Social Security delayed retirement credits missing after 18 months - who has authority to fix this?

OMG this sounds exactly like my dad's nightmare!!! He retired at 70 and SSA completely messed up his payments. They kept saying it would be fixed \

Thank you! I didn't even know there was an Inspector General for Social Security. Did your dad have to fill out special forms for that complaint? How long did it take to get resolved after he went that route?

The issue you're experiencing with missing delayed retirement credits (DRCs) is unfortunately more common than it should be. Here's what you need to know about the authority structure:1. Your local office reports to a Regional Office (there are 10 in the US)2. Regional Offices report to the Deputy Commissioner for Operations in Baltimore3. The Processing Centers (where your case was supposedly sent) handle complex calculationsWhat I would recommend:- Request a meeting with the District Manager (DM) at your local office - they have more authority than regular claims reps- Ask specifically for your case to be escalated to the Regional Office if the DM can't resolve it- File a formal complaint through the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov- Request an \

Thank you for this detailed explanation. I didn't realize there was such a clear hierarchy. I've been asking to speak to supervisors, but maybe I wasn't using the right terminology. I'll specifically ask for the District Manager by title next time I go in. Do you know if there's a specific form I should bring with me to request the expedited critical case designation?

Just my 2 cents but I think the \

That makes sense. I suspected the \

Sounds like you need to get your case in front of someone with actual authority. I had a similar issue with disability benefits (different scenario but same stonewalling). After 8 months of getting nowhere, I used Claimyr to reach a live SSA agent without the hours-long wait. The site is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works.The key was getting connected to a Tier 2 specialist who could actually see all the notes on my file and had authority to expedite. Regular phone reps just read scripts and have very limited access. When I finally got to a Tier 2 person, they resolved my issue in one call because they could see exactly where the process had stalled.Definitely request to speak with the District Manager as someone else suggested, but if they're not helpful, try to get directly to a Tier 2 rep at the national number.

does this claimyr thing actually work? i tried calling SSA last week and got disconnected THREE TIMES after waiting like 50 minutes each time!!! about ready to just give up on my benefits altogether

Yes, it worked for me. I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after so many disconnected calls. The video shows exactly how it works. The key is that once you're connected, ask immediately for a Tier 2 specialist. The first-level reps don't have much authority to fix complex issues.

Your situation is a perfect example of why the current SSA structure needs reform. There's a critical breakdown between policy and implementation.To directly answer your question: The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) handles appeals, but there are also Technical Expert (TE) positions at local offices who have more specialized knowledge. Request to speak with a TE specifically about Delayed Retirement Credits.The correct calculation should be:- 8% per year after FRA (full retirement age)- Prorated monthly (so 2/3% per month)- For someone retiring at 68.5, you should have ~20% more than your FRA amountBring printed documentation of all your interactions, names of SSA employees you've spoken with, and copies of your original application. Explicitly state that you want an \

Thank you so much for the specific terminology! I've never heard of a \

ur wastin ur time with the local office tbh. they dont have power to fix big calculation issues. everything gets sent to payment centers which r completely separate!!! my advice is stop going to the office and start sending EVERYTHING in writing with certified mail. create a paper trail they cant ignore!!!!

That's a good point about creating a paper trail. I've been so focused on talking to people in person that I haven't put much in writing. Where exactly should I send these certified letters? To my local office or to a regional processing center?

send to BOTH! local office AND the regional processing center for ur area. google \

I went through something similar but with widows benefits. THE WORST!! Took almost 2 years to resolve. Have you tried contacting BOTH senators from your state? That's what finally worked for me. Senate inquiries get priority handling over House rep inquiries (weird but true).

I only contacted my House representative, not my senators. That's a really good tip - I'll reach out to both senators today. Did you contact them through their websites or did you call their offices directly?

I called the local offices (not DC) and asked for the person who handles \

I want to add something important: make sure you specifically request INTEREST on your back payments. Under a provision called \

Wait WHAT?? They're supposed to pay INTEREST on delayed payments??? My mom had a 9-month delay in getting her survivor benefits started and nobody ever mentioned interest!! Is there a time limit to request this??

Yes, she may still be eligible. The time limit for requesting interest is generally within the same timeframe as the appeal period for the underlying decision (60 days plus 5 days for mailing). However, SSA often waives these deadlines for good cause, especially if you weren't informed of your rights. Your mom should file a written request specifically citing Section 204(j) interest and explain that she was never informed of this provision.

This whole thread is making me scared to retire lol I'm 64 and was planning to wait till 68 to max out my benefits but now I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle? Maybe I should just take the lower amount at 66 and avoid all this nightmare??

Don't let administrative problems deter you from making the best financial decision. Delaying benefits is still mathematically advantageous for most people who can afford to wait. The lifetime difference between claiming at 66 vs. 68 could be tens of thousands of dollars. Most people don't experience these issues, but obviously those with problems are more likely to post about them online. If you do delay, just keep meticulous records of all your interactions with SSA.