How quickly did Social Security send your first retirement payment after approval?

I applied online for my SS retirement benefits and got my first payment exactly 30 days after my application was approved. Make sure you check your MySocialSecurity account online - sometimes they show pending payments there before they actually hit your account. Also depends if you're getting direct deposit or a check. Direct deposit is way faster.

congrats on retiring!! i got my first deposit about 3 weeks after they approved me. but my sister waited almost 6 weeks so it really varies i think

It typically takes 30-60 days from approval to first payment. The important factor is when you applied in relation to your birthday month. Social Security pays benefits in the month following the month they're due, so if you applied close to your birthday month, there might be a slight delay as they process everything. Here's what affects the timing: - Whether you applied online or in person (online is faster) - Whether your application had any complications - The current workload at your local SSA office - Whether you're receiving payment by direct deposit or check If it's been more than 60 days since approval, I'd recommend contacting SSA directly.

The SSA is ALWAYS slow! I waited over TWO MONTHS for my first payment and they never explained why. Every time I called they just said "it's processing" and hung up on me. The system is broken!!! Don't count on that money coming anytime soon. They make us wait while they sit around doing nothing all day.

When I retired in 2023, I got so frustrated trying to check on my payment status. Kept calling SSA and getting disconnected after waiting for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real agent in like 20 minutes. They helped me figure out there was a small issue with my direct deposit info that was causing the delay. You might want to check it out at claimyr.com if you're having trouble reaching someone. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

my cousin waited like 3 months cause ssa messed up his birthdate in the system lol. make sure all ur info is right

To give you an accurate timeline: 1. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month they're due 2. The payment date depends on your birth date: - Birth dates 1-10: Second Wednesday of the month - Birth dates 11-20: Third Wednesday of the month - Birth dates 21-31: Fourth Wednesday of the month Since you mentioned your birthday is in June, your first payment would typically arrive in July, on the Wednesday determined by your birth date. If you're already approved and it's showing as processing in your account, you're on track. For future reference, applying about 3 months before you want benefits to begin is ideal.

Don't forget that your first payment might be prorated depending on when you applied and when you want benefits to start. They don't always start on the first of the month.

Update us when you get your payment! I'm curious now since everyone seems to have had such different experiences. Also, congrats on retirement!

I went through this same anxiety when I applied last year! For me, it took about 5 weeks from approval to seeing the money in my account. The key thing that helped my peace of mind was understanding that SSA processes payments in batches, and they have very specific schedules they follow. Since you mentioned you're getting "processing payment" in your MySocialSecurity account, that's actually a good sign - it means you're in the system and they're working on it. I'd recommend checking your account every few days rather than daily (I was obsessively checking multiple times a day and it just made me more anxious!). Also, if you're planning those home repairs, maybe get quotes now but hold off on scheduling until after you receive that first payment, just to be safe.

I just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Applied in October, got approved pretty quickly, but then the waiting game began. Mine took about 4 weeks to show up in my account. The "processing payment" status in MySocialSecurity lasted for what felt like forever, but then one day it just appeared. I think the hardest part is that they don't give you a specific date - just that vague "processing" message. My advice would be to maybe hold off on scheduling those home repairs until you see that first deposit, just to be on the safe side. But based on what others are saying here, it sounds like you're right in the normal timeframe. The anticipation is definitely the worst part!

I'm currently going through the same process - applied about 6 weeks ago and still waiting for my first payment! It's reassuring to see that everyone's timeline is a bit different but most people seem to get their payments within 4-8 weeks. The MySocialSecurity portal showing "processing payment" seems to be a good sign that things are moving along. I've been checking it way too often and driving myself crazy, so I'm going to try to be more patient. Thanks for asking this question - it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences!

I'm in a very similar situation! Applied for my retirement benefits about 6 weeks ago after 42 years in the workforce, and I'm also getting that nerve-wracking "processing payment" status on MySocialSecurity. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like the 4-8 week timeframe is pretty typical. I've been obsessively checking my account daily (sometimes multiple times a day!) which is probably making the wait feel even longer. It's such a big life transition and you want everything to go smoothly, especially when you're counting on that income for things like your home repairs. I think the hardest part is just not having a concrete date to look forward to. But based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like we're both well within the normal processing window. Hang in there - hopefully we'll both see our first payments soon!

I completely understand the anxiety you're feeling! I went through the exact same thing when I applied for my benefits last year. It took about 6 weeks from approval to seeing my first payment, and that "processing payment" status drove me absolutely crazy because it doesn't give you any real timeline. What helped me was calling the SSA directly (though it took several attempts to get through) and they were able to give me a rough estimate of when to expect it. Since you're at 5 weeks and still within the normal 4-8 week window that most people are reporting here, I'd say you're right on track. For the home repairs, I'd definitely recommend waiting until you see that first deposit just to be safe. The anticipation is definitely the hardest part, but once that first payment hits, the rest come like clockwork on the scheduled dates. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same waiting period right now! Applied about 4 weeks ago and have been seeing that dreaded "processing payment" status that everyone mentions. It's so reassuring to read through all these experiences and see that the 4-8 week timeframe seems pretty standard. What I've learned from working in government benefits (though not SSA) is that these systems are incredibly thorough but not always fast - they're double and triple checking everything to make sure payments are accurate. I've started treating it like waiting for any other major life event - the anticipation is always worse than the actual waiting. One thing that might help is setting up text or email notifications through your MySocialSecurity account if you haven't already, so you'll know immediately when something changes instead of constantly checking manually. And definitely hold off on those home repairs until you see that first deposit - speaking from experience, it's always better to be conservative with major expenses during transitions like this!

I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my first payment after getting approved, so this thread is incredibly timely for me! It's so helpful to see everyone's different experiences and timelines. What really stands out to me is how that "processing payment" status seems to be universal - we're all staring at the same vague message wondering when something will actually happen! I've been checking my MySocialSecurity account probably way too often (guilty as charged), but reading through these responses has given me so much peace of mind that I'm still well within the normal window. The tip about setting up notifications is brilliant - definitely doing that today so I can stop the obsessive checking. It's funny how something you've planned for and looked forward to can still create so much anxiety when you're actually going through it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and making those of us still waiting feel less alone in this process!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just applied for my retirement benefits two weeks ago and I'm already starting to get anxious about when I'll see my first payment. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like the 4-8 week timeline is pretty standard, and I'm nowhere near that yet! The "processing payment" status hasn't even shown up in my MySocialSecurity account yet, so I'm probably still early in the process. It's comforting to know that so many others have gone through this same waiting period and came out fine on the other side. I'm definitely going to set up those notifications that people mentioned and try to be more patient. Thanks for asking this question and to everyone who shared their timelines - this community is such a great resource for navigating these big life transitions!

I'm about 3 weeks into waiting for my first payment and this thread is exactly what I needed to see! It's so reassuring to know that everyone goes through this same anxious waiting period with that mysterious "processing payment" status. I applied online and have direct deposit set up, so hopefully that helps with the timeline. What I find most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is that it seems like once you hit that 4-6 week mark, payments start appearing pretty regularly. I've already set up notifications in my MySocialSecurity account based on the great advice here, which should help me stop checking obsessively! It's amazing how retirement - something I've been planning for years - can still create so much uncertainty when you're actually going through the process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and tips. This community support makes the waiting so much more bearable!

I'm currently at about 4 weeks since my application was approved and seeing that familiar "processing payment" status that everyone here seems to know so well! This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how many of us are going through the exact same experience and emotions. What strikes me most is how universal this anxiety seems to be, even though we've all been planning for retirement for years. I applied online with direct deposit set up, and based on everyone's timelines here, it sounds like I'm right in that 4-8 week window where things typically start happening. I've already taken the advice about setting up notifications in MySocialSecurity to stop my obsessive daily checking (guilty!). It's so comforting to know there's a whole community of people navigating this same transition. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game!

I'm at about 3.5 weeks since approval and this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my application, but seeing everyone's different timelines (ranging from 3 weeks to 8 weeks) has really put my mind at ease. I'm one of those people who's been obsessively checking MySocialSecurity multiple times a day - just got that "processing payment" status to appear yesterday which felt like a small victory! Already set up the notifications based on all the great advice here. What really resonates with me is how this waiting period seems to be a universal part of the retirement transition. After 40+ years of regular paychecks, waiting for that first Social Security payment feels so uncertain. But reading about everyone's experiences - especially those who've already received their first payments - gives me confidence that the system really does work, it just takes time. Thanks for creating this supportive space where we can all share our retirement journeys together!

I'm about 2 weeks into this process myself and this thread is like finding gold! Applied online with direct deposit and haven't seen any status updates in MySocialSecurity yet, but reading everyone's experiences has really helped set my expectations. It's so interesting how we all seem to go through the same emotional journey - from excitement about finally retiring to anxiety about when that first payment will actually show up. I love how this has become such a supportive community where people are sharing real timelines and practical tips. Already planning to set up those notifications that everyone mentions to avoid the obsessive checking phase! It's reassuring to know that the 4-8 week window seems pretty standard and that the "processing payment" status is actually a good sign when it appears. Thanks to everyone for being so open about their experiences - it's making this big life transition feel much less overwhelming knowing we're all in this together!

I'm right there with you! Just hit the 4-week mark since my application was approved and I'm seeing that same "processing payment" status that everyone here mentions. Reading through all these experiences has been so reassuring - it's clear that the 4-8 week timeframe is totally normal, even though it feels like forever when you're waiting! I applied online with direct deposit set up, and based on what others are sharing, it sounds like I'm right in that sweet spot where things should start moving soon. Already took the advice about setting up notifications to stop my compulsive checking (definitely guilty of that!). For your home repairs, I'd echo what others have said about waiting until you see that first deposit - better to be cautious during this transition. This community has been amazing for turning what felt like an anxious solo experience into something we're all navigating together. Keep us updated when your payment comes through!