Dealing with the Social Security Administration

[buckskinbowman]

I've been trying to get in touch with the SSA by phone for days now. My local office puts me through a long introductory voice message followed by the comment that all representatives are busy, call back later. Then they hang up on me! The federal office puts me on hold for so long I always just give up and hang up. As I type this, it's going on an hour on hold. Does anyone have a way around this? I have two questions for them.
My first question is I just want to check on the status of mine and my DW applications. We both applied on December 2 for benefits to start in January, and it's now February 11 with nothing. Their web site just says it is with a SSA official in Chicago being reviewed, and the process takes 30 days on average.
My other question is I need to get my recently deceased father's SS benefits transferred to my mother. I haven't seen a way to do that on line.

Any advice? I am so disgusted with our government bureaucracy!

 

[Gumby]

I've been trying to get in touch with the SSA by phone for days now. My local office puts me through a long introductory voice message followed by the comment that all representatives are busy, call back later. Then they hang up on me! The federal office puts me on hold for so long I always just give up and hang up. As I type this, it's going on an hour on hold. Does anyone have a way around this? I have two questions for them.
My first question is I just want to check on the status of mine and my DW applications. We both applied on December 2 for benefits to start in January, and it's now February 11 with nothing. Their web site just says it is with a SSA official in Chicago being reviewed, and the process takes 30 days on average.
My other question is I need to get my recently deceased father's SS benefits transferred to my mother. I haven't seen a way to do that on line.

Any advice? I am so disgusted with our government bureaucracy!

You get your first check the month after your first month of eligibility (i.e. they pay in arrears ) So if you asked to start in January, your first check comes in February. What day of the month is your birthday? First ten days gets a check on the second Wednesday, next ten days on the third Wednesday and last ten days on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

The first indication I had that my application was approved was when the check showed up in my bank account. I got the approval letter about a month later.

 

[Alan]

I have been in exactly the same status since Nov 12, wanting to start benefits on my birthday this week. When I call there is no phone queue, just “all agents are busy try again later”

I hope I have the same outcome as Gumby

 

[aja8888]

When my wife passed away, I Googled the listed phone number to call in to report that she had passed. They answered right away. Maybe you can call that number (look it up) and when they answer, ask to be transferred to the correct person? Maybe worth a try...

Or, if you don't get your check when it's supposed to be deposited, maybe a call to your Congressman's office will help get things going.

 

[Flieger]

We had absolutely no problem. My wife got a letter notification, and it was also on the MySSA website. Her first check will be 2/19. I don't understand how a Federal system can be so different for so many.

Flieger

 

[MarieIG]

Not the same, but when DH applied for Medicare, he had to make an appointment for a telephone conference (and then had to bring his documents in person).

 

[target2019]

After filing my application, a rep called me in a week to go over the details. That was 2-3 years ago.

As time moves on I think you're going to find more wait time, less personalization. You can go to the local office and wait for service.

 

[Walt34]

Or, if you don't get your check when it's supposed to be deposited, maybe a call to your Congressman's office will help get things going.

Do this. We've done it twice, once with the VA and once with SS. Congresspeople have staff whose sole function is to assist constituents navigating the federal bureaucracy. And our experience has been that a call from a congresscritter's office has the effect of lighting a fire under the appropriate butt so something actually gets done.

 

[aza455]

Applied online on December 1. As of this writing it still shows as processing even though according to SS it takes about 30 days to process the application.

 

[MissMolly]

You get your first check the month after your first month of eligibility (i.e. they pay in arrears ) So if you asked to start in January, your first check comes in February. What day of the month is your birthday? First ten days gets a check on the second Wednesday, next ten days on the third Wednesday and last ten days on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

The first indication I had that my application was approved was when the check showed up in my bank account. I got the approval letter about a month later.

Same for me. Payment just showed up when it was supposed to. No notification until a week or two after the deposit.

 

[buckskinbowman]

You get your first check the month after your first month of eligibility (i.e. they pay in arrears ) So if you asked to start in January, your first check comes in February. What day of the month is your birthday? First ten days gets a check on the second Wednesday, next ten days on the third Wednesday and last ten days on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

The first indication I had that my application was approved was when the check showed up in my bank account. I got the approval letter about a month later.

Thanks, Gumby you're giving me some hope. My DW's bday puts her at the 3rd Wednesday and my bday puts me at the 4th Wednesday. Still not sure what to do about getting dad's SS benefits transferred to mom. Maybe I will need to resort to contacting my congressman...

 

[Lewis Clark]

When I had to call the SSA after they mistakenly reported me as dead three years ago, the voice mail message promised that I would not be kept on hold longer than either 15 or 30 minutes. I forget what the promised time was. Very promising!

True to its word, when the promised elapsed time expired, the system disconnected the call.

Luckily, I was able to get through to a person on the second try. Even luckier, he was very helpful and fixed the problem (from the SSA side) by the next day.

Unluckily, it took about 4 months to fix the error with all of my financial institutions.

 

[savory]

I am lucky that I have a SS office in walking distance. I did have luck speaking to the agent across the desk. It was a wait however. I thought they were well organized for the size of the staff and the number of people waiting. The security person was even directing people to make it easier. They solved our issue at the meeting and executed all the changes we discussed.

Only negative comment is your conversation is not private but I cant remember any issues with confidential information being shared in our conversation.

 

[rembrandt]

The wait time will only get longer with all the job cuts going on.

 

[jgrdarrash]

Thanks, Gumby you're giving me some hope. My DW's bday puts her at the 3rd Wednesday and my bday puts me at the 4th Wednesday. Still not sure what to do about getting dad's SS benefits transferred to mom. Maybe I will need to resort to contacting my congressman...

My Mom had to submit a marriage certificate to apply for Dad's higher benefit. And she was on hold for hours 3 days in a row and disconnected at 5 pm each day. I don't know the answer for you but I do remember the marriage certificate part.

 

[Koolau]

I've been trying to get in touch with the SSA by phone for days now. My local office puts me through a long introductory voice message followed by the comment that all representatives are busy, call back later. Then they hang up on me! The federal office puts me on hold for so long I always just give up and hang up. As I type this, it's going on an hour on hold. Does anyone have a way around this? I have two questions for them.
My first question is I just want to check on the status of mine and my DW applications. We both applied on December 2 for benefits to start in January, and it's now February 11 with nothing. Their web site just says it is with a SSA official in Chicago being reviewed, and the process takes 30 days on average.
My other question is I need to get my recently deceased father's SS benefits transferred to my mother. I haven't seen a way to do that on line.

Any advice? I am so disgusted with our government bureaucracy!

I suppose the good news is that if they do NOT start your payments on time, all your future payments will be that much larger (unless you've already reached age 70.).

I can sympathize with you about wait time, but back in '17, I had no serious issues reaching and speaking with the local SS office. I went in and talked to them in person to set everything up. Very easy though the wait time for an appointment was lengthy - which is why I started early to get an appointment.

Best luck going forward.

 

[donheff]

I have had good response from individual social security employees over during the month of January and got my new application for spousal benefits approved. The phone services were terrible but most of my actions could be initiated online. I expect things may get bogged down, at least for a while, in many agencies. I don't mean this to be political, just factual. I have been contacted by employees in several agencies asking for advice on taking the buyout. Many of the report their agencies are in chaos because of steps to quickly cut 50% of staff. I don't believe it has affected HHS at that degree yet but with buyouts, termination of all new employees (probationers), contracts terminated it makes sense to expect that services may get disrupted.

 

[wolf]

Many years ago. In California.

1. I would visit local Social Security Office. Take a number, then talk to representative at the Counter.

2. If I had a more complicated question. I would call, and make an appointment. Then I would drop by
local SS office. And have a personal "sit" down with a representative.

3. Easy. NOT sure if the process has changed today.

 

[Teacher Terry]

You can’t walk into our local office. They have 2 security guards that verify that you have an appointment. They are greatly understaffed and the remote workers have been ordered back to the office. I read that many will retire if eligible or quit.

 

[Al18]

I would wait another 8 days to see if your wife gets her first SS payment. If not, then book an appointment online at the local SS office.

 

[buckskinbowman]

I would wait another 8 days to see if your wife gets her first SS payment. If not, then book an appointment online at the local SS office.

How do you book an appointment online? I've looked around the SS website, and it only refers to calling them. Nothing I could see about booking an appointment

 

[target2019]

The level of chaos in various agencies is definitely a thing.

A friend who works in IT for the VA told me, "We’re having classes on how to write a resume for government employment."

Who knows how far similar disruption of jobs is happening...

 

[Dtail]

Not the same, but when DH applied for Medicare, he had to make an appointment for a telephone conference (and then had to bring his documents in person).

Interesting, as Boomer Benefits did all the work for me, but I guess they effectively interviewed me too but on the phone.

 

[audreyh1]

Interesting, as Boomer Benefits did all the work for me, but I guess they effectively interviewed me too but on the phone.

Interesting, DH only used Boomer Benefits to sign up for supplemental Medigap insurance. He had to already have his Medicare number which he signed up for online.

If someone is signing up for Medicare based on a spouse’s record it’s far more complicated and documents are usually required.

 

[isisdave]

There are about 60000 SSA employees, a bit fewer than in 1995, although the population is 28% larger now than then.

There are 1521 field offices, plus national HQ, regional, and district offices. So maybe there are 30 people average in a field office.

Current reports are that SS has been advised to plan to fire HALF of its employees. I find this hard to believe, but if it is, seems like the blowback will be as brisk as us geezers can make it.