Social Security application processing time for January 2024 benefits - still waiting after 6 weeks
I submitted my retirement application on December 10th, 2023 for benefits to start January 2024 (turning 66 and 2 months - my FRA). We're now in mid-February and my MySocialSecurity account still shows 'processing'. I've called SSA about 15 times but can never get through! Just wondering if this is normal or if I should be concerned? Anyone else apply in December for January benefits who can share how long your approval took? I've worked for 42 years and really need these payments to start soon as I've already retired from my job thinking benefits would start on time.
17 comments
Join the conversation
Eli Wang
I applied in late November for January benefits and just got approved last week, so about 10 weeks total. The local office told me they're extremely backed up with retirement claims right now. Hang in there!
0 coins
Nora Brooks
•10 weeks?! That's so frustrating. Did you get any retroactive payments for January since you were approved late?
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
Processing times are definitely longer than normal right now. I retired as a claims specialist at SSA last year, and the standard used to be 3-4 weeks for straightforward retirement applications. Now I'm hearing 8-12 weeks is common. A few things to check: 1. Did you apply online or submit a paper application? Online is faster. 2. Did you need to provide additional documentation they requested? 3. Does your work history include any government employment with a pension? That can delay things due to WEP/GPO calculations. You should receive backpay for any months you were eligible but not paid due to processing delays.
0 coins
Nora Brooks
•Thanks for the detailed response! I applied online and haven't received any requests for additional documentation. I did work for a county government for about 5 years in the 1990s, but no pension from that job. Maybe that's causing the delay? I'm just worried something got lost in the system.
0 coins
Zane Hernandez
Try using Claimyr to get through to an SSA agent fast. I was in the same situation (waiting 7+ weeks for approval) and couldn't get anyone on the phone. Used their service at claimyr.com and they got me connected to an agent in less than 20 minutes who found my application was missing one piece of information that wasn't showing up in my online account. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got that resolved my benefits were approved within a week. Worth it to avoid more delays!
0 coins
Genevieve Cavalier
•is this a real service? seems sketchy that you need to pay money just to talk to Social security when its our right as citizens
0 coins
Zane Hernandez
•Yes, it's legitimate. I was skeptical too but it actually works. The problem is that SS phone lines are completely overwhelmed. I spent weeks trying to get through the regular way before I tried this. Worth every penny to get my $2600 monthly benefit started.
0 coins
Ethan Scott
SSA IS MASSIVELY UNDERSTAFFED and they Don't CARE about us!! my friend applied in October and didnt get approved until January 27th!!! nearly 4 MONTHS WAITING!! meanwhile bills pile up and were all just supposed to wait quietly. disgusting how they treat seniors.
0 coins
Lola Perez
•While the wait times are frustrating, it's important to note that SSA staffing has been severely reduced over the past decade while the number of beneficiaries has increased significantly. The agency is working with limited resources. I recommend contacting your Congressional representative's office - they often have liaison staff who can help expedite claims that are beyond the normal processing time.
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
I submitted my application on December 15th for January benefits and received approval on February 3rd, so about 7 weeks total. I noticed my application wasn't moving so I visited my local office in person (had to wait 3 hours but worth it). The claims rep found that they were waiting on verification of my 2022 earnings that hadn't automatically transferred from IRS. Once she manually added that information, my claim was approved within days. Might be worth making an in-person appointment if you can.
0 coins
Nora Brooks
•That's really helpful, thank you! I hadn't considered an in-person visit. Did you need an appointment or did you just walk in? My closest office is about 40 minutes away but might be worth the trip.
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
•I made an appointment through the SSA website, but they were scheduling 3 weeks out. I decided to just walk in instead. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings seemed least busy from what the security guard told me. Bring a book and expect to wait!
0 coins
Genevieve Cavalier
my wife filed dec 5 for jan benefits and got aproved jan 23 so like 7 weeks. but her sister filed same day and still waiting now. ssme office even. makes no sense how random it is
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
•It often depends on which processing center your application is routed to and individual workloads. Also, even small differences in work history can require different verification processes. For example, if one person worked exclusively for employers while another had some self-employment income, the latter typically takes longer to process.
0 coins
Nora Brooks
Update: I finally got through to SSA today after trying at exactly 8:00am! The agent said my application had a flag because I had worked in another state for a few years and they were waiting on wage verification. She removed the flag since it had been pending too long and said my benefits should be processed within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed I'll receive backpay for January and February. Thank you all for your advice and sharing your experiences!
0 coins
Eli Wang
•Great news! Glad you got it resolved. The backpay should come as a lump sum, so that'll be a nice deposit when it hits your account!
0 coins
Zane Hernandez
•How did you manage to get through at 8am? I tried that for weeks with no luck. The system would just tell me they were experiencing high call volume and hang up.
0 coins