Social Security earnings limit correction taking forever after late response - what now?

You definitely need to follow up. SSA is notoriously slow with processing these earnings adjustments, but 5 weeks with no acknowledgment is concerning. When you send documents to them without getting a receipt or confirmation, they can sometimes get lost in their system. I'd suggest calling the national number (800-772-1213) right away to confirm they received your documentation and ask for an estimated processing time.

I've been through this exact situation with the earnings limit adjustment. For me, it took about 8 weeks to get any kind of response, and nearly 3 months for them to actually process the correction. The most frustrating part is trying to get through on the phone to check the status. I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at Social Security. It saved me hours of hold time and disconnected calls. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got through to someone, they were able to confirm they had my documents and tell me exactly where they were in the processing queue. That peace of mind was worth it alone.

Yes, it definitely works. It basically calls SSA for you and then connects you once they get a representative on the line. I was skeptical too, but after my third disconnection waiting on hold for over an hour, I was desperate enough to try anything. You don't have to wait on hold - they call you when they've got someone from SSA on the line.

Just to add some important information here: the earnings limit adjustment you're talking about is actually an Adjustment to the Reduction Factor (ARF), which happens automatically when you reach Full Retirement Age. The SSA reviews everyone's record at FRA and gives credit for months where benefits were withheld due to the earnings limit. However, if their estimate of your earnings was incorrect, you definitely need to get that corrected in your record. The concern is that if they don't update your earnings record with the correct amount, the ARF calculation could be wrong when you reach FRA. I recommend both calling (persistently) AND sending a follow-up letter referencing your initial response with copies (never originals) of the same documentation. Always keep documentation of everything you send them, including dates.

the same thing happened to my husband last yr. he sent in the papers and then NOTHING for like 3 months!!! then suddenly he got a letter saying they adjusted his record. no explanation for why it took so long. SS is so frustrating, my advice is just wait but maybe try calling once more. the whole earnings limit thing is a ripoff anyway IMO! why should they take money from ppl who r still working??

my neighbor went thru something like this and they told him they lost his paperwork and he had to send it all in AGAIN!! make copies of EVERYTHING and maybe even try faxing it to them so u have proof they got it

yeah he did but it took another 2 months after he sent stuff the 2nd time. total nightmare!

If you're close to your Full Retirement Age, one thing to be aware of is that the earnings limit is prorated in the year you reach FRA, and then disappears completely in the month you reach FRA. For example, if you're turning 66 and 6 months (assuming that's your FRA) in October 2025, you would be subject to a higher earnings limit ($59,520 in 2025) only for January through September. Then from October onward, there's no earnings limit at all. This can sometimes cause confusion in the processing of these adjustments, so make sure they're applying the correct earnings limit to your situation.

I went through the SAME THING in 2023!!! SS is such a mess these days. I waited 7 weeks and nothing. Finally I went to my local office (get there 30 min before they open to avoid waiting all day) and they were actually really helpful. The person I spoke with found my documents in their system and said they were "pending processing" whatever that means. At least I knew they weren't lost! They gave me a receipt showing they had my docs which made me feel better.

When dealing with the earnings limit adjustments, timing is crucial. Since you're past the 30-day mark with no response, I'd recommend a three-pronged approach: 1. Call the national number first thing in the morning (they open at 8am local time) when wait times are shortest 2. Schedule an appointment at your local office through the SSA website rather than just showing up - this saves tremendous time 3. Send a follow-up letter via certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof of delivery Also, make sure you understand exactly how the adjustment will work. When you reach FRA, SSA will automatically recalculate your benefit to give you credit for months when benefits were reduced or withheld. This results in a higher monthly payment going forward. However, if their earnings record for you is incorrect, that calculation will be wrong, so getting this fixed now is important. Don't worry too much about the late response - as long as you've provided the documentation, they should process it correctly even if it takes some time.

I'm dealing with a similar earnings verification issue right now! Been waiting 6 weeks since I sent in my W-2s and pay stubs. The anxiety is real when you're missing out on benefits you're entitled to. One thing that helped me was creating a detailed timeline of everything - when I received notices, when I sent documentation, etc. When I finally got through to someone at SSA, having those dates ready made the conversation much more productive. Also, if you do go to the local office, bring EVERYTHING - copies of your original notices, copies of what you sent them, your W-2s, recent pay stubs, even bank statements if you have them. The more documentation you have, the better they can help you on the spot. Hang in there - from what everyone's saying here, it sounds like these adjustments do eventually get processed, just not in any reasonable timeframe. The system is definitely broken but at least you'll get your money back at FRA even if this takes forever to resolve.