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I'm facing this exact same issue right now! My retirement application expired back in December and I've been dreading dealing with it. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to getting this resolved. The consensus seems to be that calling the local SSA office directly is the most efficient route, which I never would have thought of on my own. I was planning to just keep trying the national number and getting frustrated with the wait times. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to call my local office first thing Monday morning with my SSN and the date I started the original application ready. It's so reassuring to see that multiple people got this resolved in just a few minutes once they reached the right person. One question - for those who successfully got their applications deleted and restarted, did you find the new online application process any different or improved from when you first tried? I'm wondering if they've made any updates to the system that might prevent this expiration issue from happening again. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! This community support has turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a manageable Monday morning phone call.
@Mateo Gonzalez Great question about improvements to the online system! I went through this process about 6 months ago and then helped my neighbor with hers just last month, so I got to see the application twice. I did notice they seem to have made the progress saving more frequent and obvious - there are more clear indicators when your information has been saved as you move through sections. They also added better timeout warnings that give you a heads up before the session expires. That said, the core advice from this thread still applies - it s'much better to have everything ready and complete it in one sitting rather than rely on the auto-save features. The expiration timelines seem to be the same they (still give you that 60-day window ,)but the overall user experience felt a bit more polished. You should be in good shape following the local office approach on Monday - that really seems to be the most reliable path forward based on everyone s'experiences here!
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with my disability application that expired after sitting incomplete for months. The advice in this thread is spot-on - calling your local SSA office directly is absolutely the way to go! I tried the national line first and waited over an hour just to get disconnected. Called my local office the next morning at 8:30am and got through to someone immediately who deleted my expired application in about 2 minutes. The local staff really do seem more familiar with these system glitches and know exactly how to handle them. One thing I'd add - when you restart your application, the system now has much clearer progress indicators and timeout warnings than it used to. They've definitely improved the user experience, but I still recommend gathering ALL your documents first (bank info, work history, medical records if applicable, etc.) before starting so you can complete everything in one session. Also, don't stress if you see any weird error messages when you first try to start a new application right after they delete the old one. Sometimes it takes 10-15 minutes for their system to fully clear the deletion, so if you get an error saying you already have an application in progress, just wait a bit and try again. Good luck to everyone dealing with this - it's really not as complicated as it seems once you get the right person on the phone!
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Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! After reading everything, I feel much more confident that we can accept this pension distribution without affecting my husband's Social Security benefits under the earnings limit rules. I'll still keep an eye on his part-time job wages ($18,000) to make sure that stays under the $22,600 limit for 2025. And we'll talk to our tax advisor about the potential tax implications of the distribution - especially how it might affect the taxation of his SS benefits. Really appreciate everyone taking time to help clarify this confusing topic!
You've gotten excellent advice here! Just wanted to add one small clarification that might be helpful - when you mention the $22,600 earnings limit for 2025, that's correct for most people under full retirement age. But if your husband reaches his full retirement age during 2025, there's actually a higher limit ($59,520 for 2025) that applies only to earnings in the months before he reaches FRA, and then no limit at all after that month. Since he turned 62 in January, he's probably got a few more years before FRA, but it's worth keeping in mind for future planning. The pension distribution is definitely safe to take - enjoy those home repairs!
That's a great point about the different earnings limits! I hadn't realized there were different thresholds depending on when you reach FRA during the year. Since my husband was born in 1963, his full retirement age should be 67, so we've got about 5 more years of dealing with these earnings limits. It's helpful to know the limit goes up in that final year before FRA - gives us something to look forward to! Thanks for the additional detail.
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Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'll plan to apply in June, 3 months before my September birthday. I'll also start gathering my documentation now - birth certificate, tax records for those missing earnings years, etc. I'm going to check my Medicare enrollment status too since a couple of you mentioned that could be related. If I have trouble reaching SSA by phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's frustrating how complicated they make this process, but I feel much better prepared now.
Sounds like a solid plan. One final tip: when you do apply, print a copy of the confirmation page or take a screenshot. Sometimes applications get lost in their system, and having proof of when you applied can help resolve issues. Good luck!
Just want to add - if you're planning to work past 70, make sure you understand how your continued earnings might affect your Social Security taxes. Even though you'll be receiving benefits, you'll still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your wages. The good news is that these additional earnings can potentially increase your future benefit amounts if they're higher than one of your previous 35 highest-earning years. SSA recalculates your benefits automatically each year if your new earnings boost your average. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits will be subject to federal income tax if your combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds - something to factor into your tax planning since you'll have both wages and SS income.
This is really helpful info about the tax implications! I hadn't thought about still paying SS taxes while receiving benefits. Quick question - when you mention the benefits being recalculated automatically if new earnings are higher, does that mean my monthly payment could actually increase after I start receiving benefits at 70? And do they send you a notice when this happens, or do you just see the increase in your payment?
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I'm glad you were able to get through and figure out what was causing the delay! It's so typical of SSA to have missing documents that you already submitted - I've had similar experiences with other government agencies. The fact that your benefits will still start in January even with processing delays is really reassuring. That's one less thing to worry about during what's already a stressful time. Thanks for updating us on your progress - it's helpful to see how these situations get resolved. Hopefully the resubmission goes smoothly and you see movement in your application soon!
I completely agree - it's such a relief when you finally figure out what's been holding things up! The missing document issue seems to be way too common with SSA. I'm actually new to navigating all this survivor benefits stuff myself, so reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening. It's good to know that even with processing delays, the benefits can still start on the intended date. That takes away a lot of the anxiety about timing. Mohamed, thanks for keeping us updated on your progress - it really helps newcomers like me understand what to expect and what red flags to watch for. Wishing you a smooth resubmission process!
I'm so glad you got through and found out what was holding up your application! The missing direct deposit form issue is unfortunately very common - I went through something similar when I applied for my widow's benefits earlier this year. They had my bank information from years ago but needed the updated form anyway. It's frustrating that their system doesn't flag these missing documents earlier in the process. Since you're planning to start benefits in January, you should be in good shape now that you know what they need. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you resubmit and maybe send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The 7-10 business day timeframe they gave you sounds reasonable, and it's great news that your benefits will still start on time even if there are processing delays. Thanks for sharing the update - it really helps others who might be dealing with similar delays to know what to look for!
This is really helpful to know about the certified mail option - I hadn't thought of that but it makes total sense to have proof of delivery given how often documents seem to go missing in their system. As someone who's just starting to learn about all this, I'm curious - is there a specific SSA form number for the direct deposit form, or is it just a general banking information form? I want to make sure I have all my paperwork ready when my time comes to apply. It's encouraging to see that even with these hiccups, things do eventually work out and benefits start on schedule. Thanks for sharing these practical tips!
Sebastián Stevens
I'm new to this community and just had to share my experience after reading through this entire thread! I'm 64 and called my local SSA office last week, where I was told that online applications "disappear into the federal system" and can take 3-4 months to process, while phone appointments are handled locally and move much faster. They scheduled me for a phone appointment in late February. But after seeing all the real experiences shared here - people consistently getting approved in 3-4 weeks with online filing while phone appointments involve long waits and potential rescheduling - it's obvious I was given completely wrong information. The pattern of misinformation across different SSA offices is really concerning. What really convinced me was seeing the specific timelines: @Freya Andersen's 23-day approval, @Zoe Dimitriou's 19-day approval, and multiple others reporting 3-week approvals with online filing. Meanwhile, people are waiting months just to get phone appointments scheduled! I'm definitely going with the dual strategy everyone has recommended - filing online this weekend while keeping my February appointment as backup. The evidence is overwhelming that online filing is faster, more convenient, and more reliable than what these SSA reps are claiming. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this community knowledge has been invaluable for helping newcomers like me navigate around the misinformation from official sources!
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Oliver Schmidt
I'm completely new to this community and Social Security filing, but this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 63 and planning to file for benefits next month, but after calling my local SSA office yesterday, I got the exact same confusing advice everyone else seems to be getting. The rep told me that online applications get sent to a "national processing center" that's severely backlogged and takes 8-10 weeks longer than phone appointments. She insisted I should wait for their next available phone slot in mid-March. Reading through all these real experiences has been such an eye-opener! The pattern of misinformation from different SSA offices is really striking - so many people getting variations of the same incorrect story about online filing being slower or going to separate systems. But the actual user experiences tell a completely different story - consistent 3-4 week approvals with online filing! What really convinced me were the specific timelines people shared: @Freya Andersen's 23-day approval, @Zoe Dimitriou's 19-day approval, and @StellarSurfer's 3-week approval. Meanwhile, phone appointments involve months-long waits just to get scheduled, plus risks of cancellations and rescheduling. I'm definitely following the proven strategy from this thread - filing online this week while keeping my March phone appointment as backup. The flexibility to file on my own schedule without feeling rushed, plus the ability to double-check everything before submitting, makes online filing the obvious choice. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines - this community knowledge is far more reliable and helpful than what I'm hearing from official sources!
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