Social Security survivor benefits processing time - applied in October but still stuck on level 2

SSA is taking FOREVER with everything these days! My survivor application took 11 weeks last year and that was supposedly \

11 weeks?! Ugh, that's discouraging. Did your benefits start on time once you were approved, or was there a delay with that too?

Have you tried calling the SSA? I applied for my survivor benefits in August, and mine was stuck at level 2 for over 6 weeks. I was planning to start benefits in November. I called several times (took forever to get through) and they finally told me they were missing my marriage certificate even though I submitted it with my application. Once I resubmitted it, things moved pretty quickly to approval.

I've tried calling a few times but couldn't get through. That's concerning about your marriage certificate... I wonder if they're missing something from me as well but haven't told me? I'll keep trying to call.

The current processing time for survivor benefit applications is approximately 4-8 weeks, but it can take longer during busy periods or if there are any issues with documentation. Since you've previously received survivor benefits, your application might be processed more quickly as they already have some of your information on file.Here's what you should know:1. The \

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! That's reassuring to know that \

my husband died in july and i applied for survivor benifits the next week but it took almost 3 months to get approved!!! i kept calling them every week after the first month. they kept saying just wait just wait. so annoying

I'm sorry for your loss. Three months seems like such a long time to wait, especially right after losing your husband. Did calling weekly eventually help or did it just process in its own time?

After dealing with a similar situation last year, I'd recommend checking if you need to submit any additional documentation. My application for survivor benefits was delayed because they needed to verify my late husband's earnings history, even though this information should have been in their system already.If you're planning to start benefits in January 2025, you should definitely follow up soon. Call your local Social Security office directly rather than the national number - it's often easier to get through. You can find the direct number on the SSA website under \

That's great advice about calling the local office directly - I hadn't thought of that! I'll try to find their direct number. And I'll double-check my contact info right away.

I waited FOREVER for my ss survivors benefits!!! Applied in May and didnt get approved until SEPTEMBER!!!! Called like 50 times and could never get a real person. Was stuck on level 2 for weeks then suddenly jumped to approved. The system is broken IMO

Four months is ridiculous! I'm hoping mine doesn't take that long since I need to start receiving benefits in January. Did you ever figure out what caused the delay?

If you're worried about reaching someone at SSA (which is admittedly a nightmare these days), I used a service called Claimyr when I was going through this process last year. Saved me hours of waiting on hold. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUBasically, they call SSA for you and then call you back when they get a rep on the line. I was skeptical at first but it really worked. Might be worth it to check if they need any additional documents from you since you're planning to start benefits in January.

I've never heard of this service before! That sounds like it could be really helpful because I've spent so much time on hold already. I'll check out that video - thanks for the suggestion.

I second this recommendation. I used Claimyr when dealing with my disability application issues. Got through to SSA in about 25 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. For something time-sensitive like starting benefits in January, it's worth having a direct conversation with a rep.

Update: I finally got through to someone at SSA this morning after trying for days! Turns out they were missing an updated direct deposit form even though I submitted it with my application. The representative said once I resubmit it, my application should move forward within 7-10 business days. She also confirmed that even if there are delays in processing, my benefits will still start in January as requested. Such a relief!

good for you!!! make sure you keep checking the portal and call again if nothing changes in 2 weeks. thats what i had to do

I definitely will! I've set a reminder on my calendar to check back in two weeks if I don't see any updates.

Great update! This is actually a common issue - documents sometimes get separated from applications during processing. Make sure to keep a copy of everything you submit, and I'd recommend following up in exactly 10 business days if you don't see movement. Since you're planning to start benefits in January 2025, you're still well within the timeframe for everything to process smoothly.

Glad to hear you made progress! It's frustrating how often documents get "lost" in their system, but at least you know what the issue was. I'm currently dealing with a similar situation with my retirement application - been waiting 6 weeks and just found out they need additional verification even though I submitted everything they asked for initially. The SSA really needs to improve their document tracking system. Hope your resubmission goes smoothly and you get approved soon!

I'm glad you were able to get through and figure out what was causing the delay! It's so typical of SSA to have missing documents that you already submitted - I've had similar experiences with other government agencies. The fact that your benefits will still start in January even with processing delays is really reassuring. That's one less thing to worry about during what's already a stressful time. Thanks for updating us on your progress - it's helpful to see how these situations get resolved. Hopefully the resubmission goes smoothly and you see movement in your application soon!

I'm so glad you got through and found out what was holding up your application! The missing direct deposit form issue is unfortunately very common - I went through something similar when I applied for my widow's benefits earlier this year. They had my bank information from years ago but needed the updated form anyway. It's frustrating that their system doesn't flag these missing documents earlier in the process. Since you're planning to start benefits in January, you should be in good shape now that you know what they need. Just make sure to keep copies of everything you resubmit and maybe send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The 7-10 business day timeframe they gave you sounds reasonable, and it's great news that your benefits will still start on time even if there are processing delays. Thanks for sharing the update - it really helps others who might be dealing with similar delays to know what to look for!