As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful to have found this incredibly detailed and helpful thread! I'm currently facing my own mySSA account lockout situation and was feeling pretty overwhelmed until I read through everyone's experiences here. Like many others, I decided to lock my account after reading about identity theft risks, but now I'm stuck trying to get back in to access my Social Security information. The wealth of practical knowledge shared here is amazing - Finley's explanation about Account Lock vs. Block Electronic Access was particularly enlightening since I had no idea these were separate security measures. The consistent success strategies everyone has identified give me real hope: the 48-hour wait period, using the exact same device and browser from initial setup, ensuring all personal information matches precisely, and the early morning Wednesday calling approach if needed. Marina's advice about taking screenshots and documenting everything before locking is brilliant (wish I'd known that earlier!). What really impresses me is how this community has created such a comprehensive troubleshooting resource through shared experiences - honestly more useful than anything I could find on official SSA websites. The emphasis on patience, precision, and persistence really resonates, and seeing so many successful resolution stories shows that while these lockouts are frustrating, they're definitely solvable. I'm planning to implement the strategies discussed here and will update everyone on how it goes. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and creating such a supportive environment for navigating these government service challenges!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have discovered this thread while researching mySSA account security options! I haven't experienced a lockout myself yet, but after reading through all these detailed experiences, I feel much better prepared for whatever security measures I decide to implement. The distinction between Account Lock and Block Electronic Access that Finley explained is absolutely crucial information that I never would have found elsewhere. Marina's proactive approach of taking screenshots and documenting all account details before making any changes is genius - I'm definitely going to create that secure documentation folder she mentioned before I make any security modifications to my account. What really stands out to me is how this community has transformed individual frustrating experiences into collective wisdom that benefits everyone. The consistent patterns everyone has identified (48-hour wait periods, original device usage, exact information matching, strategic calling times) provide such clear guidance for both prevention and resolution. For those currently working through lockouts, the multiple success stories shared here prove that persistence and following these proven strategies really do work. It's reassuring to know that even when the situation feels hopeless, there are community-tested solutions that can resolve these issues. Thank you all for creating such an invaluable resource and supportive environment!

I'm also completely new to Social Security and this entire discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm just beginning to research how retirement benefits work and had absolutely no idea that first payments could arrive earlier than the regular monthly schedule. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's so clear that this early payment situation is actually very common, yet SSA doesn't explain this anywhere in their standard communications. I would have definitely panicked too seeing an unexpected deposit from them! It's really frustrating that such a simple addition to their award letters - just one sentence explaining that "your initial payment may be processed before your regular payment schedule begins" - could prevent so much unnecessary anxiety and confusion. Thank you so much for calling SSA to get official confirmation and sharing those results with the community. These real-world experiences and practical insights from people who've actually navigated the system are exactly what newcomers like me need to understand what's normal versus what might actually be a problem. This thread is going to help so many people avoid unnecessary worry when they see that early first payment appear in their accounts!

I'm completely new to Social Security benefits and this entire discussion has been such a lifesaver! I'm just starting to research retirement planning and had absolutely no clue that first payments could arrive earlier than your regular payment schedule. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this early payment situation happens to almost everyone, yet SSA provides virtually no explanation about it anywhere. I definitely would have panicked seeing that unexpected deposit too! It's so frustrating that they could prevent all this anxiety with just one simple sentence in their award letters explaining that initial payments may be processed before your regular payment date begins. Thank you so much for taking the time to call SSA for official confirmation and sharing the results with everyone here. These real-world experiences from people who've actually been through the process are exactly what newcomers like me need to navigate this complex system. This thread is going to save so many people from unnecessary worry when they see that early first payment show up in their accounts. I'm definitely bookmarking this for when I eventually apply myself!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive discussion! I'm 60 and still have several years before I need to make my filing decision, but reading about Alice's experience and everyone else's stories has been a real eye-opener. The fact that SSA's own systems can produce such wildly different estimates - from annual statements to claims specialist projections to actual award letters - is both fascinating and deeply concerning for retirement planning purposes. What I find most valuable about this thread is how it's evolved from Alice's initial confusion into such a detailed exploration of why these discrepancies happen. The technical explanations about AIME calculations, bend points, COLA adjustments, and earnings processing delays have been incredibly educational. It's clear that these estimates are much more like rough projections than the precise planning numbers I was treating them as. The range of experiences shared here - from pleasant surprises of $300-600 extra to disappointing shortfalls of similar amounts - really drives home the need for much more conservative retirement planning. I'm definitely going to build substantial buffers into my budget and treat my Social Security estimates as ballpark figures rather than reliable projections. The advice about requesting the PEBES breakdown after filing sounds essential for actually understanding how they calculate the final benefit. Thank you all for creating such an informative resource - this community's real-world knowledge is invaluable for those of us trying to navigate this complex system!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely fascinated by this discussion! I'm 59 and was just looking at my latest Social Security statement last week, thinking I had a solid number to plan around. Reading about Alice's experience - getting three completely different estimates from SSA's own systems - is both enlightening and a bit scary from a planning perspective. What really strikes me is how many factors can apparently affect these calculations that aren't obvious from the annual statements. The explanations about recent earnings processing delays, COLA adjustments, and that complex AIME formula with the different percentage tiers have been incredibly educational. I had no idea the system was this complicated behind the scenes! The range of discrepancies everyone has experienced - from Alice's pleasant $500 surprise to others getting hundreds less than expected - is making me realize I need to completely rethink my approach to Social Security planning. I was treating those annual statement numbers as pretty much set in stone, but clearly they're more like educated guesses. I'm definitely going to start building much larger buffers into my retirement projections and treating these estimates as rough guidelines rather than precise numbers. The advice about requesting the PEBES breakdown after filing is something I'll definitely remember when my time comes. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical insight that makes this community so valuable!

This has been such a fantastic resource! As someone who's 59 and getting ready to make my claiming decision in the next few years, I've learned more from this single thread than from countless hours trying to decode SSA publications. The personal experiences combined with technical insights have really illuminated how flexible the Social Security system actually is. I'm particularly struck by how the "substitution year" process means that even small amounts of continued earnings can have long-term compounding benefits over time. The practical tips about record-keeping, using mySocialSecurity notifications, and understanding the timeline for recalculations are incredibly valuable. What gives me the most confidence is seeing so many real examples of people who've successfully navigated working after claiming - it's not just theory, but proven strategies with measurable results. I'm definitely going to approach my claiming decision with a much more holistic view now, considering not just the initial benefit amount but the potential for optimization through continued work. Thank you all for creating such an invaluable community resource!

This thread has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who's 64 and just started collecting benefits last month while working part-time at a local nonprofit, I'm so grateful to have found this wealth of information. The clarity around automatic recalculation has put my mind at ease - I was worried I'd need to file paperwork or jump through hoops to get credit for my continued earnings. What really resonates with me is learning about the "substitution year" process and how even my modest nonprofit salary could potentially replace some zero-earning years from when I took time off to raise my kids in the 1990s. The timeline details about October-December recalculations showing up in January payments is incredibly helpful for setting expectations. I'm definitely setting up those automatic notifications in my mySocialSecurity account this week! It's also encouraging to hear from so many people who've successfully navigated this path - from the person with three years of recalculation experience to those who've helped family members through the process. This community has created something truly special here - a comprehensive guide that combines real-world experience with professional expertise. Thank you all for sharing so generously!

I went through this exact same worry last fall! My first SS retirement check was scheduled for the 12th but didn't arrive until day 11. What helped me was understanding that SSA actually prints and mails the checks ON the payment date, not before it - so you're really waiting for print processing time plus mail delivery time. The anxiety is totally understandable though, especially when it's your first payment and you're not sure what's normal. One tip that helped me: if you have a local SSA office, you might be able to visit in person after 10 business days to check on payment status. Sometimes that's faster than calling. But honestly, based on all the experiences shared here, 6 days is still well within the normal range for paper checks. Hang in there!

I'm a new retiree who just started receiving SS benefits, and I wanted to share that I had a very similar experience! My first check was scheduled for the 15th (birthday on the 14th) and it took exactly 8 days to arrive. I was getting really anxious by day 5, especially since I'd read online that payments should arrive "by" the payment date. What I learned from calling SSA is that for paper checks, the payment date is actually when they generate and mail the check, not when you should receive it. So you're really looking at payment date + postal delivery time, which can be 3-10 business days depending on your location and current mail volumes. I'd definitely recommend switching to direct deposit once you get your first payment sorted out. I made the switch immediately and now my payments arrive like clockwork on the payment date. The peace of mind is worth it! In the meantime, try not to stress too much - 6 days is still very much in the normal range based on what I experienced and what the SSA rep told me.