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.

[CarlH118474]

I have received no letter.  There has been no communication between me and the Richmond office. I have called and left several phone messages. They have not responded to my phone messages, even when they say that they listen to them daily and respond to them within four days. That has not been my experience.

[GailL1]

@CarlH118474 

Any letter or communication from the Social Security Administration can be retrieved on your own Social Security account - lots faster than snail mail - In fact, nowadays they ask you to set it up when applying for benefits.

SSA.gov - Create Your Own Social Security Account- mySocialSecrity

The newest instructions say to apply 4-months before you want Retirement benefits to begin - so you are almost to that line.  

Did you apply online or at a local office?

You were applying for Retirement, I assume with your age being 67 - Did you give them a date when to begin or since you are older than your FRA, then they probably need to inform you of the small amount of delayed retirement credits you will be getting added and when they will be added.

Are you already on Medicare?  If not, they will be signing you up for Medicare Parts A & B also - that might take a bit more time but not much if everything is in their system.

If you were already signed up for Medicare Parts A & B - were your premiums paid up to date?

Did you give them your direct deposit info?  

Retirement benefits should be the easiest for them to process.  

Just check your Social Security Account - in case there is more info that they need. 

Probably just slow with the new people at the agency and probably not enough people - be glad you aren’t applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) - real behind on that one.

Good Luck - hope you begin to get it soon.

[DirkB349973]

If you go online, there is a document that should show your current status. If you have information missing, there will be some indication of that in the document. If you find it and you don't understand what is saying, you might try calling your local office and asking them to explain it to you. 

[CarlH118474]

Been there, done that. Thanks for your help, but I think the system is broken. It’s not any failure on my part to check status.