Can you pause mid-application to call Social Security or visit office? Filing SS retirement online questions

Yes, you can absolutely pause your online application! I did this when filing for my retirement benefits last year. The SSA website lets you save your progress at any point, and you'll create a re-entry number so you can come back later. I actually paused mine for three days while I gathered some documents and called SSA about my foreign employment history. When you're ready to continue, just go back to the application section and use your re-entry number. And yes, if you get really stuck, you can make an appointment at your local office and bring your re-entry number - they can pull up exactly where you left off and help you complete it.

yep u can pause it no problem i had to do that twice when i applied last summer. just dont wait too long to finish it i think they only save it for 6 months or something

While everyone else is correct that you CAN pause the application, I would strongly recommend gathering ALL your documents before starting. The online form will tell you exactly what you need on the first screen. This includes your birth certificate, marriage/divorce papers if applicable, military service documents, and most recent W-2 or tax return. Having everything ready will make the process much smoother. As for going to the local office - technically yes, but in practice it's not that simple. Most offices require appointments now, which can take WEEKS to get. And when you show up, you'll likely have to restart much of the application anyway because their systems don't perfectly sync with the online portal. Just my experience from helping several family members with this process.

I tried to do my application online but got SO FRUSTRATED!!!! Kept asking me questions about jobs I had 30 years ago! Who remembers that stuff?? Then it crashed halfway through and I lost everything! Had to start over!! The whole system is BROKEN and they don't care about us seniors who didn't grow up with computers!!!

When I applied online for SS retirement last year I got stuck on the question about whether I had ever received railroad benefits (my grandfather worked for a railroad but I never did???). I tried calling SS but couldn't get through after waiting for over an hour. I found a service called Claimyr.com that got me connected to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent was able to explain what the question was really asking and I finished my application that same day. Definitely worth it rather than stressing for days or trying to get an in-person appointment.

To add some specific information to what others have mentioned: 1. The online application uses a feature called "Re-entry Number" which the system generates when you first save your progress. Write this down somewhere safe - you'll need it to resume your application. 2. The application remains available for 6 months from when you start it. 3. For the question about visiting a field office to finish: Yes, technically this is possible, but there are some limitations. The field office can access your online application if you bring your re-entry number. However, during busy periods, they may simply help you with specific questions rather than taking over the entire application process. 4. If you're concerned about making mistakes, remember that even after submission, you have a limited time to make corrections (typically up to 60 days after receipt of your benefit award letter). 5. A good strategy is to complete as much as you can online, save it, review it carefully, then call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 with specific questions before finalizing your submission.

Im in the middle of doing my application right now!! Got confused about the Medicare part cause I already have part A but want part B now that Im retiring. So I paused it yesterday and gonna call tomorrow. The save feature definitely works! Just make sure you click save and exit, not just close the browser. They email you a confirmation with your reentry number too so check your email.

my sister had problems with her application and went to the office but they were super busy and told her to just call instead. she ended up on hold forever and gave up. just warning you that getting help isnt easy these days

One more piece of advice - take screenshots of each page as you complete it! I did this and it was incredibly helpful when I needed to call SSA with questions. I could reference exactly what I was seeing, and I also had a record of what I entered in case anything got lost. Just press the PrtScn button on your keyboard and paste into a document, or use the Snipping Tool if you're on Windows.

Just wanted to add that if you're really nervous about the online process, consider doing a "practice run" first. You can start the application, go through a few pages to get familiar with the interface and see what questions they ask, then exit without saving. This helped me feel more confident when I did it for real. Also, make sure you have a good internet connection and plenty of time set aside - rushing through it is when mistakes happen. The system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started, and all the save features people mentioned really do work well. Good luck with your application next month!

I went through this exact process about 8 months ago and totally understand your anxiety! The ability to pause and save is definitely a lifesaver. One thing I'd add that helped me tremendously - before you even start the application, create a simple document with all your key information organized: Social Security numbers for you and your spouse, employment dates and employer names for the last 15-20 years, bank account info for direct deposit, etc. Having everything in one place made it so much easier to reference while filling out the form. Also, I found that Tuesday-Thursday mornings around 10 AM were the best times to call SSA with questions - much shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. The whole process really isn't as scary as it seems once you get started. You've got this!

I'm currently going through this same process and wanted to share what I've learned so far! The save feature is a game-changer - I've paused my application three times already to gather additional documents and verify information. One tip that really helped me: before starting, I called my local SSA office just to confirm what documents I'd need. The representative was actually very helpful and gave me a checklist specific to my situation (divorced, some self-employment income, etc.). This saved me from getting stuck mid-application. Also, if you're worried about the technical side, the SSA website has a really good tutorial video that walks you through the entire process - I watched it twice before starting and it made me feel much more prepared. The anxiety is totally normal, but once you start, you'll realize it's more straightforward than you expect!

As someone who just completed my Social Security retirement application online last month, I can definitely confirm that the save feature works perfectly! I actually had to pause mine four times - twice to call SSA with questions about my pension, once to find an old W-2, and once just because I got overwhelmed and needed a break. Each time I used the "Save and Exit" button and got my re-entry number emailed to me within minutes. One thing that really helped reduce my anxiety was starting the application on a weekend when I had no time pressure. I went through about half of it just to see what questions were coming up, saved it, then spent the week gathering any documents I wasn't sure about. When I came back to finish it the following weekend, I felt so much more confident. Also, don't worry too much about making mistakes - the system actually catches a lot of common errors and will prompt you to double-check things like dates or Social Security numbers before you submit. And as others mentioned, you do have time to make corrections even after submission if needed. The whole process was much less intimidating than I expected it to be!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago and can absolutely confirm everything others have said about the save feature working great! One additional tip that really helped me: I created a simple checklist of all the sections in the application after my first "preview run" so I knew exactly what to expect. The application has sections like personal info, work history, military service (if applicable), Medicare enrollment, and direct deposit setup. Knowing the flow ahead of time made it feel much more manageable. Also, if you do need to call SSA, I found that calling right when they open at 8 AM gave me the shortest wait times - usually under 30 minutes compared to hours later in the day. The representatives were actually very patient and helpful when I had questions about reporting my part-time work income from the past year. Don't let the anxiety get to you - you're asking all the right questions and with all the great advice in this thread, you'll do just fine! The fact that you're planning ahead shows you're already on the right track.

This entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm in a similar situation - turning 65 next month and have been putting off starting my application because I'm worried about getting stuck on questions or making mistakes. Reading everyone's experiences with the save feature working so well has really put my mind at ease. I especially love the suggestions about doing a preview run on a weekend and creating a checklist of sections - that sounds like the perfect way to approach this without the pressure. One question for those who've been through this: did any of you run into issues with the earnings history section? I had a few years where I worked multiple part-time jobs and I'm worried about getting the dates and employers exactly right. Is that something where the SSA representatives are helpful if you call with specific questions? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful advice - this community is amazing!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in almost the exact same situation - turning 67 in a few months and have been procrastinating on my retirement application because the whole process seemed so overwhelming. Reading everyone's detailed experiences with successfully using the save feature has been incredibly reassuring. The advice about doing a weekend "preview run" to see what questions are coming up is genius - I never would have thought of that but it's such a smart way to reduce anxiety. And I love the idea of taking screenshots as you go and creating that organized document with all your key info beforehand. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had to call SSA with questions, did you find it helpful to have your partially completed application in front of you when you called? I'm thinking it might be easier to reference specific sections or questions rather than trying to describe them from memory. Thanks to everyone for making this seem so much more manageable than I initially thought! This community is such a valuable resource.

I'm so grateful for all the detailed advice in this thread! I'm turning 66 next month and have been anxious about starting my retirement application online for weeks. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The save feature sounds like exactly what I need - I tend to be a perfectionist and knowing I can pause to double-check information or gather documents without losing my progress is such a relief. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about doing a weekend preview run first, then taking time during the week to organize all my documents before doing the real application. One quick question - when you save and get the re-entry number, does the system send you any reminders if you don't come back to complete it for a while? I'm worried I might get distracted by other things and forget to finish it within that 6-month window. Also, has anyone tried accessing their saved application from a different computer or device, or does it need to be the same one? Thanks again to everyone for sharing such practical and encouraging advice. This community has turned what felt like an insurmountable task into something that actually seems doable!