I just went through this exact same nightmare three months ago when I switched banks! The MySocialSecurity website has been having these direct deposit issues for what feels like forever. Here's what finally worked for me: First, definitely call your credit union tomorrow and ask specifically about "Social Security direct deposit enrollment assistance" - this was a game-changer that I wish I had known about from the start. My credit union handled the entire process for me in about 5 business days without me having to deal with SSA's phone system at all. If your credit union doesn't offer this service, the early morning call strategy is absolutely your best bet - I got through in 35 minutes calling at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday. Have your routing number, account number, Social Security number, and last benefit amount ready. Also, don't panic about the 15-day timeline - I was in the exact same situation and even though my payment initially went to my closed account, it bounced right back and SSA automatically sent me a paper check within a week while they processed the banking change. The whole thing was resolved much faster than I expected once I found the right approach. Hang in there - you've got this!

I'm a newcomer here but have been lurking and reading through everyone's experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with this exact same issue right now. I switched from Wells Fargo to a local credit union two weeks ago and have been getting that same "cannot process your request" error every single day since then. I was getting really anxious about my upcoming payment, but reading all these success stories and solutions has given me so much hope! I had absolutely no idea that credit unions offer Social Security direct deposit enrollment services - that sounds like pure magic compared to sitting on hold for hours. I'm definitely calling my credit union first thing Monday morning to ask about this service. If they can't help, I'm armed with all the phone strategies you've all shared (8am sharp, Tuesday-Thursday, have all documents ready). Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's amazing how much stress this thread has relieved for someone like me who was completely lost on how to handle this bureaucratic mess!

One more tip - when you apply, make sure you have these documents ready: your birth certificate, last year's W-2 or tax return, and bank account information for direct deposit. Having everything prepared will help your application process smoothly. Also, applying online is generally faster than calling or visiting an office.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Applied in September for January benefits and everything worked out perfectly. Just want to echo what Noah Irving said - the key is specifying January 2026 as your benefit start month on the application, regardless of when you reach FRA or stop working. I was worried about the same employer contact issue, but SSA never reached out to my job at all. The online application was straightforward and took about 45 minutes to complete. My advice: apply in September, keep copies of everything you submit, and don't stress too much about the timing - you're doing it right!

Great thread everyone! As a newcomer to Social Security, I wanted to add that the IRS also has a helpful Interactive Tax Assistant tool online that can help determine if your Social Security benefits will be taxable based on your specific income situation. It walks you through the calculation step by step. Also, for those mentioning quarterly estimated taxes as an alternative to withholding - you can use Form 1040ES to calculate and make those payments. The due dates are typically January 15th, April 15th, June 15th, and September 15th each year. One thing I learned from my accountant is that if you're married and your spouse is still working with regular W-2 withholding, you might be able to increase their withholding instead of setting up withholding on Social Security. Sometimes that's simpler than managing multiple withholding sources. Just another option to consider!

As someone who just started navigating Social Security benefits myself, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm in a similar situation to Malik - just turned 66 and received my first SS check last month. One thing I discovered that might help others is that you can also access and print Form W-4V directly from the SSA website (ssa.gov) under "Forms" rather than having to call. I was able to fill it out online, print it, and mail it in. Took about 6 weeks for the withholding to start showing up on my monthly statements. I chose 12% withholding after using that IRS tax estimator tool Sean mentioned - it really helped me understand my potential tax liability. Between my pension, some part-time consulting work, and Social Security, I was definitely going to owe taxes on my benefits. The peace of mind is worth it. Last thing any of us retirees need is a big unexpected tax bill when we're on fixed incomes!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! I'm 67 and started collecting Social Security about 6 months ago while continuing to work part-time as a freelance consultant. This thread has completely answered my concerns about the retirement notification process - I was actually planning to research what forms I might need to submit when I eventually stop working entirely, but everyone's real-world experiences make it crystal clear that SSA doesn't require notification once you're past FRA. The practical advice shared here is outstanding, especially the tips about verifying your earnings record after filing your final tax return and potentially adjusting your W-4V for Social Security withholding when your income decreases. I hadn't considered how the IRMAA calculations might affect my Medicare premiums with that two-year delay either - that's definitely going into my retirement planning notes. It's so refreshing to find a community where people share genuine experiences and actionable insights rather than just policy information. The reference to the SSA publication "What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement Benefits" is going straight to my reading list. Thank you to everyone who has made this such a comprehensive and confidence-building resource for those of us navigating this important transition!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive and reassuring discussion! I'm 66 and just started collecting Social Security benefits two months ago while continuing to work part-time as a tutor. This thread has completely put my mind at ease about what I thought might be a complicated retirement process. I was actually worried there would be specific forms or official notifications required when I eventually stop working completely, but everyone's real-world experiences here clearly show that SSA doesn't need to be notified once you're past FRA. The practical tips shared throughout this discussion are so valuable - especially about checking your earnings record after filing your final tax return and considering adjusting your W-4V for Social Security withholding when your income changes. I hadn't even thought about how the IRMAA calculations might affect my Medicare premiums down the road with that two-year lag! It's wonderful to find a community where people share actual experiences and actionable advice rather than just policy summaries. The mention of the SSA publication "What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement Benefits" is definitely going on my reading list. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their knowledge and made this such an invaluable resource for those of us navigating this important life transition!

I'm completely new to this community but stumbled across this thread while desperately searching for solutions to my own SSA appointment nightmare! I've been trying for 6 weeks to schedule an appointment to fix an error in my earnings record that's affecting my benefit calculation - they keep insisting I need to bring original W-2s from 2019 in person, but won't actually schedule me to do it. Reading through all these strategies has been like finding a treasure map after wandering lost in the desert! I had no idea about calling local offices directly, asking specifically for Claims Specialists, or using that magic "limited in-person appointment for original document verification" language. Tomorrow I'm definitely trying the 2:30 PM call strategy that so many people have had success with. It's honestly mind-blowing that we've all had to reverse-engineer our own government's appointment system through trial and error and community knowledge-sharing. The official SSA website and phone system are clearly designed to discourage us from actually accessing services we've paid into our entire working lives. Thank you all for sharing your real-world solutions - this thread has given me more hope and actionable advice than months of trying to navigate the official channels. I'll absolutely report back with results to help the next person stuck in this bureaucratic maze!

I'm new to this community but found this thread while dealing with my own SSA appointment crisis! I've been trying for 3 weeks to schedule an appointment to fix an issue with my late husband's survivor benefits - they need original documents that can't be mailed or submitted online, but every call to the 800 number just results in being told they're "not scheduling appointments due to high volume." Reading through all these amazing strategies has been such a relief! I had no idea there were actual workarounds that people have figured out. Tomorrow I'm going to try calling my local office directly around 2:30 PM and specifically ask to speak with a "Claims Specialist" about scheduling a "limited in-person appointment for original document verification." I'll also mention that I've already tried resolving this issue multiple times by phone without success. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to learn these specific insider phrases just to access benefits we've rightfully earned, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing what actually works instead of just the useless official guidance. The congressional representative backup plan also sounds promising if the direct approach doesn't pan out. I'll definitely report back with my results - hopefully I can add another success story to help the next person navigating this bureaucratic nightmare!