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.