Social Security application filed 6 weeks ago still 'processing' - normal wait time?

Yea thats pretty normal right now, SSA is understaffed and backed up. I filed in September and didn't hear anything for nearly 9 weeks. Then suddenly got approval email. You'll be fine.

This is actually quite common, especially during the end-of-year period. SS retirement applications typically take 6-8 weeks for processing under normal circumstances, but the holiday season plus their current backlog can extend this timeline. Since you're still within that window and they've confirmed it's in process, there's no need to worry yet. A few things to keep in mind: - Your benefits are calculated from your eligibility/filing date, not when the application finishes processing - First payments typically arrive the month after approval - You can continue checking your MySocialSecurity account for updates If you reach the 8-week mark with no updates, then it might be worth visiting your local office in person.

OMG I went through the EXACT same thing!!!! Filed in August and didn't hear ANYTHING for 2 months!!! I called every week and got different answers each time. One agent said everything was fine, another said they were missing documents (they weren't), another said just to wait. It's SO frustrating!!! The SSA system is completely BROKEN!!! I finally got approved in late October but only after I contacted my congressman's office and had them inquire. Suddenly my application was "found" and processed within 3 days. COINCIDENCE??? I think NOT!!!

I'm a retired SSA claims specialist, and I can provide some context. Six weeks is still within normal processing times, especially this time of year. Many people file for retirement benefits in Q4, creating seasonal backlogs. Additionally, retirement claims go through several verification steps: 1. Income verification against earnings records 2. Identity verification steps 3. Potential pension offset calculations (if applicable) 4. Benefit computation confirmations As long as your MySocialSecurity account shows it's processing, the system has your application. If you're approaching 8+ weeks with no updates, you might want to schedule an appointment at your local office or try calling early in the morning (right when they open) to minimize wait times. Since you filed in November for February benefits, you're actually ahead of schedule. Most people only need to file 2-3 months before their eligibility date.

I've been trying to reach SSA for weeks about my application status too. Kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. I finally tried using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 10 minutes. They called me back when they had an agent on the line! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The SSA agent told me exactly where my application was in the process and what to expect. Definitely worth it rather than wasting hours on hold or getting disconnected.

my cousin waited 3 months last year so 6 weeks is nothing lol

Are you applying for retirement or SSDI? Because SSDI takes way longer, like sometimes over a year. If this is regular retirement then 6 weeks is normal processing time. My mom got hers processed in about 7 weeks earlier this year.

Check your online account everyday! Mine changed from processing to approved with no email notificaiton or anything, I only knew because I happened to login that day.

One additional thing I should mention - when your application is approved, you'll receive an official award letter by mail detailing your benefit amount and payment schedule. This typically arrives about a week after the online status changes to approved. Make sure your mailing address is current in your MySocialSecurity profile. Also, I highly recommend setting up direct deposit through your online account if you haven't already. Even if your application is still processing, you can set this up now to ensure your payments arrive promptly once approved.

As someone who went through this process last year, I can share that 6 weeks is actually pretty standard timing. Mine took about 7 weeks total, and like others mentioned, it stayed on "processing" the entire time until suddenly it switched to approved. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was remembering that your benefit amount is calculated from when you filed (November 7th), not when they finish processing it. So you're not losing any money by waiting. Since you're turning 66 in February, you actually filed at a good time - gives them plenty of runway to process before your FRA. I'd say if you hit the 8-week mark with no updates, then maybe consider other options like contacting your representative's office, but for now you're still well within normal timeframes. Hang in there - the wait is frustrating but it sounds like everything is progressing normally!

I'm currently going through the same waiting process - filed my retirement application about 5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "processing" too. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful! It sounds like 6-8 weeks is pretty typical, especially this time of year. One thing I learned from calling SSA is that they actually prefer online applications like yours because they go directly into their system, whereas paper applications have to be manually entered which adds more time. So you made the right choice filing online. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're trying to plan your retirement, but it sounds like you're well within the normal timeframe. Keep checking that MySocialSecurity account daily like others suggested - seems like that's often the first place you'll see any updates!

I'm in a similar situation - filed my application about 4 weeks ago and getting antsy seeing "processing" with no updates. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really reassuring though! It sounds like the 6-8 week timeframe is pretty standard, especially during this busy season. What really helps is knowing that the benefits are calculated from your filing date, not when they finish processing. So even though the wait is stressful when you're trying to plan your finances, at least we're not losing any money while they work through their backlog. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this process recently rather than just wondering if something's wrong with my application!

I just went through this exact same process a few months ago and can totally relate to the anxiety! Filed my retirement application in early August and it sat on "processing" for what felt like forever. I called multiple times and got the same generic "still processing" response each time. Mine ended up taking about 8.5 weeks total, which the SSA rep said was actually pretty normal for summer/fall applications due to higher volume. What helped me was setting a reminder to check my MySocialSecurity account every morning with my coffee - that way I wasn't obsessively checking throughout the day. The good news is that once it finally switched to "approved" status online, I got my award letter in the mail within about 5 business days, and my first payment arrived exactly when they said it would. Since you filed in November for February benefits, you're actually ahead of schedule compared to most people. Try not to stress too much - 6 weeks is still well within their normal processing window, especially during the busy end-of-year period!

I'm new to this community and currently going through my first Social Security application process, so reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable! I filed my retirement application about 3 weeks ago and was already starting to worry when I saw it just sitting on "processing" with no updates. It's so reassuring to learn that 6-8 weeks is completely normal, especially during this busy time of year. I had no idea there were so many verification steps happening behind the scenes - thank you especially to the retired SSA specialist who explained the whole process! I'm definitely going to start checking my MySocialSecurity account daily (but just once with my morning routine like someone suggested) instead of obsessing over it multiple times a day. And knowing that benefits are calculated from the filing date, not the approval date, takes away a lot of the financial anxiety. This community is such a great resource for navigating these government processes. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice - it really helps newcomers like me understand what to expect!