Social Security direct deposit setup nightmare - missed phone appointment and can't submit online form
I'm at my wit's end with this direct deposit setup! Social Security scheduled a phone appointment for 9 AM today to collect my banking info, but nobody ever called. I waited until noon thinking maybe they were running behind, then tried calling them back. After sitting on hold for 2.5 hours (when the estimated wait was only 2 hours!), I finally had to hang up. To make matters worse, I tried completing the direct deposit setup online through my mySocialSecurity account. I got all the way to the end of the form, but there was NO SUBMIT BUTTON! My only options were "previous" or "save and exit" - previous just takes me back a step and save and exit kicks me out entirely. Am I missing something obvious here? Is there some hidden submit button I'm not seeing? I really don't want to wait another month for my first benefit payment to come as a paper check. Has anyone else had this problem with the online direct deposit form?
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Ian Armstrong
same thing happened to my husband last week!! the online form is glitchy, we got to the end and there was no submit option either. he ended up having to mail in the direct deposit form. you can print it from ssa.gov/forms or something like that but it takes forever to process that way
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Molly Chambers
•Thanks for letting me know it's not just me! Did you ever figure out if there was supposed to be a submit button? I might try logging in from a different browser to see if that fixes it.
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Eli Butler
The SS agents are totally overworked and understaffed right now! I had THREE missed phone appointments before I finally got through to someone. Their system is falling apart and nobody in Washington cares enough to fix it. Those poor workers are doing their best but the whole system is rigged to fail!
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Marcus Patterson
•true but doesnt help OP. just try calling the moment they open, like 7am sharp. thats how i got thru
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Lydia Bailey
There are two issues going on here: 1. For the missed phone appointment - unfortunately this happens sometimes when their call volume is high. They should have called you, but they often get behind schedule. 2. For the online form - there IS a submit button, but it appears on a confirmation page after you click "save and exit." It's counterintuitive, I know. The system is designed to review your information on a confirmation page before final submission. Try this: Click "save and exit" and it should take you to a review page where you'll see all your information with a final submit button at the bottom. If that doesn't work, try using a different browser (Chrome works best with their system). Alternatively, you can complete Form SF-1199A and mail it in, but direct deposit setup through the mail can take 4-6 weeks to process.
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Molly Chambers
•Thank you so much for explaining! I was afraid to click "save and exit" because I thought I'd lose everything I'd entered. I'll try that approach now.
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Mateo Warren
I went through this exact headache last month trying to setup my direct deposit after retiring. The online system is terrible! I clicked "save and exit" thinking it would actually SAVE my info but it just dumped me out completely and I had to start over! The whole Social Security tech system feels like it's from 1995. After 3 failed attempts online and one missed phone appointment, I finally got through to a real person by using Claimyr. It's a service that gets you through to SSA phone agents without the ridiculous wait times. I watched their video demo (https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU) and was skeptical but desperate. It actually worked and I had my direct deposit set up in about 15 minutes once I got through to a real agent. Their website is claimyr.com if you're interested.
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Molly Chambers
•I've never heard of this service before. I'm going to check out that video right now because I CANNOT deal with another 2+ hour hold time. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Sofia Price
has anybody had success with going to a local ss office for direct deposit setup? i tried to schedule an appointment at mine but they said earliest was 6 weeks out! feels like no good options anywhere with ssa these days
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Alice Coleman
•I managed to get an in-person appointment at my local office but had to book it almost 2 months in advance. They're backed up everywhere, but it's worth getting on the calendar now as a backup plan. For direct deposit specifically, you can also ask your bank if they can help - some larger banks have direct connections to submit these forms for their customers.
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Lydia Bailey
Just to clarify something important about SSA's online direct deposit system: when you click "save and exit" at the final screen, it should take you to a confirmation page where you can review everything. At the bottom of THAT page is where you'll find the actual submit button. If you're not seeing that confirmation page after clicking "save and exit," then there might be a technical issue with your account. Try these troubleshooting steps: 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies 2. Use Chrome or Edge instead of Firefox or Safari 3. Disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions while on the SSA site 4. Try a different device if possible If none of that works, unfortunately you'll need to either call again (early morning is best, right when they open), mail in form SF-1199A (takes 4-6 weeks), or schedule an in-person appointment.
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Molly Chambers
•I tried clicking "save and exit" and you're right, it DID take me to a confirmation page! But when I clicked submit, I got an error code (something like ERR-4402). Going to try clearing my cache and using a different browser now. Thank you for the detailed help!
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Sofia Price
does anyone know if i can just setup direct deposit through my bank instead of dealing with social security? my banker said they could do it but i'm not sure if thats the same thing or if SS will accept it
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Lydia Bailey
•Yes, many banks can help set up direct deposit for Social Security benefits. They'll typically complete the same form (SF-1199A) and submit it through their secure channels to the SSA. Some larger banks have established relationships with SSA specifically for this purpose. Ask your banker if they specifically handle Social Security direct deposits, as the process is slightly different than standard direct deposit setups.
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Ian Armstrong
good luck dealing with the ssa!! took me 3 months to get my direct deposit setup right and i still got one paper check even after they said it was all fixed. the whole system is a mess
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Eli Butler
•EXACTLY! Their phone system is designed to make you give up. I'm convinced they WANT people to get frustrated and stop trying. It's not the workers' fault - they're trapped in a broken system too!
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Mateo Warren
Update on my situation - I did end up using Claimyr to get through to SSA (took about 10 minutes instead of hours), and the agent told me that my direct deposit information was actually IN their system already from my online attempt, but it was stuck in a 'pending review' status. Apparently this happens sometimes when the online form completion doesn't fully process. The agent was able to verify my banking details and approve it right away over the phone. Might be worth checking if you're in a similar situation!
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Molly Chambers
•That's really helpful! I'm going to try one more time with the browser trick someone suggested, and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely use that service to get through by phone. I don't want to wait another month for a paper check!
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