Social Security withdrawal application possibly lost in mail - should I send certified?

definitely send certified!!! i had this exact problem last year when i sent in my change of address form. regular mail got lost and i missed 2 checks because they were sent to my old address. now i always use certified mail for ANYTHING going to SSA. worth the extra few $$$

I work as a benefits counselor, and I always recommend sending important Social Security documents via certified mail with return receipt requested. The SSA does have tracking systems once documents enter their workflow, but the challenge is confirming they actually received it in the first place. A few things to know about Form SSA-521 (Request for Withdrawal): 1. They don't typically send acknowledgment upon receipt 2. Processing can take 30-45 days currently 3. You should include your phone number prominently so they can contact you with questions 4. Make a copy of everything before sending Also, remember that with a withdrawal, you'll need to repay all benefits received so far. Since you're approaching the 12-month deadline, certified mail is definitely the way to go.

my neighbor had something similar happen with her disability paperwork. she said the local office told her they get THOUSANDS of pieces of mail every day and sometimes things just get... lost. not very reassuring!!

Certified mail with return receipt is definitely the way to go for something this important. I had a similar situation with my disability reconsideration last year. I sent it regular mail first, then got nervous and sent a duplicate via certified mail a week later. Turns out the regular mail one never showed up in their system! Also, have you tried creating a my Social Security account online? You can't submit the withdrawal form online, but you can send a secure message asking if they've received your application. They usually respond within 5-7 days.

Try using Claimyr to actually reach someone at SSA by phone! Regular hold times are ridiculous but this service got me through to a rep in about 10 minutes. I used it when I needed to confirm they received my earnings correction form. Worth it to get peace of mind before your deadline! Check out their website at claimyr.com or see how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

The Social Security Administration is NOTORIOUS for losing mail. I've had TWO different experiences where they claimed they never received my documents. And of course, they put the burden of proof on US instead of improving their archaic mail processing system. Certified mail is absolutely NECESSARY for anything important, especially a time-sensitive withdrawal request. The extra $4-5 is nothing compared to potentially losing thousands in benefits due to their incompetence.

One more thing - if you're approaching the 12-month deadline, you might want to consider visiting your local SSA office in person with a new copy of the withdrawal form. Bring your certified mail receipt for the one you already sent as well. An in-person visit creates a record in their system immediately, which could be crucial if you're cutting it close to that deadline.

my brother works for usps and says mail to government agencies sometimes gets extra security screening which can add delays. just fyi

Just wanted to update - I called my local office and explained my situation with the deadline approaching. They actually had me fax the withdrawal form to them directly and confirmed receipt! Also sending a certified copy tomorrow just to be extra safe. Thanks everyone for your help!

i had to withdraw my application too! regretted filing early at 62. the extra $$ for waiting til 67 is worth it. good luck!!