Maybe it might work for you.

➡️ @JeffreyA826398 WROTE: 
‎Calling or emailing your local congressional representative's office and asking for help is effective. They have power to push things through. It also alerts government reps of the delay issues.

Good Luck,

Nicole  👵

---

[*** @joyn424973 wrote:

I called in January, got appointment in February, so now I’m told approval will be several months and I have no income. ***]

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[rolocedoc]

Apply for unemployment benefits or apply to part time jobs - there's a lot!

[rolocedoc]

There's a link on AARP to apply to jobs - 

15 Part-Time Jobs for Retirees (No Degree Required!)

[rolocedoc]

Apply for unemployment benefits or apply for part time jobs - there's a lot!

[JohnC728129]

Wife went from applying to receive her first payment in 23 days. Try going through your local SS office and do a phone application. 

[LeesaT353220]

Which regional office processed her claim?  Mine is "being processed" in the Chicago office and it's been more than 3 months.

[JeffreyA826398]

Because of the changes caused by the passage of the recent Fair Social Security Act (passed end of 2024) there are many new eligible applicants. Plus the SS admin is having to go back and amend current recipients whose benefits were increased due to the acts passage. This includes figuring increases retroactive to 1/1/20024.  Many of these adjustment are for the millions of teachers, firefighters,  police officers and spouses ineligible for retirement benefits due to past provisions in the laws prohibiting or lowering benefits a person from receiving both a local government pension and SS retirement benefits. 

[MarkW495344]

I noticed that a lot of the news sites are basically copying and pasting the same articles over and over with the current date rather than the original date of the article in regards to issues at the SSA. This doesn't seem to have a purpose other than to cause panic with recycled articles, which is understandable for people who have been waiting 5 months. My status remains pending just under 4 months in, one week past my 62nd birthday. I do not expect a payment until April 9th and hopefully a letter beforehand. I don't plan on calling SSA until later in April, and am fortunately solvent through the summer. But it is frustrating to not get answers and have to budget necessities to hold out for a conclusive resolution. That, along with possible inflation due to Tarif's, does cause concern.

If you have grocery stores with great specials or discount food establishments (as I do), stock up! I'm hoping not to have to resort to applying for SNAP, but will if I have to. Fortunately there are lots of resources for seniors, and many of them are state controlled rather than federal. I just wanted to provide a bit of hope for others in the waiting stage, and look forward to reading about positive resolutions with notifications of approval and consistent payments going through. 

[WhereIsSpring]

[Saturday 3/8/25] Mark @MarkW495344 , with time these resources will be depleted IF folks DO NOT receive their 1st RETIREMENT Social Security soon. In my state, alot of these resources are from grants that are NOT being renewed way BEFORE all the drama with 2025 cutbacks. Good luck with getting yours and thanks for sharing with us.

YOU WROTE: Fortunately there are lots of resources for seniors, and many of them are state controlled rather than federal.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

[TammiB17510]

So glad it isn't just me 🙂  I applied December 13 so next week will be 90 days.  Someone from some Social Security office called my cell about 3 weeks ago but didn't leave a message and unfortunately I was away from my phone.  I tried to find out who called, but the main SSA number couldn't/wouldn't help - just said "oh, if it was important I'm sure they'll call back".  LOL - my "step 2" reviewer in Federal Way Washington was probably one of the 7,000 fired.  

[WhereIsSpring]

[Friday 3/7/25] Tammi @TammiB17510 , NO pressure to respond. Someone posting here had said after visiting their LOCAL office to check on their ONLINE application, they were APPROVED. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, Nicole  👵

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[*** @TammiB17510 wrote:

So glad it isn't just me 🙂  I applied December 13 so next week will be 90 days.  Someone from some Social Security office called my cell about 3 weeks ago but didn't leave a message and unfortunately I was away from my phone.  I tried to find out who called, but the main SSA number couldn't/wouldn't help - just said "oh, if it was important I'm sure they'll call back".  LOL - my "step 2" reviewer in Federal Way Washington was probably one of the 7,000 fired.  ***]

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[TammiB17510]

Yes thank you -  I was thinking exactly the same.  I plan to wait until the 90 days passes next week and then make an appointment with my local office.  

[JamesP590429]

Good luck getting an appointment. I called in first thing every morning for four days straight and did not get a call back from the phone queue at all during the first three days. About 6 hours into day 4, I did get the call back and the person I spoke to was kind, intelligent, respectful and helpful in at least determining that the reviewer was not waiting on any information from me. I was told that she could not process an appointment for me, though, as it had only been 60 days. My local office will not see you without an appointment scheduled over the phone.

[WhereIsSpring]

[Thursday 3/6/25] Catherine @CatherineP879665 , you STARTED this discussion in April 2023 & I am NOT finding any UPDATES after that for you. NO pressure to respond - did you FINALLY start receiving your payments? I hope so! Take care, Nicole  👵

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[*** @CatherineP879665 wrote 4/14/23:

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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[CindyJ284326]

Same here, in Seattle WA. My husband and I both put in our applications for retirement benefits to start in February 2025. We hav been stuck in the dreaded “step 2 of 3” stage for nearly three months now, no change, I login and check every day and nothing changes. I just tried calling to check on it and see if I need to supply any more data, called the generic 800 number, and was on hold with a very pleasant BOT who kept repeating “your call is important to us”, for 6 hours, when I finally gave up and hung up the call.

[GailL1]

@CindyJ284326 

You do know that if your told them in your application to begin Feb. 2025 - that they interpret this to mean your benefit for Feb.

Social Security is paid one month in arrears - so your payments should start in March 2025 when you will be paid for Feb. 2025

Your benefits will be paid based on this calendar - 

SSA.gov 2025 Calendar of Benefits Payments 

Now that is if you are of Full Retirement Age (FRA) - if less than your FRA then there are additional rules if you are going to continue to works - the income cap.

[RobertR246740]

same here with me.  I just turned 70 February 16.  Fortunately I am still working and October 24th I put my application for retirement benefits online.  I did it online.  Somewhere around December I started checking and it said it was in Step 2 of 3 in the Jamaica NY office.  Now February 28th, 127 days later and the last time I was able to log in it was still in the same spot.  Now for the last 2 days every time I try to log in it says I can't at this time, so I don't know what it says.

I feel for you and hope they get you processed soon as I understand that you are not working and after 47 years of paying in, now need that to survive.

[GailL1]

@RobertR246740 

Remember, Social Security benefits are paid one month in arrears.

I assume you wanted benefits to start when you hit 70 to maximize all the delayed retirement credits.  If that is true, you should get your 1st benefit check for February around March 19, 2025 - the third Wednesday of the month per the payment calendar, as long as your benefit calculation is as simple as you said in your post.

SSA.gov - Payment Calendar 2025 

You will probably get a letter confirming this, shortly before your benefits hit your account via automatic deposit.  With you not being able to log in gives me the hint that it is taking place currently and they have access to your account for the update.  

Let us know when you hear something or you check your bank account on or around March 19 for your benefit deposit.

Happy Retiring !

[ChuckJ552870]

For what it's worth....

https://www.ssa.gov/ssa-performance/processing-time-benefits

[JaniseS619527]

My husband applied for SS retirement benefits in October 2024, and his application is being processed by the Jamaica, NY office.  He was 66 and 8 mos. as of January 30, 2025.  As of today his application is still stuck on part 2 of 3.  Getting a bit nervous.  Nothing unusual in his employment history, so that shouldn't be causing a delay.  And heaven forbid you could actually call someone at the Jamaica, NY office and get an answer other than "it's being processed."  Anyone else encountering a 4 month delay with an application being processed by the Jamaica, NY office?

[Tmgcme196361]

I applied back in October as well, and it's now been 4 months. However, my app was sent to Baltimore, Maryland? I see a lot that were sent to Jamaica NY...🤔 *Just curious*

Still waiting (sitting on step 2 of 3...sheesh.

I applied Oct. 27th 4 months prior to my 62nd birthday - (Feb. 2nd) I have nothing yet. Crickets...😒

[GailL1]

@Tmgcme196361 

SSA.gov- Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early  

Note this statement on the link:     3. You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits.

 So the 1st month that you could receive benefits would be in April - that would be for the March benefit since the benefit is paid one month in arrears.  

IF you are being approved for Social Security Retirement, and you meet all the other eligibility requirement, then your benefit should arrive on the second Wednesday in April or 04/09/2025.

SSA.gov - Calendar of Benefits 2025 

Also keep in mind that if you are retiring at LESS THAN FULL RETIREMENT AGE and are still working, the amount you make will have an influence on how much you will get or even if you get any at all - depending on how much over the earnings cap you might be. 

SSA.gov - Receiving Benefits While Working