Social Security retirement application still processing after 6 weeks - normal wait time?

dont worry this is totally normal these days! my husband applied in november and it took almost 2 months to get approved. SSA is backed up like crazy right now

I'd recommend not panicking yet, but it's reasonable to follow up at this point. Processing times have definitely increased since the pandemic, and January-February is traditionally a high-volume period for retirement applications. A few things to know: 1) If your application is approved after your payment eligibility date, you'll receive any back payments you're entitled to. 2) The MySocialSecurity status doesn't always update in real-time - sometimes your application is moving forward even when the status appears static. 3) If you provided all required documentation with your initial application and have straightforward earnings history, there's usually no reason for them to contact you during processing. If you want peace of mind, you could call SSA to verify everything's in order. Just be prepared for potentially long wait times.

YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE WORRIED!!! I had the EXACT same situation happen last year and it turned out they had LOST my application completely!!! I waited 2 months thinking everything was fine and when I finally called they had ZERO record of my application!!! Had to start all over again and lost months of benefits! CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY!!!

my aunt waited 9 weeks but my mom only waited 10 days lol. think it just depends on how busy they are and if ur application has any complications

While 6 weeks is longer than ideal, it's not outside the normal range these days. SSA processing times fluctuate based on staffing, application volume, and system updates. A few suggestions: 1. Check that your application is complete in the system. Sometimes applications get stuck if information is missing. Log into MySocialSecurity and verify all sections show as completed. 2. If you haven't received any correspondence requesting additional information, that's actually a good sign - it likely means your application is complete and just waiting in the queue. 3. SSA typically prioritizes applications close to payment eligibility date, so you should see movement as your March payment date approaches. 4. If you still see no updates by the end of February, then it would be appropriate to contact SSA directly. One final note: retirement applications filed in December-January typically see longer processing times due to the holiday staffing reductions and the annual COLA recalculations happening simultaneously.

I was in a similar situation back in October. Waited over 7 weeks with no updates. Finally got so frustrated trying to call - constant busy signals, 2+ hour hold times, getting disconnected. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent told me my application was fine but sitting in a backlog. She flagged it for priority review, and I got approved 3 days later. Sometimes you just need to get someone to actually look at your file.

In my experience helping people apply for Social Security benefits, 4-8 weeks is now pretty standard for retirement benefit processing. A few things to understand about the process: 1) Applications submitted online do get a confirmation number immediately, but that just means it was received, not that processing has begun. 2) There are multiple stages of review, and the online status won't show which stage you're in. 3) If you applied at your Full Retirement Age (FRA) or later, your application is usually processed faster than someone applying for early benefits at 62, as those require additional verification. 4) January applications typically experience delays due to the implementation of annual COLA increases that affect all existing beneficiaries. If you're concerned, calling to check status is reasonable at this point, but I wouldn't worry yet about your March payment being affected.

The real problem is that SSA is SEVERELY understaffed and they WON'T ADMIT IT!! I had to go to my congressman's office to get my application unstuck last year. The system is BROKEN!

my dad just filed and got approved in 2 weeks but he did it in person at the SS office. maybe that's faster?

btw when you do get approved theyll pay you for any months you missed so you wont lose any money

After reading through this thread, I think you're still well within normal processing times, but here's what I'd suggest as a next step: call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 during non-peak hours (try Wednesday-Friday in the afternoon) and simply ask for a status update. The representative can verify that: 1) Your application is actually in the system and processing (for peace of mind) 2) There are no outstanding issues requiring additional documentation 3) Everything is on track for your March payment If you've provided a phone number on your application, make sure to answer all calls, even from unknown numbers, as SSA representatives often call from blocked numbers when they need additional information. Missing their call could further delay processing.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Filed in early January and didn't get approved until mid-March. The waiting was torture because I had already given my employer notice and was counting on those benefits. A couple things that helped me stay sane during the wait: 1) I called once at the 6-week mark just to confirm they had everything they needed (they did) and the rep assured me it was just in the normal queue. 2) I kept detailed records of my application - confirmation numbers, dates, etc. - just in case I needed them later. 3) The backpay was automatic once approved, so I didn't lose any money, just had to wait longer for it. The hardest part is not knowing what's happening behind the scenes, but from everything I've read here and experienced myself, you're still in the normal range. Hang in there!

I can relate to your anxiety about the processing time! I submitted my retirement application in December and just got approved last week after about 7 weeks of waiting. Like you, I had a straightforward work history and provided all documents upfront, but the status just sat at "processing" for what felt like forever. What helped me was understanding that SSA processes applications in batches, and January is one of their busiest months due to people applying right after the new year. The good news is that since you applied in January for March benefits, you should still receive your full March payment once approved - they calculate benefits from your eligibility date, not your approval date. I'd suggest calling if you don't see any movement by the end of February, but honestly, based on the timeline others have shared here, you're probably right on track for approval in the next couple of weeks. The waiting is the hardest part, but it sounds like everything is progressing normally!

I understand your anxiety completely! I'm currently in week 8 of waiting for my retirement application approval, so you're definitely not alone. What I've learned from calling SSA twice during this process is that they're experiencing significantly higher application volumes this year compared to 2023. A few things that might help ease your mind: 1) The "processing" status can stay unchanged for weeks even when your application is actively moving through their system - it's not a real-time indicator. 2) Applications filed in January often get caught in the annual COLA adjustment processing, which can add 1-2 weeks to normal timelines. 3) If you haven't received any letters or calls requesting additional information, that's actually a positive sign that your application is complete and just waiting for final review. I know the financial uncertainty is stressful, especially when you're budgeting around those benefits. But based on everyone's experiences here and what the SSA reps have told me, 6-8 weeks seems to be the new normal unfortunately. You should still be on track for your March payment with full backpay once it's approved. Hang in there - you're almost through the waiting period!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my application in late December and I'm at about 7 weeks with no updates. What's been driving me crazy is the lack of communication from SSA, but after reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like that's actually normal. One thing I did that helped was setting up text alerts through my MySocialSecurity account so I'll get notified immediately when there's any status change. At least that way I won't be obsessively checking the website every day! The reassurance about backpay is huge - I was worried about losing money due to their delays, but it sounds like once approved, you get everything you're entitled to from your original eligibility date. That takes some of the financial stress away. Hang in there! Based on what everyone is sharing, we're both probably going to see approvals in the next couple weeks.

I'm currently at week 5 with my retirement application (filed January 15th) and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Like many of you, I was getting anxious seeing the status stuck on "processing" with no communication from SSA. What really helped me understand the timeline better was learning about the COLA adjustments and January volume surge that several people mentioned. I had no idea these factors could add weeks to processing time. I've decided to wait until I hit the 8-week mark before calling, since it seems like that's when most people here started getting movement on their applications. The text alert suggestion from Emma is genius - just set that up so I can stop checking the portal obsessively! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. It's so helpful to know this is normal and that the backpay will cover any delayed months. This community is a lifesaver for navigating SSA processes!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Filed my retirement application on January 10th and I'm now at week 6 with no updates. This thread has been so incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the COLA processing delays or that January is such a high-volume month for applications. What's been the most stressful part for me is the complete silence from SSA, but reading everyone's experiences here shows that's actually totally normal. I was starting to wonder if my application got lost in the system or if I made some mistake. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts that Emma mentioned - I've been checking MySocialSecurity multiple times daily and it's driving me crazy! And knowing that we'll get full backpay once approved takes away so much of the financial anxiety. Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like we're right in the normal range and should see movement in the next couple weeks. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support makes the waiting so much more bearable!

I'm currently going through the exact same situation! Filed my retirement application on January 3rd (just one day after you) and I'm also at the 6+ week mark with no updates. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. Like many others here, I was getting really anxious about the complete silence from SSA, but it's clear this is just the new normal for processing times. The information about COLA adjustments and January being a high-volume month really explains why our early January applications are taking longer. I've also been obsessively checking MySocialSecurity multiple times a day, so I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts that several people mentioned. It'll be such a relief to stop refreshing that page constantly! Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like we should both see movement in the next week or two. The reassurance about receiving full backpay once approved really helps with the financial stress. It's so comforting to know we're not alone in this waiting process - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's normal with SSA processing right now. Hang in there! We're almost through this waiting period based on everyone else's experiences.

I'm currently in week 9 of waiting for my retirement application approval (filed December 28th), so I completely understand your anxiety! What helped me get through this process was calling SSA at the 8-week mark just to confirm everything was on track. The representative was actually very helpful and explained that December/January applications are experiencing the longest delays due to the combination of holiday staffing reductions, COLA implementation, and the annual surge of new retirement applications. She assured me that my application was progressing normally and that I should expect approval within the next 1-2 weeks. The key thing she emphasized is that as long as you haven't received any requests for additional documentation, your application is likely complete and just waiting in the queue. One tip that really helped my peace of mind: write down your confirmation number and the date you applied, and when you do call SSA, ask them to confirm these details match what they have in their system. This immediately verifies your application is properly in their system and being processed. Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, 6 weeks for a January application is completely normal right now. You should definitely see movement soon!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share my recent experience that might help ease your anxiety. I filed my retirement application on December 15th and just received approval yesterday after exactly 9 weeks of waiting. Like you, I had a straightforward work history and provided all documentation upfront. What I learned from calling SSA at the 7-week mark is that they're currently processing applications in the order received, but January applications are taking 6-10 weeks due to several factors: the annual COLA recalculation system updates, holiday staffing impacts that carried into January, and an unusually high volume of retirement applications submitted after the new year. The representative I spoke with explained that the "processing" status often doesn't change until final approval, so don't read too much into the lack of updates on MySocialSecurity. She also confirmed that since you applied in January for March benefits, you'll receive full backpay for any months between your eligibility date and approval date. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was asking the representative to read back my confirmation number and application date to verify everything was properly in their system. Given that you're at 6 weeks for a January application, you're well within the current normal range. I'd suggest waiting until week 8 before calling, but try not to stress - your timeline sounds completely typical for applications submitted during that period.