No call from SSA after retirement application - normal for delayed start date?

I wouldn't be too concerned yet. When I applied last year for a delayed start date (about 5 months out), I didn't get a call until about 6 weeks after submission. The SSA prioritizes applications based on start date proximity. Since your benefit start is still 6 months out, they're likely focusing on applications for people starting benefits sooner. As long as your online status shows 'under review' and not an error message, you should be fine.

u might not get a call at all. i never did when i applied last year. they just processed it and i got an award letter in the mail about 8 weeks later. check ur myssa account every week or so.

The call pattern depends on several factors. Since you're filing six months ahead and are already past your Full Retirement Age, your application is considered lower priority than someone filing for immediate benefits or disability. The system flags applications that need clarification or have potential issues - these get calls first. Straightforward applications often process without contact. Here's what I suggest: 1. Continue monitoring your mySocialSecurity account weekly 2. If status changes to anything besides 'processing' or 'under review', then take action 3. If nothing changes by May (when you're 3 months from start date), then call SSA to confirm everything's on track Your application timing is actually ideal - you've given them plenty of lead time, which means less stress for you.

DONT TRUST THE ONLINE STATUS!!!! Mine said "under review" for TWO MONTHS and then suddenly changed to "we need more information" but they NEVER contacted me!!!! I kept calling the 800 number every day for a WEEK before finally giving up because I could never get through!!! The whole system is BROKEN!!!

After dealing with the frustrating SSA phone system myself, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. It basically navigates the phone system for you and calls you back when it reaches an agent. Saved me so much headache when I had issues with my application status. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or check their website claimyr.com. If your application status changes or you need answers sooner than May, it might be worth considering.

My neighbor just went through this exact scenario!!! She applied in November for benefits starting in April, and she was CONVINCED something was wrong because she never got a call!! She finally broke down and went to the local office last week, and they told her everything was PERFECTLY fine and proceeding normally!!! Sometimes no news is good news with Social Security!!!

Question - did you claim any special circumstances on your application? I didn't get a call for my retirement application because it was straightforward, but my wife got a call because she was applying for reduced benefits on her record while getting spousal benefits later. They usually call if they need clarification or if something triggers a review. Maybe check if you listed foreign employment, government pensions, or other special situations?

Just to provide some additional reassurance - the Social Security Administration has been dealing with staffing shortages, so they're triaging cases more than ever. With your start date in August 2025: 1. Your application is not considered urgent yet 2. Since you're past FRA, there are fewer calculation complications 3. With a straightforward work history, your application is likely flagged as 'standard processing' The lack of a call is actually a good sign in your case. It means there are no obvious issues requiring immediate clarification. Continue monitoring your mySocialSecurity account, and you'll likely see a status update as your start date approaches.

btw make sure u print out the confirmation page from when u submitted ur application. my friend didnt and then ssa claimed they never got his application. big mess.

I'm in a very similar situation! Filed my retirement application online in early February for benefits starting in July 2025 (I'll be 66 and 6 months). Like you, I haven't received any calls from SSA and my status just shows "under review." Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like this is actually pretty normal for applications with delayed start dates. I was also getting anxious thinking I'd made an error somewhere, but it seems like SSA prioritizes cases based on urgency and proximity to benefit start dates. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped calm my nerves too!

I'm a few months ahead of you in the process - I applied in November 2024 for benefits starting in June 2025. Just wanted to share that I also never received a call from SSA, and my application processed smoothly. I got my award letter about 10 weeks after applying, even though my status online stayed "under review" almost the entire time. The key thing I learned is that SSA processes applications in waves based on start dates, and they typically don't contact you unless there's an issue or they need additional documentation. Since you're past FRA with straightforward employment history, your application will likely process without any contact needed. Keep checking your mySocialSecurity account monthly, and you should see movement as you get closer to your August start date. The waiting is nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you're right on track!

I went through this exact same anxiety when I applied! Filed in January for benefits starting in September 2025, and like you, no call after weeks of waiting. I kept reading posts about people getting calls within days and started panicking that something was wrong. Finally called the SSA helpline (after being on hold for 2 hours!) and the representative told me that delayed start applications like ours are processed in a completely different queue. They handle immediate start cases first, then work backwards based on start dates. She said my application was progressing normally and that I likely wouldn't hear anything until closer to my benefit start date. Sure enough, I just got my award letter last week - about 8 weeks after applying with zero contact from SSA during that time. Your August start date means you're probably looking at hearing something around May or June. The "under review" status is exactly what mine showed the entire time too!

I'm going through something very similar! Filed my retirement application in late January for benefits starting in July 2025 (I'll be 67). No call from SSA either, and my status has been "under review" for about 5 weeks now. Like you, I kept seeing posts about people getting calls within days and started wondering if I'd done something wrong. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - it really seems like delayed start applications are handled completely differently than immediate benefit applications. The explanation about SSA prioritizing cases by start date proximity makes total sense. Since we're both still months away from our benefit start dates, we're just not high priority right now. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about waiting until we're about 3 months out before getting concerned. It sounds like most people with straightforward cases like ours (past FRA, standard employment history) get processed without any contact needed. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped ease the anxiety for several of us in similar situations!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Applied online in mid-February for benefits starting in September 2025 (I'll be 66 and 4 months). Haven't heard a peep from SSA and my status has been stuck on "under review" for almost a month now. I was really starting to panic, especially after seeing so many posts about people getting calls within 48 hours of applying. But after reading through all these responses, I feel so much better! The explanation about SSA prioritizing immediate start cases first and then working backwards makes perfect sense. Since we're all still 5-6 months out from our benefit start dates, we're just not urgent cases right now. It's actually reassuring to know that no contact often means everything is proceeding normally for straightforward applications like ours. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped calm the nerves of quite a few of us who are in the same boat!