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I'm new to this community and going through the exact same situation! I filed my retirement application in early September for a February start date and have been stuck in "processing" status for over 3 months now with zero communication from SSA. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - before finding this discussion, I was starting to worry that something was wrong with my specific application or that I had made some mistake in the process. It's both comforting and frustrating to see so many of us experiencing these identical 3-4 month delays with the same August/September filing timeframes for February/March start dates. The complete lack of communication from SSA is really the most stressful part - even a simple automated email acknowledging longer processing times would eliminate so much anxiety for all of us applicants! The phone system horror stories shared here have definitely convinced me to avoid calling until absolutely necessary. I think I'll follow the excellent advice about waiting until I'm within 30 days of my benefit start date before trying to contact them. It's unfortunate that such an important life milestone has become such a stressful waiting game, but I'm so grateful to have found this supportive community where we can all help each other navigate the SSA bureaucracy. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this!
Welcome to the community, Yara! I'm also brand new here and it's incredible how many of us are going through this exact same frustrating experience. I filed my retirement application in late August for a March start date and have been staring at that "processing" status for months now with absolutely no updates. Before discovering this community, I was starting to panic that I had somehow screwed up my application or missed some important step. It's both a huge relief and really annoying to learn that these 3-4 month wait times have apparently become the new normal for SSA. The complete silence from them is definitely the worst part - like everyone has said, even a basic automated update would save us all so much stress! The phone system nightmare stories here have totally scared me away from trying to call. I'm also going to follow the advice about waiting until 30 days before my benefit start date before getting concerned. It's crazy that what should be a straightforward retirement process has turned into such an anxiety-inducing waiting game, but I'm so grateful we all found each other to navigate this SSA maze together. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really does help to know we're all in the same boat!
I'm new to this community and dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed my retirement application in late August for a March start date and have been stuck in "processing" status for over 3 months now. Before finding this discussion, I was starting to panic thinking there was something wrong with my application, but reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief. It's incredible how many of us have nearly identical timelines - August/September applications for February/March benefits, all sitting in processing limbo with zero communication from SSA. The complete lack of updates is definitely the most frustrating part. Even a simple automated email saying "processing is taking longer than usual due to high volume" would save us all so much anxiety! The phone system horror stories here have convinced me to avoid calling unless absolutely necessary. I'm going to follow the advice about waiting until I'm within 30 days of my benefit start date before getting concerned. It's reassuring to hear that benefits typically start on time even when approval comes late. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding that these 3-4 month delays are unfortunately the new normal rather than something specific to our individual cases!
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I forgot to mention, when I finally got approved after those 14 weeks, they actually had made a mistake in my PIA calculation! Double check EVERYTHING when you get your award letter. They calculated my AIME wrong and I had to call and get it fixed. Such a headache.
what is PIA and AIME???
I'm going through something very similar right now! Applied for my retirement benefits in late October 2024 with a January 2025 start date (I turn 67 in December). It's now been about 12 weeks and still showing "processing" online. The wait is so nerve-wracking, especially when you're trying to plan your retirement finances! I've called twice and gotten the same generic "still processing" response. Reading everyone's experiences here is actually reassuring - seems like 10-14 weeks is unfortunately the new normal. At least we know the benefits will be backdated once approved. Hang in there, Ana! Sounds like we're both in the same boat with these processing delays.
Aaron, it's so helpful to hear from someone in the exact same situation! 12 weeks for you too - this really does seem to be the unfortunate new reality. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're planning such a major life transition. At least we both applied at FRA so there shouldn't be any complications with our applications. Fingers crossed we both get our approvals soon!
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I'm so sorry for your loss, Grace. Losing a parent is heartbreaking, and having to navigate Social Security bureaucracy during your grief makes everything so much harder. Your mom is absolutely entitled to switch to your dad's full $2,750 survivor benefit! At 84, she's well past full retirement age and qualifies for 100% of his benefit since it's higher than her current $1,250. The early filing at 62 on her own record won't affect her survivor benefits at all - they're calculated completely separately. I just went through this process with my own mother-in-law last year. Here's what I learned: - Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (seriously, have the number dialed and ready) - Try Tuesday through Thursday - avoid Mondays and Fridays if possible - Have all documents ready: death certificate, marriage certificate, both SSNs, and her banking info - Don't forget to ask about the $255 lump sum death benefit - If the first agent seems unsure about survivor benefits, politely ask to speak with someone who specializes in them The phone system is frustrating, but don't give up. That $1,500 monthly difference will be life-changing for your mom, especially at 84 when every dollar matters for her security and comfort. She worked hard her whole life and deserves this benefit. If phone calls become impossible, consider visiting your local SSA office in person. Sometimes face-to-face gets results when phone calls don't. Thinking of you both during this difficult time. You're being such a good advocate for her.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your mother-in-law, Harper. It's incredibly helpful to hear from someone who just went through this process recently. I really appreciate the specific timing advice about Tuesday-Thursday calls and having everything dialed and ready right at 8:00 AM. The tip about asking to speak with someone who specializes in survivor benefits if the first agent seems unsure is really smart - I hadn't thought about that but it makes perfect sense. You're absolutely right that the $1,500 monthly difference will be life-changing for Mom, especially at her age. I'm feeling much more prepared now with all the advice from everyone here. The local SSA office visit is definitely going to be my backup plan if the phone system proves impossible. Thank you for the kind words about being a good advocate - she's been such a wonderful mom and deserves to get every benefit she's entitled to. I'll update everyone once we get through this process!
I'm so sorry for your loss, Grace. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to deal with bureaucracy during such a hard time makes it even more overwhelming. Your mom is absolutely entitled to your dad's full $2,750 survivor benefit since it's higher than her current $1,250! At 84, she's well past full retirement age and qualifies for 100% of his benefit amount. The fact that she filed her own benefits early at 62 won't reduce her survivor benefits at all - they're calculated completely separately. I went through this exact situation with my father-in-law last year. Here's what worked for us: - Call SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - have the number ready to dial right at 8:00 - Try mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) as Mondays and Fridays tend to be busier - If you get through to someone who seems unfamiliar with survivor benefits, politely ask to be transferred to a specialist - Consider using the callback option if available rather than staying on hold Make sure to have ready: death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers, and her banking information. Also ask about the $255 lump sum death benefit. The $1,500 monthly increase will make such a huge difference in her quality of life. She's earned this benefit and absolutely deserves it. Don't give up if the first few attempts don't work - persistence pays off with SSA. If phone calls become impossible, visiting your local SSA office in person can sometimes get results when calls don't. Wishing you both the best getting this resolved quickly!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your father-in-law, Sophie! It's really comforting to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this exact situation. The consistency in everyone's advice about calling right at 8:00 AM and trying mid-week gives me a lot of confidence in that strategy. I really appreciate the tip about asking to be transferred to a specialist if the first person seems unfamiliar - that could save a lot of time and confusion. Having the callback option instead of staying on hold sounds like a much better approach too. I've got all the documents gathered now and I'm planning to try first thing tomorrow morning (assuming it's a Tuesday-Thursday). The reassurance that Mom is definitely entitled to the full $2,750 means everything right now. You're absolutely right that she's earned this benefit after paying into the system her whole working life. Thank you for the encouragement not to give up - I'm determined to get this sorted out for her!
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I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - turning 67 in June 2025 with an FRA of 66 and 10 months in April 2025. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational and reassuring. The advice about taking screenshots of the application summary page is something I never would have thought of, but it makes perfect sense for documentation purposes. I'm also planning to follow the suggestion about calling SSA a few days after submitting my online application to verbally confirm they have the correct benefit start month recorded. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have successfully gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how the online application handled the timing questions versus what you might expect from an in-person application? I'm planning to apply online for convenience, but I want to make sure I'm not missing any advantages of applying in person where I could have real-time clarification of my choices. The level of detail everyone has shared here about documentation, verification calls, and earnings record checks has given me a comprehensive roadmap for getting this right. That monthly payment difference really does add up significantly over time, so all this preparation is definitely worthwhile. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences!
Great question about online versus in-person applications! From what I've seen in this thread and my own research, the online application actually seems to have some advantages for timing precision. Several people mentioned that the online system shows you a summary page before final submission where you can review all your selections - that's a huge benefit for catching any errors before you submit. Plus, you can take screenshots for documentation, which you obviously can't do with an in-person interview. The online application also asks about your desired benefit start date in multiple ways throughout the process, which gives you several opportunities to confirm January (or April in your case) as your start month. That said, if you're someone who prefers talking through complex decisions, an in-person appointment might give you more opportunity to ask clarifying questions in real-time. But based on all the experiences shared here, the online route seems very effective as long as you're methodical about reviewing everything before submitting. Either way, the key is being crystal clear about your benefit start month and following up with that verification call a few days later!
This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who's been stressing about this exact timing issue, seeing so many people share their successful experiences with applying early but starting benefits at exactly their FRA gives me tremendous confidence. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips that go beyond just the basic timing advice - things like taking screenshots of the application summary, checking earnings records for discrepancies, setting up organized documentation folders, and verifying bank account information. These are the kinds of real-world details that can make the difference between a smooth process and costly mistakes. The systematic approach outlined here (apply in October, specify January 2025 start date, call to verify a few days later, carefully review confirmation letter, compare first payment to benefit estimate) gives me a complete roadmap to follow. Knowing that multiple people have successfully navigated this exact scenario using these methods is incredibly reassuring. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and advice. This thread should be required reading for anyone approaching their FRA who wants to start benefits at exactly the right time!
Declan Ramirez
Just wanted to add that if you're worried about calculating the taxable portion of your benefits, most tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) will do this automatically when you enter the amounts from your SSA-1099. The software walks you through it step by step and handles all the complex calculations with the worksheets. Since this is your first year with SS benefits, using tax software might give you more confidence that everything is calculated correctly, especially with your other income sources. You can also always double-check the results against the IRS worksheets in Publication 915 if you want to verify the calculations yourself.
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Carmen Diaz
•That's really helpful advice about the tax software! I was getting overwhelmed thinking about doing all those calculations manually. I've used TurboTax before for my regular taxes, so it's reassuring to know it can handle the Social Security calculations too. I'll definitely look into Publication 915 as well to understand the process better. Thanks for mentioning that resource!
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Esmeralda Gómez
As someone who works in tax preparation, I'd also recommend keeping all your Social Security payment stubs or records throughout the year if you can. While the SSA-1099 should be accurate, having your own records helps you verify everything matches up. Also, since you mentioned having investment income and a part-time job, you might want to consider quarterly estimated tax payments next year if you end up owing a significant amount this year. The IRS generally expects you to pay as you go, and you could face penalties if you underpay by too much. Your tax preparer or software can help you calculate what those quarterly payments should be based on this year's tax situation.
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