SS benefit application stuck at step 2 for over 45 days - did anyone who filed in January get approved yet?

I filed for my retirement benefits back in December and mine took about 35 days to get fully processed. When I called the SSA about it (which took FOREVER to get through), they said they were experiencing higher than usual application volumes because of all the boomers turning 70. Have you tried calling them? You might want to check if there's anything missing from your application that's causing the delay.

my wife applyied in janurary to and its still on step 2 also. were getting worried because we need that money for our prperty taxs coming due soon. this is ridiculous!!!

Same boat here! Applied January 3rd and still stuck on step 2. I was starting to think it was just me having an issue. Glad (but not glad) to hear I'm not alone in this. Have you tried reaching out to your local SSA office directly? I'm thinking about scheduling an in-person appointment if mine doesn't move forward by the end of the week.

I successfully used a service called Claimyr when I was facing a similar situation with my disability application being stuck. Instead of waiting on hold for hours or being disconnected, Claimyr had a Social Security agent call me directly. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I got a call back within 2 hours and was able to find out exactly what was causing my delay and got it resolved. Might be worth trying if you're continuing to have trouble getting through by phone.

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SSA BUREAUCRACY!!! I waited almost 3 MONTHS for my application to process last year!!! Every time I called they gave me different excuses - system updates, staffing shortages, additional review needed, blah blah blah. The website is USELESS for telling you what's actually happening. My advice? Keep calling EVERYDAY until someone helps you!!!

To provide some clarity on the current situation: The Social Security Administration is indeed experiencing significant processing delays for retirement benefits applications submitted in January 2025. There are several factors contributing to this: 1. January typically sees higher application volumes as people implementing new year financial plans 2. The SSA implemented system updates in late December that affected processing speed 3. There's currently a backlog from staffing shortages during the holiday season For applications currently in Step 2, this often means they're in the earnings verification stage, where SSA confirms your lifetime earnings record. This particular step can take longer if you have any years where reported earnings don't match their records. If your 70th birthday is approaching in April, you should still be fine - benefits will be paid retroactively to your entitlement date even if processing takes longer. However, I would recommend trying to speak with a representative to confirm everything is in order.

Quick update to my situation - my application finally moved to step 3 yesterday! Applied Jan 3rd and took exactly 50 days to reach step 3. Hoping the final approval comes through soon.

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed on January 12th and still stuck on step 2 after 46 days. It's really reassuring to see I'm not alone in this - I was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my application. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the January applications are just hitting a perfect storm of delays. I've been checking my account obsessively every day hoping to see it move to step 3. @Oscar O'Neil - congratulations on finally making it to step 3! That gives me hope that mine will move soon too. I think I'm going to try that suggestion about requesting an urgent callback through the message center since my 70th birthday is also coming up soon and I really need to know everything is on track.

I'm also dealing with the same frustrating situation! Filed my retirement benefits application on January 8th and it's been stuck on step 2 for 48 days now. Like many of you, I was planning to start collecting at 70 to get the maximum benefit, and my birthday is coming up in May. It's really helpful to read all these experiences - at least I know it's not just my application that's having issues. @LongPeri thanks for the detailed explanation about the system updates and staffing issues, that context really helps. I'm going to try the urgent callback suggestion through the message center that @Sara Hellquiem mentioned. Has anyone who requested an urgent callback actually gotten a faster response? I'm getting anxious about the timing even though I know the payments will be retroactive.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my retirement application on January 20th and it's been stuck on step 2 for 44 days now. I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong, but reading everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring. It sounds like all the January applications are caught up in these delays. @Isabella Brown - that's really helpful to know the urgent callback worked for you! I'm definitely going to try that approach. My 70th birthday is in June so I have a little more time, but I still want to make sure everything's on track. @LongPeri - thanks for explaining about the earnings verification step, that makes total sense. I had several job changes in the 90s so they probably need to verify those records. It's frustrating but at least we're all in this together!

Just wanted to add my experience to this thread - I filed my retirement application on January 25th and I'm also stuck on step 2 after 38 days now. Reading through everyone's comments here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was starting to think there was something wrong with my application specifically, but it's clear this is a widespread issue affecting all January filers. @LongPeri thank you for the detailed explanation about the system updates and earnings verification - that really helps explain what's happening behind the scenes. @Isabella Brown your success with the urgent callback gives me hope that there's actually a way to get through to someone who can provide real answers. I'm turning 70 in August so I have a bit more time, but I'm still anxious to get this moving. Going to try the urgent callback approach through the message center tomorrow. It's frustrating but at least we're all in this together and can share information!

I'm also experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my retirement application on January 22nd and it's been stuck on step 2 for 42 days now. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was convinced something was seriously wrong with my application until I read all your experiences. It's frustrating but also reassuring to know this is a systemic issue affecting all January applicants rather than individual problems. @LongPeri your detailed explanation about the earnings verification and system updates really helps explain the delays. @Isabella Brown I'm definitely going to try the urgent callback method through the message center - it's encouraging to hear it actually worked for you! My 70th birthday is coming up in late June, so I still have some time but want to make sure everything stays on track. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines - it really helps to know we're all navigating this together!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my retirement application on January 11th and it's been stuck on step 2 for 47 days now. Like so many others here, I was starting to panic thinking I had made some error or that my paperwork got lost in the system somehow. Finding this thread has been such a relief - it's clear this is affecting all January applicants rather than being individual issues. @LongPeri thank you so much for the comprehensive explanation about the system updates and earnings verification process - that really helps put the delays in context. @Isabella Brown I'm definitely going to try the urgent callback method you described since it sounds like it's the most effective way to actually reach someone who can provide real answers. My 70th birthday is coming up in early May so the timing is getting a bit concerning, but knowing the benefits will be paid retroactively helps ease my anxiety a little. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines - it's comforting to know we're all navigating this together and can support each other through the process!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I filed my retirement application on January 17th and have been stuck on step 2 for 45 days now. Like everyone else here, I was starting to think there was something specifically wrong with my application, but it's clear this is a widespread issue affecting all January filers. @LongPeri thank you for the detailed explanation about the system updates and earnings verification - that really helps explain what's happening behind the scenes. @Isabella Brown I'm definitely going to try the urgent callback method through the message center tomorrow since it sounds like it actually gets results. My 70th birthday is coming up in mid-June so I have a bit more time than some others here, but I still want to make sure everything is progressing normally. It's so reassuring to see we're all experiencing the same delays and can support each other through this frustrating process. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences!