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.

[c697281r]

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".

[SiobhanP970130]

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.

[karblaze]

I just hit 61 days. The website says 30 days, but today is 61 days. I have an extremely simple work history straightforward. No complications.They started it on October 28th and nothing has changed 61 days later. It's not even from the day I filed. It's from the day they started working on it, it's 61 days. And again super simple straight forward, no complications just want my retirement money. 

[RandyB376906]

Applied Oct. 15th. Stuck at step 2 of 3 in Kansas City. Have not been contacted. Told to just wait.

[GailL1]

I was informed by some folks that work at the SSA that process Retirement Claims, that they try to do it based on the date of retirement or the date the beneficiary wants to begin benefits.  

They also look at the FRA and process those 1st since applying at FRA cuts out a step for them meaning the step where they have to verify your earnings.

You would be surprised at the number of people who don’t know about the earnings test if they are filing for benefits younger than FRA.  The SSA goes thru all the steps then has to inform the beneficiary that they make too much being younger than FRA to get a benefit and then kick it back to the beneficiary to prove that their income is gonna be dropping because they did stop work or that their employment amount had gone thru a reduction.

[lisaf92128]

Same, applied online November 7th and they are still at step 2 of 3. Have not asked for any documents or more information, have not been contacted by anyone throughout the process.

[andrea59b]

I am in the same boat. Applied it Oct 15th of 2024 and still not approved. No docs asked for and have not contacted me on anything either. How can we get hepl can anyone answer us???

[RobinL675376]

Same here. I applied in October 2024.  My application was assigned to an office in another state on Nov 1st, and I am still on step two of the process.

[rolocedoc]

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?

[JuneH580660]

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! 

[KarenC940882]

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,

[GailL1]

@KarenC940882 

If you are getting emails on the replies to this thread - you can change that by YOUR SETTINGS - subscriptions and notifications.  

[JuneH580660]

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. 

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@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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@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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[iamonewithhim]

Congress, especially Republicans, refused to give SSA additional funds for hiring new staff, even though they are at an all time low, and more and more baby boomers are retiring. The country voted this new administration in so this is just the beginning of things to come, although I do hope and pray Congress and the President and his minion Musk will have a change of heart. I would want to be a federal worker right now. And that's another problem. With the new administration coming in, more and more people are leaving or retiring early.

https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/10/without-budget-anomaly-ssa-hiring-restricted-and-overtime...

[karblaze]

Minimum requirement of employment is 10 years. 40 credits.  If you worked much longer, they take the top income of  35 years to do the calculationof your benefit. That's where the 35 years comes from.

[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.

[JuneH580660]

I have not had income for years, living off my savings and retirement, waiting to be approved for my SS. The whole point is, there is no reason for the delay on my specific approval and I have called and emailed and noone in the SS office seems to know why there is a delay with mine. As I can see from several comments, I am not alone. We are all wondering why. For mine specifically absolutely no reason for a delay. I am applying under my own 40 year record (35 best years) . I will keep posting until I see my approved letter, in the system or paper. Maybe the new SS commissioner will straiten things out, remains to be seen. 

[rolocedoc]

Hopefully,  there will be a more human being to facilitate the operations of SSA - if we don't see T.coli sitting in the White House - again - cmon voters - wake up!

[ThomasH239167]

This delay from SS started many years ago and has nothing to do with the current president. I agree - we'll be well off with Kamala Harris in the White House, not a criminal.

[GailL1]

@JuneH580660 

a bit more info from SSA -

“Please note that relatively few people can begin receiving a benefit at exact age 62 because a person must be 62 throughout the first month of retirement. Thus most early retirees begin at age 62 and 1 month.”

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/earlyretire.html 

So you may have a bit longer to wait based on your birthDAY in June.  

[GailL1]

@JuneH580660 wrote 

. . . . . Maybe the new SS commissioner will straiten things out, remains to be seen. 

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At this point I think he has his hands full with trying to resolve the enormous number of overpayments that SSA is trying to collect or reconcile for the Social Security Program (mostly SSDI) or the Supplemental Security Income program, which SSA also administers.

OR maybe the HUGE number of Disability claims that are backlogged.  

All I know is that early retirement claims do have to go through a few other steps but not many.  

I believe you said you would not be 62 til June - if that is right, you may not get the letter until about 3-weeks before your benefits start.  They may be putting them in priority date order by benefit date.

Do you know if they did receive it?  Do you at least have that confirmation?

[JuneH580660]

Unbelievable. I worked over 40 years and was forced to retire a few years ago. Living on my savings and retirement, but will be 62 in June. So I applied on March 11th to make sure I don't miss a check and it says 2 to 4 weeks for approval. What is there to approve. I am asking for what I worked hard for my whole life on my record. Called twice, after 3 hours, got nowhere. I think it is on purpose. I never received anything and don't want disability. I just want what I worked for. It has caused stress waiting for them to approve. Making me sick. 

[GailL1]

@JuneH580660 

Rushing the process in your case doesn’t matter.

If you aren’t gonna be 62 until June, then your 1st check won’t come until after that date - In fact, you aren’t even eligible for a SS RIB (REtirement Insurance BEnefit) until you are 62.

• 62 is the earliest age for SS retirement benefit
• your benefit will be reduced because you are filing to receive it early.
• SS Retirement benefits are paid (1) month in arrears so if you turn 62 in June, your 1st benefit will be paid in July (for June) according to the SSA Benefit calendar

If they are late - they will send enough benefit amounts to meet your early retirement date.

[JuneH580660]

I am well aware of all the rules and regulations, I am not looking for the check even a day early, I am looking for the letter that comes once you are approved. I also know exactly when my check should come. I am also well aware of all the information out there telling people that they will get more if they wait. A bunch of very ill intentioned information. I can fo math.

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@GailL1 wrote:

@JuneH580660 

Rushing the process in your case doesn’t matter.

If you aren’t gonna be 62 until June, then your 1st check won’t come until after that date - In fact, you aren’t even eligible for a SS RIB (REtirement Insurance BEnefit) until you are 62.

• 62 is the earliest age for SS retirement benefit
• your benefit will be reduced because you are filing to receive it early.
• SS Retirement benefits are paid (1) month in arrears so if you turn 62 in June, your 1st benefit will be paid in July (for June) according to the SSA Benefit calendar

If they are late - they will send enough benefit amounts to meet your early retirement date. Do you work for the goverment? 

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Bird in the hand. 

[GailL1]

@JuneH580660 

If you have set up your own Social Security Account, your benefit letter will appear there on your account before you get the letter in the mail.

[JaceyA990315]

Applying for retirement benefits has been a nightmare for me as I'm unemployed and have been waiting for over 6 weeks. Don't apply for benefits online it may seem like it's more convenient, but I was informed by an employee at my local SS office there are always problems with online applications as I'm proof of that. After 4 weeks with no response from SSA or approval. I got a generic form letter in the mail from a claim specialist stating he needed more information but neglected to place in the letter what that information was. I called him numerous times and left numerous messages with no response from him. When I contacted my local SS office it took a couple of people a long long time to find out what he was referring to. Eventually they had to place me on a long hold and contact this claims specialist who was in another state. I', a little past 6 weeks and just found out yesterday from my local SS office that my online application was sent to the wrong processing office! So, I still have no income, insurance or anything. This is so horrible when we have worked our entire lives to hopefully have some peace and quiet from the everyday grind and stress of working! 

[PatrickC94564]

I applied November 2023. Did an interview February 8th. Turned 62 on February 20th 2024

 I still haven't heard anything from SSA. When I called the 1800 number they say decision yet to be made. Anyone else in the same boat or When should ai expect payments to start 

[CapeCodNancy]

I just got off the phone with this number 855-897-4927. I was directed to this number before and the person did nothing more than give me the extension of a case manage who after 7 ish messages never called me back. I must have called 5 different departments. I was given this phone number again and called and got the most wonderful lady who has a case manager calling me today (fingers crossed). Anyway, it appears, although My Social Security website has me down as applying for SS and I'm locked on everything (i.e. I couldn't even re-apply) what they have is only applying for disability. Hopefully, this will be resolved today. She said they are getting quite a few calls like that - that the application didn't go through on their end. Maybe it's worth a try calling them? Just don't let them give you an extension - ask to set up an appointment. Good Luck!

[VickieD326695]

I was advised by SSA to contact my State Congressional Representative as the wait has been ridiculous and unable to get any info on why it’s taking so long. I applied in March, to begin in March. It’s now mid August! Hoping State Rep gets it taken care of asap