Social Security retirement payment delay after September approval - first $0 test deposit received but no actual payment

Your approval on the 12th was likely too late to make it into the September payment cycle. The payment schedules are determined well in advance, and the cutoff for September payments was probably earlier in the month. Since you just got approved, your first payment will most likely arrive on the 3rd Wednesday of October. The $0 test deposit is a good sign - it means your banking information is verified in their system. You should be all set for next month!

yeah same thing happend to me last year. dont worry its normal. they do the little test deposit to make sure they got the right acct. your first real payment will come next month. the SSA wheels turn sloooooowly lol

This is completely normal. For Social Security retirement benefits, there's what we call a "processing cycle" that determines when payments are released. If your approval came after their cutoff date for the September cycle, you'll receive your first payment in October. A couple things to note: 1. SS benefits are paid the month AFTER they are due. So September benefits are paid in October. 2. Your first payment should include any retroactive benefits you're entitled to. Since you applied in August but were eligible in July (your birth month), you might see back payments included. 3. The payment date depends on your birth date: - Born 1st-10th: Second Wednesday - Born 11th-20th: Third Wednesday - Born 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday Don't worry about the $0 test deposit - that's just their system verifying your bank information is correct before sending real payments.

I WENT THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING!!! Applied in June, got approved July 8th, saw the test deposit but no money until August. SSA doesn't tell you this but there's like a 2-3 week processing time AFTER approval before your payment actually gets scheduled. So frustrating! They should explain this better in their approval letters instead of leaving us hanging and worried.

have you tried calling ssa? sometimes they can tell you exactly when to expect payment. i know its hard to get thru to them tho

The way SS works can be confusing for first-timers. Your September 12th approval definitely missed the cutoff for September payments. Here's what likely happened: 1. You applied in August 2. Got approved Sept 12 3. Your first eligible month is August (they pay one month behind) 4. The $0 deposit confirms your bank info is correct 5. Your first payment will arrive in October The timing depends on your birth date as mentioned above (2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday). Your first payment should include any benefits owed from your eligibility date through September. One thing to remember - SS benefits are paid in the month FOLLOWING the month for which they are due. So October's deposit will be for September's benefits.

When I started receiving my SS retirement last year, my first payment was delayed similar to your situation. My approval came mid-month and payment didn't arrive until the following month. What others have said about the payment schedule is correct - it depends on your birth date. However, I want to clarify something important about your first payment: it SHOULD include any retroactive benefits you're entitled to from your eligibility date (usually your application month, unless you specified a later start date). If you're concerned about the timing or want confirmation about your payment amount, I'd recommend contacting SSA directly. I know their phone lines are notoriously difficult to get through. After struggling with long hold times myself, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that waits on hold with SSA for you, then calls you once a representative is on the line. They have a video demonstration at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. This saved me hours of frustration when I needed to resolve issues with my benefits calculation.

To clear up some confusion in this thread: for Social Security retirement benefits, if you apply after your Full Retirement Age (which at 67, you have), you can receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits. However, they don't automatically pay back to your eligibility date - only to your application date unless you specifically requested retroactive benefits during your application. Since you applied in August, your first payment should include August benefits (paid in October). There is no "waiting period" for retirement benefits like there is for disability. Also, to answer your question about payment dates: If you were born on the 15th, you'll receive payments on the 3rd Wednesday of each month going forward.