Social Security retirement application stuck in processing since November - normal wait time?

Same thing happend to me in October! Applied on Oct 5th and didnt get approved until mid-January. Almost 14 weeks!! They are soooooo backed up right now its ridiculous. The lady at my local office said they have half the staff they need and applications are piling up. Dont worry tho, they'll backpay you from your start date once approved.

Current processing times for retirement benefits are averaging 8-12 weeks due to staffing shortages and a backlog of applications. Your timeline is within normal range right now. A few important points to know: 1. Your benefits will be back-paid to your entitlement date (February) regardless of when approval happens 2. The fact that you're claiming at FRA (67) actually simplifies your application, as there are no reduction calculations 3. Applications submitted in November-December often face additional delays due to holiday schedules I recommend checking your My Social Security account weekly, as status updates sometimes appear there before the official letter arrives. The good news is that retirement claims (particularly straightforward FRA claims) are prioritized over more complex applications like disability.

IS ANYONE ELSE SICK OF HOW UNDERFUNDED SSA IS?? They keep cutting their budget while more baby boomers retire every day! No wonder everything takes FOREVER. My retirement application took 13 weeks back in October, and when I finally called to complain they said they were "operating at reduced capacity due to budget constraints." HELLO?? We paid into this system our entire working lives!!! They should be able to process a simple retirement claim in 2 weeks MAX. But no, they're still using computer systems from the 1980s and can't hire enough people. It's RIDICULOUS!!

dont panick I think its normal. my sisters took like 3 months last year but she got all the money from her start date.

I had the same issue trying to reach SSA about my retirement application last month. After getting nowhere with the 800 number, I tried using Claimyr.com and actually got through to a real person in about 20 minutes. They have this service where they navigate the phone system for you and call you back when they have an agent on the line. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - I was skeptical but it saved me hours of frustration. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me my application was approved but waiting for final processing, which was way more info than I got trying on my own.

One additional point that might help ease your mind: For retirement benefits claimed at Full Retirement Age, the approval rate is over 99%. The processing delay is administrative, not evaluative. Unlike disability claims which require medical review, retirement benefits at FRA are largely verification-based (checking earnings records, identity, etc.). The delay is frustrating but almost certainly not due to any problem with your specific application. If it helps with your financial planning, you can be reasonably confident that you will receive benefits retroactive to your February start date.

btw did you apply online or at an office? I heard online applications take longer now for some reason

I work with retirees as a financial advisor, and I've noticed a definite slowdown in SSA processing times since about July 2024. Here's what several of my clients have experienced: - Simple retirement claims (FRA with no complications): 8-14 weeks - Early retirement with earnings considerations: 12-16 weeks - Spousal or survivor benefit applications: 14-20 weeks The processing delay is frustrating but systemic. SSA really is doing the best they can with limited resources. The good news is that straightforward FRA claims like yours are the fastest category, and all benefits will be paid retroactive to your eligibility date. For peace of mind, you might want to set up direct deposit in your my Social Security account if you haven't already. That way, when your application is approved, payments will start automatically without waiting for banking information processing.

My uncle said you can get a manager if you go to the actual office in person and say its a hardship. might be worth a try?

I forgot to mention, when I finally got approved after those 14 weeks, they actually had made a mistake in my PIA calculation! Double check EVERYTHING when you get your award letter. They calculated my AIME wrong and I had to call and get it fixed. Such a headache.