As someone who just went through this process myself (got my first payment last month), I can definitely relate to the confusion and anxiety! The delay between field office transmission and payment center receipt is unfortunately very common. In my case, there was about a week gap too, and like others have mentioned, it's due to all the automated verification steps that happen in between. One thing I learned that might help - when you call SSA, try to get the specific payment center that's handling your claim. Different centers have different processing times right now due to staffing levels. The Northeastern Payment Center (which you mentioned) tends to be pretty efficient from what I've heard, so that's good news for you. Also, don't stress too much about calling "daily" to check - as someone else pointed out, frequent calls can actually slow things down. I found that calling once every 2-3 weeks was plenty, and using that MySocialSecurity online account to check for updates in between calls saved me a lot of phone time. The online account sometimes shows status changes before the phone reps even see them in their system.

I'm new to this community and currently navigating the SSA retirement process myself. This entire thread has been incredibly enlightening! I filed my application about three weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting for updates. Reading about everyone's experiences with the mysterious delays between field offices and payment centers really helps set realistic expectations. I especially appreciate the technical explanation about the automated processing steps - it makes so much more sense than the vague "system delays" I keep hearing about. I'm definitely going to start using the term "adjudicated" when I call, and I'll make sure to ask which specific payment center is handling my claim. One question for those who've been through this: Is there any pattern to how long the initial field office processing takes? Mine was submitted in early February and I'm still waiting to hear that it's been "transmitted" to a payment center at all. Should I be concerned, or is this normal timing for the initial review phase? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's so much better than trying to navigate this process in the dark!

My sister went through this exact same situation! Started on her own benefit then got the higher spousal when her husband claimed. But there was a 3 month gap between when he filed and when her increased payment started. They did pay her the back payments eventually but just be prepared that it might not be immediate. The SSA is soooo slow with everything.

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively! One thing I'd add is that you should definitely request a Social Security Statement (either online at ssa.gov or by calling) to confirm your exact benefit amounts before making your final decision. Sometimes the estimates we have aren't perfectly accurate. Also, I've found that the best time to call SSA is right when they open at 8 AM Eastern - much shorter wait times. And if you do decide to visit a local office, you can actually schedule appointments online now through their website, which is way better than just showing up. One last tip: when you do apply for the spousal benefit in 2026, make sure to ask them to make it effective the month your husband files, not the month you submit the application. There can be a difference and you want to maximize your benefits!

One more consideration: have you checked if you might qualify for spousal benefits instead of your own? Sometimes that can be higher depending on your situation. Also, filing at 62 permanently reduces any potential survivor benefits your spouse might receive if you pass away first. Worth discussing with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies before you pull the trigger.

Just wanted to add my experience - I filed at 62 last year and the amount on my statement was exactly what I received (before Medicare deductions). One tip: apply about 3 months before you want your first payment to start. The process was actually smoother than I expected, but it does take time to process. Also double-check your earnings record online before applying - I found an error from 2019 that would have cost me about $15/month for life if I hadn't caught it. The SSA corrected it pretty quickly once I provided my W-2. Good luck with your decision!

As someone who just went through a similar situation with my own divorce, I can confirm what others have said here. The key thing to remember is that Social Security looks at your marital status at the time you apply for benefits, not what happened in between. Your ex-wife can absolutely claim on your record since you were married 17 years (well over the 10-year requirement) and she's currently unmarried after her second divorce ended. The length of that second marriage doesn't matter at all - could have been 6 months or 6 years. However, given what you mentioned about her being a teacher with a pension, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that Miguel mentioned could be a major factor. GPO can significantly reduce or even eliminate spousal benefits for people receiving government pensions. She really needs to get specific calculations from SSA to see if claiming on your record would even provide any benefit after GPO is applied. My advice: both of you should create accounts on ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits, and then she should definitely speak with an SSA representative about how GPO would affect her situation specifically.

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation right now. My ex-husband and I were married for 12 years before divorcing in 2018. He remarried in 2020, but I heard through mutual friends that he's now separated and likely heading for divorce. From what I understand based on the responses here, if his second marriage officially ends, I would still be eligible to claim on his record when I reach 62 (I'm 58 now) since our marriage exceeded 10 years and I've remained unmarried. Is that correct? It's honestly frustrating how complicated these rules are. I've been putting off learning about Social Security benefits because it seemed so confusing, but reading this thread has been really helpful in understanding the basics. The GPO issue doesn't apply to me since I work in the private sector, but I can see how that would complicate things significantly for teachers and other government employees. Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences - it's much clearer now than trying to navigate the SSA website alone!