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.

[ivoryr509416]

Yes, I am experiencing the same delay. I applied the end of December and I have been in stage 2 of 3 ever since it said the Jamaica NY office is reviewing it I wanted my benefits to start in March 2025, so hopefully it will start in April, hopefully. I am glad I am not the only one experiencing no response. 

[MarkW495344]

Like you, I am registered with Jamaica and set March as the start of my benefits so I am expecting hopefully a payment in April according to the schedule they provide based on my 62nd birthday which has passed. Keeping an eye on government shutdown news too although indicators that social security does continue to process applications are there. Every little bit of hope helps, so I am hoping to provide an update that it's all taken care of and hope others get the same response when it is their turn to be approved. 

[dd1403256]

The same thing happened to me. I called SSA and got someone on the phone who gave me a direct # 866-266-2306 and someone actually answered. I had to push for them to look at the application and in 5 min I was approved and 2 days later I had a check. Good luck. 

[ckwendt]

Checking on Google, this seems like it might be a fraudulent number.

[DanielK742454]

Hi Janise, 

  I too have applied at the Jamaica, NY office (my application was the beginning of November) and after calling the Jamaica office twice and waiting almost 2 hours on hold I was informed by a very nice representative that I should expect a response sometime in the middle or late March. I am not very confident about this date and expect to wait probably many weeks beyond that date since the current presidential administration has terminated quite a few Federal workers, including those who work for the SS administration.  The rep also told me that I would be paid for any previous months that were missed. Hope this helps!

[TheGaff725]

Trump laid off 24 people in total from the SS Administration, so the DOGE excuse won't work here. Nice try though.

[BrianK273637]

Trump is eliminating 7,000 jobs from the Social Security Administration, a 12% reduction in the workforce, at a time when timely approvals are already strained. Nice try though.

[DanielK742454]

Uh no. Don't know where you got the 24 number, but here is an article from a very reputable source that says DOGE is looking to get rid of thousands of SS workers in addition to the 10 offices they closed. (I found this information from other sources also, some even conservative reporting agencies)  https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/social-security/social-security-administration-warns-of-massive...

[JeffreyA826398]

No matter what your feelings are on the DOGE, for most applying for SS retirement benefits, this should be a fairly efficient and quick process considering the automation of much of the information. You complete the app on line, they have your work history and the benefit is easily calculated and processed for payment. If this was handled by private industry the result would be a much quicker handling time with fewer hands involved, more accuracy at a much lower cost. 

[GailL1]

@DanielK742454 

From the Press Releases from SSA 

https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/#2025-02-28 

But so what - many will be retirees that are ready to leave.  Others will come from agencies that have been closed - like the Office of Transformation 

If we can get tech changes into this agency it will help a lot with the regular work load and then if we can speed up some of the labor intensive paper pushing like in SSDI and SSI, it will work leaner and meaner.  

You know that many of the reasons that this agency gets bogged down is because beneficiaries applying for benefits don’t know what to do - IOW, they don’t understand the program or what they need to send or provide or the rules of the various programs.  

[DanielK742454]

Thanks for this information. Interesting to see all of the different stories coming out surrounding what is actually going to happen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't turn out bad at all, with hopefully improvements to their tech abilities as you mentioned. I am generally a positive person so all of the changes coming should be a good thing.

[JeffreyB68166]

 why would anyone believe a press release from this administration?

[MarkW495344]

I applied on November 12th after having to wait 2 weeks for a special passcode because my phone number is not on the national phone registry. I quickly moved to step two, application being processed in Jamaica Queens, like many others who are posting. My birthday is coming up this week and I don't expect to get a payment in March although notice of approval would be nice. Thanks to others who have posted they got their approval, it definitely gives some hope that this will be resolved easily. 

[GailL1]

Social Security benefits ar paid one month in arrears.  So if you are going to be your Full REtirement Age on your next birthday and you listed Feb. 2025 is the month you wanted to start -then you may get your benefit (Feb)  in March.  The date you get it would be based on your birth day dateSSA.gov 2025 Calendar of when benefits are paid  

see the bottom of the page to determine the day your benefit should come.

HOWEVER if you are not yet furl retirement age or you will be turning 62 in Feb.  then you are gonna have to wait until April because you have to be 62 for the entire month for benefits to begin.  

[steveholte13468]

Based on a quick look at the responses it looks to me that they are processing retirement applications using a combination of requested start date of benefits and date of application (assuming everything in the application is correct). Quite a few that replied mentioned they got their application approved right about the time their first payment was expected, but only after waiting several months and being stuck at stage 2 with zero explanation as to what is going on. So my guess is all the applications go into a FIFO queue and from there get processed based on the the requested start date (this would explain being stuck at stage 2 for so long).  I applied on 12/10/2024 for my FRA on 2/28/2025 so if I'm right I'll likely get approved the 4th week of March just ahead of the time my first payment is expected. So the take-away is apply as early as possible but don't expect to hear anything until right up to before your first payment is expected and the "30 Day" bit is just not a reality. BTW this seems to have been going on for awhile now but looks like its gotten worse I suppose due to sheer number of boomers that are retiring which I think is an indication of the economy slowing down. I work in tech and there have been a lot of folks getting let go and us grey-hairs seem to be tapping out and getting what ever kind of buyout or severance package they can while companies are still offering them. Maybe that's not wide-spread but that's what I'm seeing in my world.

[CarolynBI]

Retiring and boomers part of your comment... Most boomers are still retiring prior to 70 (onoy about 4% wait that long per one study I saw) but the number of boomers retiring is large because we are a big population bubble that trashes/affects everything we touch. The last of the boomers only turned 60 last year. Also more boomers turn 65 from 2024-2027 than before or after then so you would be seeing an increase (although the full retirement age is going up too, however about 30% or so retire at 62). 

[SusanR428528]

Trying to simply make a comment but the only way I can is if I reply to a comment.  Help

[fffred]

@SusanR428528   If you don’t want to appear to be replying to another comment, just click reply to the original post. That’s what I do.

[TheresaB17788]

Ridiculous system.  I applied December 14, 2024 - am still stuck in step 2 in February 2025.  Worse, I applied for Medicare at the same time and my 65th birthday has come and gone.  I cannot apply for supplemental insurance until I can prove that I applied for Medicare A&B - which is pending along with my social security application.  Was told "You have to give us at least 90 days/" WHAT??? Where does it instruct applicants that they need that amount of lead time to process an application?? Just crossing my fingers that I do not have any health issues until they eventually finish whatever they are doing.

[ThomasA906503]

I applied for retirement benefits on October 13 ( I am FRA) for my start month of February.  I have yet to hear from SS and am currently stuck on step 2 of 3.  My supposed representative is in Baltimore.  And I live in Philly.  

[GailL1]

@ThomasA906503 

Your delay is a big question - FRA, applied in plenty of time, etc.  unless there is something else going on - but they should have notified you if they had questions or documents.  

I assume that you had reviewed your earnings statement and it seemed correct.  I assume that you gave them all your info like the bank/account to send the payment.  That you are a citizen and worked in this country.  I assume you are applying for your own benefits and not another type under another number holder.  I assume that you have never withdrew your application from an earlier filing where benefits had to be repaid before being set back up.

If you don’t hear something soon you might call your most local SSA office and set up an appointment to review your application and see what the holdup might be.  

[JayneC904223]

I just received notification that my SS application was processed for approval yesterday. November 7, 2024-February 18, 2025 wait time.

[Tmgcme196361]

Such a blessing for you. I'm glad. But so many others, including myself are still waiting. I put in for mine October of 2024. My birthday has come and gone. It's sad really. 

[DougG933039]

My timeline: 

Applied on Dec. 1, 2025. 62nd Birthday on March 19 and am also stuck in step 2. 

[GailL1]

@DougG933039 

Your problem is that you are not of age yet to get your benefits - you have to be 62 for an entire month before you are even consider to be eligible.  

SSA.gov - Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early 

So to be 62 for the entire month - your retirement month would be April 2025 and since benefits are paid (1) month in arrears - your would get your 1st benefit amount in either April or May depending on where your birth day lands on the calendar.

Here is the calendar of payment dates is 2025 - based on the birthday code at the bottom of the calendar.  

SSA.gov- calendar of benefit payments 2025 

[SusanR428528]

unexpectedly received phone call from Social Security (!!!) saying she was calling in response to one of the ss workers recently putting my application back to the beginning of the line because I supposedly wrote an email saying something that triggered that response.  All I had done was emailed ssa asking why my application was stuck in stage 2.  This woman from ssa on the phone was very nice, said she put my application back to the status it should be at, and said that since I applied to start on March 1 my application would be completed during the last week of February.  She also said sometimes it takes 60 days, not 30 days. I just said ok, thank you.  

[fffred]

@SusanR428528   A bit eye opening. Did that worker set you back punitively? If so I am surprised they could do that. And if so they should be reprimanded.

[rharcum]

I'm in about the same time frame but have not yet gotten an approval.  Did they tell you if they would provide retro-pay all the way back to the date of your application?  Or do you lose out on that money because of their delay?

[JayneC904223]

I guess from what I have read, the payments actually start the month after your requested start date…I don’t know why? I requested a start date of January 1, 2025.  Much to my shock, as I was just notified of my approval, there was a deposit in my banking account today. So, technically I am still within the month after my initial request date…so no retro there. I’m not sure about retro, but knowing the government and their loopholes, I wouldn’t count on any retro, but I could be wrong. My application was processed in Jamaica, NY. This whole process has been very stressful….waiting and waiting. Hopefully your benefits will be processed soon and you can put the ordeal behind you…the best of luck!

[GailL1]

@JayneC904223 

Social Security benefits are always paid one month in arrears.  The payment you say you got today 02/19/2025 -  (the 2nd Wed. of the month) is for your January 2025 benefit.

Here is the calendar for 2025 as to when benefits are paid out based on your birth day of the month.  See the bottom code area of the calendar for the description of when and what types of benefits.

SSA.gov - 2025 Calendar Schedule of Benefit Payments 2025