How long for Social Security retirement application approval? Applied 7 weeks ago - still waiting

Yes, unfortunately SS retirement applications are taking MUCH longer than they used to. I filed my retirement application in January and didn't get approved until early May - almost 4 months! The 4-6 week estimate on their website is completely outdated. When I finally got through to someone on the phone, they told me they're severely understaffed and applications are backlogged by months.

4 MONTHS?? That's terrifying! I've already given notice at work based on my retirement plans. Did they at least backpay you from your entitlement date once approved?

dont panic yet. my wifes took 9 weeks exactly and mine took 11 weeks. they backdated payments to when we were eligible. the website is never accurate about timelines lol

That's somewhat reassuring. Did you do anything special to get it processed or just wait it out?

just waited. tried calling but gave up after being on hold for 90 mins twice

I work as a benefits counselor, and I can tell you that current processing times for retirement benefits are running 8-12 weeks on average. This can vary based on your specific circumstances:1. If you've worked for non-covered employers (government jobs with pension), expect longer times2. If you have earnings in the year of filing that need verification3. If your application has any discrepancies that require manual reviewThe good news is that once approved, benefits will be paid retroactively to your entitlement month. So even with delays, you won't lose any money you're entitled to.One suggestion: try calling the SSA first thing when they open (7am in most locations). The hold times are significantly shorter early in the morning.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I did work for a state government for 4 years in my 30s, but that was decades ago. Maybe that's slowing things down? I'll try the early morning call tomorrow.

After struggling with the same issue last year, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual SSA representative in under 20 minutes. It basically holds your place in line so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUI was skeptical at first, but it worked great and I was able to check my application status and ask specific questions. The agent told me exactly what was causing my delay (they needed additional wage verification from an old employer) and what I could do to help move it along. Definitely worth it when you're anxious about your benefits and can't get through on your own.

This sounds promising! I'd never heard of this service before. Did they give you accurate information that helped resolve your issue?

Yes! The SSA rep I reached through Claimyr was able to see exactly where my application was in the process and what was causing the delay. In my case, they needed additional information about my earnings from a previous year. Once I provided that documentation, my application was approved within 10 days. Just having someone actually look at my file and tell me what was happening made a huge difference for my peace of mind.

My brother waited 3 months and turned out they lost his application even though he got a confirmation number!!!!! MAKE SURE you have all your confirmation emails and numbers saved!!!! The SSA is completely incompetent these days.

That's concerning but not typical. While there are certainly delays in processing applications, the SSA rarely

i filed for my retirement benefits back in february and just got approved last week. what i did was contact my congressional representative's office after waiting 10 weeks. they have caseworkers who can inquire with ssa directly. my application was suddenly processed within a week after they got involved! might be worth trying if you continue waiting.

I never thought of contacting my congressional rep! That's a great idea if it continues dragging on. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also make sure you check your MySocialSecurity messages regularly. Sometimes they request additional information but don't call or email you about it - the notice only appears in your online message center. If you miss these requests, your application just sits there with no progress.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel a bit better knowing this is unfortunately normal right now. I'm going to try calling early tomorrow morning, and if I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. If I'm still waiting after another 2-3 weeks, I'll contact my congressional representative's office. I'll update once I hear something!

good luck! the waiting is the worst part

I'm a former SSA employee and can provide some insight into what's happening behind the scenes. The agency is dealing with a perfect storm of issues: massive retirements during COVID, reduced staffing levels, and a surge in applications as more boomers reach retirement age. Your 7-week wait is actually within the current reality, though I know that's not what you want to hear. A few tips: 1) Check your MySocialSecurity account for any pending requests - sometimes they need additional documentation and the only notification is in your message center, 2) If you worked for any government entity or had self-employment income, those cases require manual review which adds weeks, 3) The early morning call strategy really does work - try calling right at 7am local time. Hang in there, your benefits will be backdated to your entitlement date once approved.

Thanks so much for the insider perspective! This really helps explain why the timelines are so off from what's posted on the SSA website. I did have about 3 years of self-employment income in my 40s, so that might be contributing to the delay. I've been checking my MySocialSecurity messages religiously but haven't seen any requests for additional info yet. I'm definitely going to try the 7am call strategy tomorrow - hopefully I can get through and at least get some reassurance that my application is moving forward. It's comforting to know that even former employees are acknowledging how difficult things are right now.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my retirement application 8 weeks ago and still stuck on "pending" status. Like others have mentioned, I also had some self-employment income years back which is probably complicating things. The most frustrating part is how outdated the SSA website timelines are - they really need to update those estimates to reflect current reality. I've been following this thread closely and plan to try the early morning calling strategy too. Has anyone had success with the congressional representative route? I'm wondering if that's worth pursuing at this point or if I should wait a bit longer. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part when you're trying to plan your retirement!

I'm also waiting on my retirement application - filed 5 weeks ago and getting nervous after reading all these experiences! I worked for a county government for about 6 years in the 90s, so I'm wondering if that's going to cause delays for me too. It's really helpful to see that I'm not alone in this process, though frustrating that the SSA website is so misleading about timeframes. I've been checking my MySocialSecurity account daily but haven't seen any requests for additional information yet. Going to bookmark this thread and try the 7am calling strategy if I don't hear something in the next week or two. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's making this waiting period a lot less stressful knowing these delays are unfortunately normal right now!

I just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm currently working as a retirement counselor at a financial planning firm, and we've been advising all our clients to apply for Social Security benefits at least 3-4 months before they actually need them to start, specifically because of these processing delays. The 4-6 week timeline on the SSA website hasn't been accurate for over two years now. We regularly see 10-16 week processing times, especially for anyone with government employment history, self-employment income, or complex work histories. The good news is that once your application is approved, you'll receive all backdated payments in one lump sum to your entitlement date. I always tell clients that the waiting period, while stressful, doesn't cost you any money - just peace of mind. For those still waiting, the congressional representative route really does work when you hit the 12+ week mark. Their offices have direct lines to SSA that can expedite reviews.

I'm currently going through this exact same process and it's so stressful! I filed my retirement application 6 weeks ago and like everyone else here, I'm stuck on "pending" with no updates. I also have some government employment history from when I worked for the state about 15 years ago, so reading all these comments about how that causes delays makes perfect sense now. The SSA website really needs to update those timeline estimates - it's misleading people who are trying to plan their retirements. I've been checking my MySocialSecurity messages every day but haven't gotten any requests for additional information yet. Going to try calling at 7am tomorrow morning based on the advice here. It's both reassuring and frustrating to know that these long wait times are the new normal. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this!