Social Security retirement application stuck 'processing' for 60+ days - normal or problem?

Mine took 75 days to process last summer! The whole system is BROKEN. I applied online too, everything straightforward like yours. Called MULTIPLE times and got different answers each time - first "it's normal wait time" then "there's a backlog" then "we need more information" but nobody could tell me WHAT information! Finally got approved but they never explained the delay. The SSA is completely overwhelmed right now.

While 30 days is the SSA's target processing time, delays of 45-60 days have become increasingly common since 2024. Several factors might be causing this: staffing shortages at SSA field offices, higher application volumes as more baby boomers reach retirement age, and periodic system upgrades that temporarily slow processing. You mention this is a straightforward claim on your own record at Full Retirement Age, which should be fairly simple. A couple things I'd recommend: 1. Check your my Social Security account to see if there are any messages or requests for additional documentation 2. Try calling early in the morning (right when they open) or late in the day (within an hour of closing) when call volumes are typically lower 3. If you're close to a field office, consider scheduling an in-person appointment However, at 60 days, you're definitely justified in following up more assertively.

yes mine took 68 days last month. they didnt even backpay me for the months i missed! had to call and argue with them for another 3 weeks to get that fixed too

This started happening a lot more after the pandemic. I work as a benefits counselor, and I've seen processing times consistently running 45-60 days for even straightforward retirement claims. The important thing is to make sure there isn't something specific holding up YOUR application. A few common issues that can cause delays: - Discrepancies in your earnings record - Missing or incomplete quarters of coverage - Name discrepancies between SSA records and your application - Recent earnings that haven't been processed The most efficient way to check on your specific application status is to speak with an SSA representative. However, as you've experienced, getting through on the phone can be nearly impossible with current call volumes.

I was in the exact same situation last month - stuck at 63 days with no updates! I tried calling SSA multiple times but couldn't get through the endless hold times. Then I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours on hold. They basically call SSA for you and then connect you when they reach an agent. Once I finally talked to someone, they found my application was just sitting there waiting for a final review. The agent expedited it and I was approved within a week. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was totally worth it to avoid more weeks of wondering what was happening with my application!

did u send in your birth certificate???? they wont process without it even tho website says they dont need it sometimes. happened to my sister.

Once you're able to speak with an SSA representative, request that they check for any "development holds" on your application. This is SSA terminology for when they need additional information but haven't necessarily communicated this to you. Also, your first payment will typically be made the month after approval, so even after approval there might be a waiting period before you receive benefits. If your application is approved, you should receive any back payments you're entitled to from your entitlement date. For future reference, it's generally best to apply about 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin, precisely because of these potential delays.

I got mine in exactly 28 days last month, so not everyone is experiencing delays. Maybe it depends on your regional office or something? I applied online too, just regular retirement benefit at 66+4 months.

Update: I finally reached an agent this morning after trying the early morning call trick. Turns out there WAS an issue - they needed verification of my last employer's pension plan information, but the letter requesting this was sent to my old address even though I updated it online! The agent resent the request and expedited my application. She said once they receive the pension information, it should be approved within 7-10 days. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

I turn retirement age in 2 days I filed mine feb 25th and it’s still processing. So mines taken 120 plus days. They state file 4 months before your retirement age. What good did that do ( none

I filed my claim February 25, 2025. It states to file four months before you retire to give them time to do it.. in two days I turned my retirement age on 25 June. Mine has been processing for over 120 plus days. I have no clue why they say to do it four months ahead of time and they can’t even still get it processed. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m just waiting patiently.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my retirement application 45 days ago and still showing "processing" with no additional information. Reading through these responses is both reassuring and frustrating - reassuring that I'm not alone, but frustrating that these delays seem to be the new normal rather than the exception. It's particularly concerning that the SSA continues to advertise 30-day processing times when so many people are experiencing 60+ day delays. For those of us who have already retired and are counting on these benefits to start, the uncertainty is really stressful. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy mentioned here, and if that doesn't work, I'll look into that Claimyr service or consider contacting my representative's office. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know what to expect and what options are available.

I'm currently at 38 days waiting for my retirement application to process, and reading through everyone's experiences here is both eye-opening and concerning. It's clear that the SSA's advertised 30-day processing time is more aspirational than realistic at this point. What strikes me most is how many people discover there's actually a specific issue holding up their application (like Lincoln's pension verification letter going to the wrong address, or missing documentation) but they're never proactively contacted about it. The system seems designed to just let applications sit rather than actively communicate what's needed. For those still waiting, I'm going to compile what seems to be the most effective strategies from this thread: 1. Call first thing in the morning when they open (worked for Lincoln) 2. Ask specifically about "development holds" when you do get through 3. Consider services like Claimyr to bypass phone wait times 4. Contact your congressional representative if delays exceed 90+ days 5. Double-check that your address is correctly updated in all SSA systems It's frustrating that we have to become our own case managers just to get a straightforward retirement claim processed, but at least we can learn from each other's experiences. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it really helps to know we're not alone in this.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - filed my retirement application 47 days ago and it's still stuck on "processing" with no additional details. Like you, I applied for straightforward retirement benefits on my own work record at FRA, so there shouldn't be any complications. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, though also frustrating to see how common these delays have become. It's clear the SSA's 30-day processing promise isn't reflecting reality anymore. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy that worked for Lincoln, and if I can't get through, I'll look into that Claimyr service Noah mentioned. What really bothers me is how we're all left in the dark about what's actually happening with our applications. The online portal gives you basically no useful information, and getting through to speak with someone seems nearly impossible. For something as important as retirement benefits that people depend on for their income, the lack of communication and transparency is really concerning. Thanks for starting this thread - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this, even though it's frustrating that so many of us are in the same boat.

I'm experiencing the exact same frustration - filed my retirement application 73 days ago and it's still showing "processing" with absolutely no additional information. Like many of you, this was supposed to be a straightforward claim on my own work record at FRA, but here I am well past the promised 30-day timeline with no answers. What's particularly maddening is that I followed all the advice - applied 4 months early, double-checked all my information, made sure my earnings record was accurate. Yet here I sit, already retired and waiting for benefits I was counting on to start by now. I've tried calling multiple times but gave up after 2+ hour hold times. The complete lack of communication from SSA is unacceptable - they could at least send automated updates letting us know there are delays or if additional information is needed. Instead, we're left completely in the dark wondering if our applications are lost in the system. Reading through all your experiences confirms this isn't just my bad luck - it's a systemic problem. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow, and if that fails, I'll definitely look into Claimyr or contact my congressional representative. At 73+ days, this has moved from "processing delay" to "something is seriously wrong with the system." Thank you all for sharing your stories - it helps to know we're not alone, even though it's disturbing how widespread this problem has become.

I'm currently at 55 days waiting for my retirement application to process, and this thread has been incredibly valuable in understanding what's really happening with SSA processing times. Like so many others here, I applied for straightforward retirement benefits at my FRA, yet I'm well past their advertised 30-day timeline. What's most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is learning about the specific issues that can cause delays - things like pension verification letters going to old addresses, missing documentation that SSA never tells you about, or applications just sitting in queues waiting for final review. It seems like the key is actually getting through to speak with someone who can identify what's specifically holding up your case. I'm going to follow the advice that worked for others here: try calling first thing in the morning when they open, specifically ask about "development holds," and have my congressional representative's contact information ready if I can't get answers soon. At 55 days in, I'm definitely in that zone where this has moved beyond normal processing delays. The most frustrating part is the complete lack of proactive communication from SSA. For something as critical as retirement income, leaving applicants completely in the dark for 60+ days is simply unacceptable. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - it's both reassuring and concerning to see how common these extreme delays have become.

I'm currently at day 49 waiting for my retirement application to process, and reading through all these experiences has been both enlightening and deeply concerning. Like many of you, I applied for what should be straightforward retirement benefits at my FRA, yet here I am nearly 20 days past SSA's promised timeline with zero communication. What really strikes me from this thread is how systemic this problem has become. We have people waiting 60, 75, even 120+ days for basic retirement applications, yet SSA continues to advertise 30-day processing times. It's false advertising at this point. Even more troubling is the pattern of critical information requests (like Lincoln's pension verification) being sent to wrong addresses or applications sitting in queues with no follow-up. The advice shared here has been invaluable - I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow, and I'll specifically ask about "development holds" and verify they have my correct address for all correspondence. If I can't get through or get satisfactory answers, I'll definitely look into Claimyr or contact my congressional representative. What frustrates me most is that we shouldn't have to become investigators for our own retirement claims. For people who have worked decades and are depending on these benefits, this level of uncertainty and poor communication is simply unacceptable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it helps knowing we're not alone, even though it's disturbing how widespread this has become.

I'm at day 67 waiting for my retirement application to process, and this thread has been a lifeline for understanding what's really happening. Like so many others here, I applied for straightforward retirement benefits at my FRA, but I'm now more than double the advertised 30-day processing time with absolutely no communication from SSA. What's most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is seeing the pattern of specific issues that cause delays - pension verification letters, address mix-ups, applications sitting in review queues, missing documentation that's never requested. It's clear that the "processing" status we all see online is basically meaningless without speaking to an actual person who can look at what's specifically happening with our cases. I've tried calling multiple times but haven't been able to get through the hold times. Based on the success stories here, I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy first thing tomorrow, and I'll specifically ask about development holds and verify my address information. If that doesn't work, I'm seriously considering both the Claimyr service and contacting my congressional representative - at 67 days, this has moved well beyond acceptable delays. The most maddening part is how SSA continues advertising 30-day processing while so many of us are experiencing 60-90+ day delays with zero proactive communication. For people depending on these benefits as their primary retirement income, this uncertainty is incredibly stressful. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies - knowing we're not alone in this broken system helps, even though it's disturbing how common these extreme delays have become.

I'm currently at day 58 waiting for my retirement application to process, and finding this thread has been incredibly reassuring - though also frustrating to see how widespread these delays have become. Like many others here, I submitted what should be a straightforward retirement claim at my FRA, yet I'm nearly double the promised 30-day timeline with zero updates. What's been most valuable from reading everyone's experiences is understanding that there are often specific issues causing these delays that SSA never proactively communicates. Lincoln's story about the pension verification letter going to his old address really resonates - it makes me wonder if there's something similar happening with my application that I'm completely unaware of. I'm going to follow the successful strategies shared here: calling first thing tomorrow morning when they open, specifically asking about "development holds" and any pending requests for information, and double-checking that all my contact information is current in their system. If I can't get through or get satisfactory answers, I'll definitely look into the Claimyr service or contact my congressional representative. It's deeply concerning that SSA continues advertising 30-day processing times when so many of us are experiencing 60-90+ day delays. For people who've already retired and are counting on these benefits to start, the uncertainty and lack of communication is genuinely stressful. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - it helps knowing we're not navigating this broken system alone.

I'm at day 34 waiting for my retirement application to process, and after reading through all these experiences, I'm both relieved and concerned - relieved that I'm not alone in facing delays, but concerned about what might be ahead if I join the ranks of those waiting 60+ days. What stands out most from everyone's stories is how the SSA's 30-day promise has become meaningless, and more importantly, how many issues only get discovered when people finally manage to speak with an agent. The pattern of pension verification letters, address problems, and applications just sitting in queues without any proactive communication is really troubling. I'm going to be proactive and try calling first thing Monday morning using the early morning strategy that worked for several people here. Even though I'm only at 34 days, I want to make sure there isn't something holding up my application that I don't know about. I'll specifically ask about development holds and verify all my contact information. For those still waiting at 60+ days, I really think contacting your congressional representative is the way to go at that point. The stories here show that sometimes it takes external pressure to get movement on applications that have been sitting too long. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone applying for Social Security retirement benefits so they know what to really expect and how to advocate for themselves.

I'm currently at day 39 waiting for my retirement application to process, and this thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what's really happening with SSA processing times. Like so many others here, I applied for straightforward retirement benefits at my FRA, but I'm now well past their advertised 30-day timeline with no communication whatsoever. What's most striking from reading everyone's experiences is how common these 60+ day delays have become, yet SSA continues to advertise 30-day processing. It's clear their system is either severely backlogged or has fundamental communication issues - or both. The pattern of applications getting stuck on specific issues that are never communicated to applicants is particularly concerning. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy that worked for Lincoln and others - calling right at 8am when they open. Based on the experiences shared here, I'll specifically ask about "development holds," verify my address information is correct across all systems, and request a detailed status update on what's actually happening with my application. For anyone else in this situation, this thread has shown that persistence really pays off. Whether it's the early morning calls, using services like Claimyr, or ultimately contacting congressional representatives for cases over 90+ days, there are ways to get movement on stuck applications. It's frustrating that we have to become advocates for our own straightforward retirement claims, but at least we're not navigating this broken system alone. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and solutions - it's both reassuring and eye-opening to see how widespread this problem has become.

I'm at day 29 waiting for my retirement application to process, and after reading through all these experiences, I'm realizing I should probably be more proactive instead of just waiting for the 30-day mark to pass. It's clear from everyone's stories that SSA's advertised timeline has become pretty meaningless, and waiting longer just means potentially discovering issues that could have been addressed earlier. What's most helpful from this thread is understanding that there are often specific problems causing delays that SSA never tells you about - like pension verification letters going to wrong addresses, missing documentation, or applications just sitting in review queues. The fact that so many people only discover these issues after managing to speak with an agent shows how broken the communication system really is. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning using the early strategy that worked for several people here, even though I'm technically still within their promised timeframe. I'd rather find out now if there's something holding up my application instead of waiting another month to discover there was a problem I could have addressed weeks ago. For everyone dealing with longer delays, thank you for sharing your strategies and persistence stories. It's both reassuring and concerning to see how common this has become, but at least we know we're not alone and there are ways to advocate for ourselves when the system fails us.

I'm currently at day 43 waiting for my retirement application to process, and this thread has been incredibly valuable for understanding what's really happening with SSA delays. Like many others here, I applied for straightforward retirement benefits at my FRA, but I'm now well past their advertised 30-day timeline. What's most concerning from reading everyone's experiences is how the "processing" status we see online is essentially meaningless - so many people discovered specific issues (pension verifications, address problems, missing docs) only after finally reaching an agent. The system seems designed to let applications sit rather than proactively communicate problems. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that worked for Lincoln and others - calling right at 8am when they open. I'll specifically ask about "development holds" and verify my address information is current. If I can't get through or get answers, I'll definitely look into the Claimyr service or contact my congressional representative. It's really frustrating that SSA continues advertising 30-day processing when 60+ day delays seem to be the new normal. For those of us depending on these benefits, the uncertainty and lack of communication is genuinely stressful. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps knowing we're not navigating this alone.