Social Security Signup

[gayl]

I'm wondering - when you applied online, were you able to specify your desired withholding rate at that time? Was it a simple online selection, as opposed to having to fill out a Voluntary W4 withholding form?

Thanks

Here's the form:
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/taxwithold.html
I filled it out and dropped it off at the local office. If they don't get it in time for the 1st check then at least it'll be there for the subsequent ones

 

[Calico]

Thanks!

 

[Finance Dave]

Well this thread is enlightening lol. We are not SS-ready yet...and not for another 4 years or so for DW and 10 years for me. Sounds like a lot of things our gov't does...not very professional/efficient. I guess in defense of them, they are probably dealing with thousands and thousands every day with the boomers in full bloom right now.

 

[Bogie]

Update after 62 days since they acknowledge they started working it. There has been no update on the status. When I check online it says it takes 2 to 4 weeks for most people but as stated, it's been over 2 months.

 

[harllee]

Bogie, at this point I would call my Congressman and get his or her help. I had a Social Security issue that I could not resolve, called my Congressman and he got it resolved in a couple of days. Squeaky wheel.

 

[DektolMan]

Update after 62 days since they acknowledge they started working it. There has been no update on the status. When I check online it says it takes 2 to 4 weeks for most people but as stated, it's been over 2 months.

Same here. I applied March 1st and still am at step 2. I'll be patient and keep checking. My 1st check should arrive in August.

 

[MissMolly]

Update after 62 days since they acknowledge they started working it. There has been no update on the status. When I check online it says it takes 2 to 4 weeks for most people but as stated, it's been over 2 months.

You are still early in the process I applied Aug 1 (birthday in Nov). My status did not switch to approved until Dec - one week before I got my first check.

 

[pb4uski]

DW applied about March 7 and it was approved when I checked late last week... so about 8 weeks for approval. She should get her first check next week.

 

[Koolau]

It's been 4 years, so things probably have changed. They said "give us a 3 months heads up AND make an appointment ahead of time." I didn't want to do it on line so I made the appointment for - you guessed it, 3 months ahead. IIRC all I needed was an SS card, I think, maybe a birth cert. AND marriage certificate (all 'certified') and my DL. They KNEW WHO I WAS when I talked to them. "We have quite a dossier on you Ko'olau!" They told me to the day when my first amount would arrive in my bank acct. and they were right and to the penny. It was harder to make the appt. than to do the deed as they were "ready" for me when I came in.

They may try to convince you to take a one-time payment which will move your retire date BACK several months. I suppose if you need the money it's okay, but understand that will lower payments - forever - going forward. They pushed that at me pretty hard for some reason. YMMV

 

[gayl]

Done when expected. Should see next month

 

[Dash man]

I have an appointment to sign up in early June. Tried online, but keep getting errors. Most likely because I recently signed up for Medicare. After rethinking and talks with DW, decided to apply for SS now and DW (same age) will wait a few years more since hers will be higher. We turn 65 in August.

 

[harllee]

Are the local SS offices open yet?

 

[Dash man]

Are the local SS offices open yet?

No idea. I waited on the phone an hour to make a telephone appointment in June. He did tell me the call will be with a person fro my local office, but I don't know if they are actually in the office.

 

[Bogie]

Finally got the back payment for social security and the normal monthly payments start june 9. For others wondering how long it takes, for us we filed on Jan 3 to start in March. We didn't hear anything from social security until 5/24. They asked a couple of questions and the back payment was deposited on 5/26. Yeehaw.

 

[teejayevans]

For those that wait to take SS at 70, do you still have to sign up? Or is it automatic?

 

[Telly]

For those that wait to take SS at 70, do you still have to sign up? Or is it automatic?

When you reach the age that you desire, you have to sign up. I assume the SSA long-term financials folks would prefer that we never signup.

 

[Dash man]

I had my telephone appointment on Wednesday, June 2 and I see they approved it! I think the telephone appointment is the way to go.

 

[Calico]

I had my telephone appointment on Wednesday, June 2 and I see they approved it! I think the telephone appointment is the way to go.

View attachment 39150

I think you're right!! That's really impressive. If the approval happens immediately like that, I'm definitely going to go that route when I apply in 4.5 years.

 

[harllee]

I had my telephone appointment on Wednesday, June 2 and I see they approved it! I think the telephone appointment is the way to go.

View attachment 39150

Dashman, how did you get the telephone appointment? Did you call the national 800# to do it? Any advice on the best day/time to call the 800 number? I need to start the process to start my SS at age 70 in a few months. Thanks

 

[racy]

Wow. DW applied online nearly 7 weeks ago...still waiting...

 

[Dash man]

Dashman, how did you get the telephone appointment? Did you call the national 800# to do it? Any advice on the best day/time to call the 800 number? I need to start the process to start my SS at age 70 in a few months. Thanks

Yes, I used the National 800#. My advice is to call when you have plenty of time to wait on hold. I called late in the day and they came on the line minutes before their published closing time, or nearly an 1 1/2 hours of waiting. They were very helpful and I have no complaints about the people. The person who called me for my appointment was from my local SSA office. If you can find their direct number, that may be better.

 

[Lakedog]

I applied online about 3 months prior to desired start date. Five weeks later got a call from the local SS office to verify a few details and at the end of the call they gave me the date/amount of first payment (a couple of months away). The process was fairly painless, and the person handling my case was very helpful/efficient.

 

[RetireBy90]

Same here except for SS I had to go in person and take every document in my possession to prove citizenship..passport itself wasn't sufficient. Come on now, how did I get the passport if I'm not a citizen ..it does make you wonder about all the big brother is watching you hype.

Haven't applied for SS yet but did for DW 2 years ago. We didn't have to provide any proof of citizenship. Hrmmm


As an aside, I recently turned 65 and my military retired ID expired at that age so had to get a renewal. On-line said bring 2 forms of photo ID that weren't expired (military ID was expired by 2 days) so I took passport, DD214, SS card (on-line said SS card was an acceptable ID) my concealed carry and also my covid vaccine card (just cause it is stored in my passport). You would think my ID that was 2 days expired would prove whatever they needed, but there is the great bureaucracy for ya.

 

[Dash man]

Haven't applied for SS yet but did for DW 2 years ago. We didn't have to provide any proof of citizenship. Hrmmm


As an aside, I recently turned 65 and my military retired ID expired at that age so had to get a renewal. On-line said bring 2 forms of photo ID that weren't expired (military ID was expired by 2 days) so I took passport, DD214, SS card (on-line said SS card was an acceptable ID) my concealed carry and also my covid vaccine card (just cause it is stored in my passport). You would think my ID that was 2 days expired would prove whatever they needed, but there is the great bureaucracy for ya.

I wonder if it’s easier for those with a RealID driver’s license. I had to bring proof of citizenship when I renewed my driver’s license a couple of years ago to be able to use it for airline flights. Could the SSA tap into those records?

 

[RetireBy90]

I wonder if it’s easier for those with a RealID driver’s license. I had to bring proof of citizenship when I renewed my driver’s license a couple of years ago to be able to use it for airline flights. Could the SSA tap into those records?

Funny strange, when I got my RealID driver's license couple years ago, I had to wait at DMV and then there was a mixup with passport had my name as JR but it wasn't on my old license or my military ID so I had to go home and get my birth certificate to match the JR.

For my military ID, I didn't give them my drivers license. Due to Covid they took all my docs and went back to the office while I was in waiting room, so not sure which of my docs they used. Just happy to get my ID renewed so I can get back on base for commissary/PX and the Class VI (liquor store).