Social Security application stuck in Step 2 for 6 weeks while wife approved in 3 weeks - what's going on?

This sounds like your application might have been flagged for a manual review. If you have any past government employment, foreign work history, or earnings that approach the maximum taxable amount, that can sometimes trigger additional verification steps. Since your wife's got approved quickly, it suggests something specific about your work history or earnings is causing the delay.

mine took 9 weeks!!!! and i had 40+ years of work. the ssa is sooooo backlogged right now its not even funny. i kept calling and never got thru either. finally just had to wait it out. dont worry, they'll get to u eventually

I went through something similar last year. My husband's application went through in 3 weeks while mine took almost 12 weeks! And I was the one with the simpler work history! The system is SO frustrating and inconsistent. Have you tried sending a message through your MySocialSecurity account? Sometimes they actually respond to those.

The difference in processing times could be related to several factors. Your state government employment might trigger a WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) review. This happens when you've earned a pension from work not covered by Social Security. Also, if you've ever used a different SSN, had a name change, or if there are any earnings discrepancies in your record, these can all cause delays. Your wife's application might have been straightforward with no special circumstances, hence the quick approval.

This is SO typical of the SSA!! They're completely overwhelmed and understaffed! The same thing happened to my sister-in-law last month. Did you have any self-employment income? That always seems to slow things down too.

I had a similar experience last year when trying to reach SSA about my application. After spending days trying to get through on the phone with those ridiculous hold times, I found a service called Claimyr that actually worked for me. They reserve your place in line and call you when an SSA agent is on the line. Saved me literally hours of waiting. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Given that you need to find out what's happening with your application, it might be worth trying instead of waiting indefinitely.

If your application involves the WEP due to your state employment, processing can take longer because they need to verify your pension information with the state retirement system. To expedite this, you could gather documentation about your state pension and have it ready. Also, try calling the SSA right when they open (often 9 AM local time) as hold times are typically shorter then. If you reach a representative, specifically ask if your application is being reviewed for WEP or if there's another issue requiring manual review.

The government pension offset thing is a NIGHTMARE!!! My husband had the same issue with his teacher's pension and it took FOREVER to process his application. We ended up having to send in additional documentation THREE times because they kept saying they never received it. Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them!

One more thing to consider: check if your application might be affected by the Annual Earnings Test if you're still working. If you're applying before FRA and have earnings above the limit ($21,240 for 2025), there will be additional verification steps. Since you mentioned reaching FRA in January, this could be a factor if you applied for benefits to start before your FRA.

Congrats on retirement! Sorry about the delay tho. Sometimes these things just take time. My dad always said dealing with SS is like watching paint dry. You'll get there eventually!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! My application was stuck on Step 2 for almost 8 weeks while my neighbor who applied the same week got approved in less than a month. In my case, it turned out to be a combination of factors - I had worked for a federal agency early in my career AND had some high-earning years that required additional verification. The key thing that helped me was persistence with the MySocialSecurity messaging system. I sent a polite but firm message explaining my situation and asking for a status update. Within 48 hours, I got a response from a claims specialist who told me exactly what was holding up my application. It turns out they were waiting for verification from my old federal employer about my pension eligibility. Once I knew what they needed, I was able to provide additional documentation that sped things up. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but you WILL get through it!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed my application in mid-October and it's been stuck on Step 2 for about 7 weeks. Like you, I have government employment history (worked for the city for 12 years) and I'm wondering if that's what's causing the delay. Reading through these comments has been really helpful - I had no idea about WEP reviews or that the MySocialSecurity messaging system might actually get responses. I'm going to try sending a message today asking specifically about my status and what documentation they might need. It's so frustrating when there's no transparency about what's happening or how long it might take. At least it sounds like most people eventually get approved, even if the waiting is painful. Thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one going through this!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My application has been stuck on Step 2 for about 5 weeks after filing in early November. Like several others here, I also have government employment history - worked for a county agency for 15 years with a pension. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening about WEP reviews and the MySocialSecurity messaging system. I had no idea that government pensions could trigger such lengthy manual reviews! I'm definitely going to try the messaging approach tomorrow and be specific about my timeline and employment history. It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening, but at least now I understand there are likely legitimate reasons for the delay rather than just thinking my application got lost in the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off!

I'm a retired SSA claims specialist and can shed some light on what's likely happening. When you have government employment with a pension system that didn't pay into Social Security, your application automatically gets flagged for a WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) review. This is a manual process where they need to verify your pension details with your former employer's retirement system, which can take 6-12 weeks depending on how quickly the government entity responds. Your wife's application went through quickly because she probably doesn't have this complication. The good news is that once the WEP review is complete, your application will process normally and you'll receive backpay to your filing date. The MySocialSecurity messaging system is definitely your best bet for getting specific information about your case - be sure to mention your government employment history when you write to them.

As someone who just went through this exact same situation 3 months ago, I completely understand your frustration! My application was also stuck on Step 2 for 7 weeks, and like you, I had government employment history that triggered a WEP review. The retired SSA specialist who commented above is absolutely right - it's all about waiting for your state retirement system to respond to SSA's verification requests. What finally helped me was sending a detailed message through MySocialSecurity explaining my timeline and specifically mentioning my government employment. I got a response within 2 days telling me exactly what they were waiting for. Once I knew they needed additional pension documentation, I was able to contact my state retirement office directly and ask them to prioritize their response to SSA. That seemed to speed things up - I was approved about 10 days later. Don't lose hope - you will get your backpay from your filing date, and the wait will be worth it!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! My application has been stuck on Step 2 for about 4 weeks after filing in late November. I also have government employment history - worked for a federal agency for 8 years early in my career with FERS retirement. Based on all the insights shared here, especially from the retired SSA specialist, it sounds like my application is probably in WEP review too. I had no idea this was even a thing until reading through these comments! I'm definitely going to send a message through MySocialSecurity today mentioning my federal employment history and asking for specific status information. The advice about contacting the retirement system directly to prioritize their response to SSA is genius - I'm going to try that approach as well. It's so frustrating that there isn't better communication about these potential delays upfront, but at least now I understand what's likely happening and that there are proactive steps I can take. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's made me feel much less anxious about the process!