I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my retirement application in late November and it's been showing "processing" status for about 6 weeks now with absolutely no updates. Like everyone else here, I was initially told 30 days but clearly that timeline is completely unrealistic. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - it sounds like 60-90 days is unfortunately the new reality, even though SSA's website hasn't updated their estimates. What really put my mind at ease was learning that the application filing date is what establishes your entitlement, not the approval date, so even with delays our benefits will still start as requested. The explanation about how SSA prioritizes applications based on start dates also makes sense - since we're not requesting immediate benefits, we're naturally lower priority than those with current month start dates. I tried calling once but gave up after being on hold for over an hour. It's frustrating that their phone system is so overwhelmed, but at least we know from everyone's experiences that these delays are completely normal right now. Thanks for posting this question - this community has been way more informative than anything I could find on SSA's official website!

I just went through this exact same experience! Filed my retirement application in October and it took 73 days to get approved. The "processing" status never changed until the day it was suddenly approved - no warnings or updates along the way. The 30-day estimate on SSA's website is completely unrealistic right now. From what I experienced and heard from others, 60-90 days seems to be the actual timeframe. The good news is that since you applied in November for a February start date, you're well within the processing window. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was checking the online account only once a week instead of daily - the status rarely changes until the very end anyway. And like others mentioned, your application date in November is what matters for establishing your filing date, so even if approval comes later, your February benefits are protected. The system is definitely overwhelmed, but your application is in the queue and will get processed. Try to be patient - I know it's easier said than done when you're planning your finances around it!

I'm so sorry your mom went through this - these scams are absolutely heartbreaking and unfortunately very common. A few additional thoughts that might help: 1. Contact the fraud departments at Nordstrom Rack and Lowe's directly with the gift card numbers. While recovery is rare, some retailers can flag suspicious activity patterns and occasionally freeze unused balances. 2. Consider having your mom sign up for AARP's fraud prevention alerts or similar services - they send warnings about current scam tactics targeting seniors. 3. If the direct deposit change doesn't process in time, you can also ask SSA to temporarily stop direct deposit and issue a paper check to her new address instead. This might be faster than waiting for the bank routing to update. 4. Document everything with timestamps - police report numbers, SSA confirmation numbers, bank representative names. This creates a paper trail that's crucial if any other issues arise. The most important thing is that your mom is safe and you're taking action quickly. These scammers rely on shame and secrecy to keep victims from getting help, so you're already doing exactly the right thing by reaching out and taking immediate steps.

I'm really sorry to hear about what happened to your mother - these phone scams targeting seniors are unfortunately becoming more sophisticated every day. One thing that might help speed up the process: if your mom has any difficulty getting through to SSA by phone, she can also try calling her local SSA field office directly instead of the national number. The local office lines are sometimes less busy than 1-800-772-1213. You can find her local office number on the SSA website using her zip code. Also, since you mentioned she has mobility issues, many SSA offices offer priority service for elderly clients or those with disabilities. When she calls or visits, make sure to mention that she's 74 and that this is an urgent fraud-related situation - they may be able to expedite her case. If all else fails and the payment does go to the old account, don't panic. Banks are required to cooperate with Social Security payment redirections in fraud cases, so even if there's a delay, the funds can usually be recovered and redirected to her new account. Keep documenting everything and stay strong - you're handling this exactly right by acting quickly!

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my retired teacher spouse, I can confirm what others have said - the spousal benefit application and WEP adjustments are handled separately by SSA's systems. We were initially hesitant too, but our local SSA office assured us that applying for spousal benefits wouldn't interfere with the upcoming Fairness Act changes. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have a backup copy of your marriage certificate before mailing it to them. While they do mail it back, it can take several weeks and you might need it for other purposes. Also, during your March appointment, ask them to estimate what your spousal benefit amount would be - this will help you understand the potential impact when your WEP reduction is eliminated later. The peace of mind from getting the higher monthly payment now while waiting for the WEP relief is worth it, especially since you're not risking anything by applying.

I'm in a very similar boat as a retired teacher from California! I worked 28 years in public schools but also had about 12 years of Social Security-covered employment before and during my teaching career. My WEP reduction cut my SS benefit to about $520/month when it should have been around $1,400. After reading all these responses, I'm convinced that applying for spousal benefits now is the right move. My spouse gets $2,100/month from SS, so even with my WEP reduction, the spousal benefit should bump me up significantly while we wait for the Fairness Act changes to kick in. One thing I learned from calling SSA multiple times is that they said the WEP relief will be retroactive to January 2024, so there should be a nice lump sum back payment coming eventually. But like others mentioned, their systems are really backed up right now, so who knows how long that will take. Go ahead with your March appointment - you've got nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of dollars per month to gain while waiting for the bigger WEP relief!

Welcome to the community! I just went through this exact situation with my twin boys last summer - hospital misspelled both their last names and I couldn't locate the original cards after we moved. Reading through all these responses, the advice is spot-on. I want to emphasize a couple things that really helped me: 1. Don't beat yourself up about the timing - I waited almost 3 years to fix this and the SSA agent didn't even blink. They see delayed corrections all the time, especially post-COVID when everything was harder to access. 2. The online appointment system works better than calling, but you need to be persistent. I checked every morning around 6 AM for about 10 days before slots opened up at my local office. 3. Bring a printed copy of this thread or write down the key points - I got flustered during my appointment and forgot some details about what box to check on the SS-5 form. The whole process was way less stressful than I anticipated. Having that corrected birth certificate makes you golden. My boys' new cards arrived in 8 business days and now all their documents match perfectly for school enrollment. You've got this! The hardest part (getting the birth certificate fixed) is already behind you.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation! My 2-year-old son's Social Security card has his middle name spelled as "Mathew" instead of "Matthew" (hospital error from 2022), and I've been putting off fixing it because the whole process seemed so overwhelming. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like once you have the corrected birth certificate (which I'm still working on getting), the SS card correction is actually pretty straightforward. I had no idea about the SS-5 form or that name corrections don't count toward replacement limits. The tip about calling local SSA offices instead of the main number is gold - I'm definitely going to try that. And I love the idea of writing a brief cover letter explaining the hospital error situation to attach to the SS-5 form. Emma, it sounds like you're in great shape with the corrected birth certificate already in hand! This thread has motivated me to finally get moving on our situation too. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's made this whole process feel much less daunting.

Wait I'm confused now...is WEP the same as the Government Pension Offset (GPO)? Cuz my uncle lost his WHOLE spousal benefit from my aunt's record because of his pension...

I just went through a similar situation with my state pension and WEP! One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet with all my Social Security earnings by year and comparing them to the substantial earnings thresholds for each year. You can find the historical substantial earnings amounts on the SSA website. With your 42 quarters and roughly 7-8 years of substantial earnings, you'll likely face some WEP reduction, but the new reform should make it more proportional to your actual contributions. The old formula was much harsher for people with mixed public/private careers like ours. I'd strongly recommend getting that in-person appointment at SSA - bring printouts of your complete earnings record and be prepared to wait, but it's worth it to get the exact calculation. They can run both the old and new WEP formulas to show you the difference. In my case, the new formula saved me about $180/month compared to what I would have lost under the old rules. Also, make sure to ask about how the transition period works if you're planning to retire soon - there are different implementation timelines depending on when you claim benefits.