How long for Social Security approval?

[ERD50]

I applied for SS online on July 1, 2024 for benefits to start in NOV (month I turn 70). Everything on their site says 'typically' 30 days for approval.

When I log in, this is the message:

Typically it takes 30 days for a decision. This timeframe is an estimate for reference.

We started step 2 of 3 of the review process for your application.
A representative in CHICAGO ILLINOIS started reviewing your application on July 1, 2024. For most people, this review takes 30 days.

No updates after 42 calendar days now with no other updates (I check online and check my emails).

Should I be concerned? Is 42 days within a reasonable 30 day 'typical'? They don't give any specific contact info for this.

I have an SSA office (face-to-face) appointment for/with my wife on Aug 20th*, so I guess I could try asking then if nothing has come up.

* (SSA missed one year of her earnings back in 1987, a corrected W2 was issued that year for her, so that probably hosed things up. I have all the documentation, but they need an in-person meet to resolve this - arghhh!).

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Took both of us about 2-3 weeks to completion, but that was a couple of years ago. We applied 3 months before our first payment which was on time.

 

[SevenUp]

Should I be concerned?

No. This is the government, and they have no competition that would incentivize them to be efficient.

I have an SSA office (face-to-face) appointment for/with my wife on Aug 20th*, so I guess I could try asking then if nothing has come up.

That's a good plan. You have many months between now and the expected first check.

 

[Gumby]

It took me about 4 months, but that was in the middle of Covid and I had to mail them proof of my citizenship.

 

[MichaelB]

I applied for SS online on July 1, 2024 for benefits to start in NOV (month I turn 70). Everything on their site says 'typically' 30 days for approval.

When I log in, this is the message:


No updates after 42 calendar days now with no other updates (I check online and check my emails).

Should I be concerned? Is 42 days within a reasonable 30 day 'typical'? They don't give any specific contact info for this.

I have an SSA office (face-to-face) appointment for/with my wife on Aug 20th*, so I guess I could try asking then if nothing has come up.

* (SSA missed one year of her earnings back in 1987, a corrected W2 was issued that year for her, so that probably hosed things up. I have all the documentation, but they need an in-person meet to resolve this - arghhh!).

This is indeed one of the great mysteries of life.

In your case no need for concern, you have plenty of time and the face to face should resolve it. Probably just too big a backlog.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Beginning of the month, I tried using the SS website to apply for SS benefits to start at 62 (I am the much younger half ) and my country of birth is not listed. Gasp! I will have to call to apply and plan to do so this morning.

 

[Koolau]

Unless a delay pushes you past age 70, you'll end up essentially with the same money, so probably not a huge deal. If you miss the age 70 deadline because of SS, I'm guessing you could appeal successfully. Still, dealing with bureaucracy is never fun. DW and I both applied in person and everything went like clock-w*rk and was right on time. YMMV

 

[Koolau]

I applied for SS online on July 1, 2024 for benefits to start in NOV (month I turn 70). Everything on their site says 'typically' 30 days for approval.

Forgot to mention:

I'm tempted to tell you "And you BELIEVED them??!!"

 

[pacergal]

DH and I both applied in person without problems. However it was several years prior to covid and all of the issues after that.
OP--If nothing else, you will get answers at your in person interview, I would imagine.

 

[5Miler]

I applied in August 2019 for benefits to start in Nov. I was notified of approval the end of Oct. This was just before the great covid debacle.

DGF applied the first week of April this year to start benefits in July. She received her approval the last week of June and is excitedly anticipating her first check in two more days.

Both applications were done online.

 

[ElizabethT]

I applied online this spring, and my online account showed that I was approved within 5 days. My benefits won't begin to be paid until two months after my 62 birthday, however, to my surprise. Apparently there is a little technicality for early age 62 filers, that does not apply at any other post-62 filing situation - you have to be age 62 for a full month before you can file, so your benefits don't actually begin until two months after your 62nd birthday. Yeah, that was not something I knew about!

 

[braumeister]

I applied online this spring, and my online account showed that I was approved within 5 days. My benefits won't begin to be paid until two months after my 62 birthday, however, to my surprise. Apparently there is a little technicality for early age 62 filers, that does not apply at any other post-62 filing situation - you have to be age 62 for a full month before you can file, so your benefits don't actually begin until two months after your 62nd birthday. Yeah, that was not something I knew about!

Unless the second letter of your middle name is the same as the third letter of the month you were born AND your SS number contains more than two odd numbers.

 

[ERD50]

ERD50 said:
I applied for SS online on July 1, 2024 for benefits to start in NOV (month I turn 70). Everything on their site says 'typically' 30 days for approval.

Forgot to mention:

I'm tempted to tell you "And you BELIEVED them??!!"

Sure I believe them! I'm just missing the information I need - what is the log-normal standard deviation around their 'typical' 30 days?!

Thanks to all for the replies, seems like several months is not "atypical".

I see some reporting the approval came just days before the month that benefits start. I can't find it now, but I could swear I saw some circular jargon on the ssa site about applications that specify a future start date would not see approval until the month before the start month?

 

[MissMolly]

I applied 3 months early and received on-line approval about two weeks prior to the first check being deposited. The hard copy letter never arrived.

 

[MRG]

I remember being a little concerned about mine. I applied several months early and it didn't appear to be worked on until a couple weeks before it was due.

I think they're using deadline processing for their priority work.

 

[Likes_to_Lurk]

I applied in November 2023, 3 months before I wanted benefits to start. When I didn't hear anything for well over 2 months, I called and was told that they really have until early in the 4th month because you are paid 1 month in arrears. I did receive my first check on time in month 4 (March 2024).
It think they have a very large backlog. My application was processed in a city 100 miles away from my local office.
OP, I wouldn't worry until late November/ early December.

 

[Midpack]

I applied over 3 months in advance earlier this year, and my SS acct showed 'approved, pending' or something a little unclear like that for months. But the status changed to approved at least a month before my May birthday, well ahead of my first benefit check in June. I gather that's typical, not 30 days but well before your claim month.

 

[tmm99]

Thanks for asking this question, OP. I was wondering about the same thing. I filed about a month ago (mid-July), asking my SS to start in Nov. I have the same message as you do (except for the office location). I guess I won't need to worry until Nov...

 

[jebmke]

The web site updates are sporadic. I applied in the month of September for January start. Determination letter was issued in late December. Web site updated in late January.

Check the numbers on the determination letter. They do get it wrong -- maybe not often but they do. Mine was incorrect and I had to file an appeal to correct (although they may have caught it on their own, who knows).

 

[Dtail]

Perhaps in person might be the way to go.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

I applied in early October 2021 for a start date of 1-1-2022 and didn’t hear anything until mid December.
I was dreading having to call them about my application status but they came through!
A phone call set up to verify my pension amount because part of my pension falls under WEP.
She went over everything on the phone and then I got the official confirmation in the mail a few days later.
Check has deposited like clockwork ever since.

I did have to go into my local SSA office a few times during the first year but those were specific to my situation.
The local office was fantastic. Really great to deal with.
When I got on Medicare last year I filed to reduce my IRMAA amount with my local office. They called just to clarify the issues and they adjusted the IRMAA amount within the week.
I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was to work with SSA.
I would definitely inquire about your application status with the local office when you go in on 8/20. I mean that’s close to the 3 month mark.

 

[ElizabethT]

Perhaps in person might be the way to go.

I was told it was no longer possible to apply in person when I attempted to do so earlier this year. If "must" be done online, which I found unbelievable - so non-tech savvy seniors are s#rewed then?

 

[Midpack]

Perhaps in person might be the way to go.

You would think so, but…

I was told I could not elect withholding without faxing or delivering the W-4V myself, so I dropped off a W-4V on May 1, hoping for withholding to start with my first benefit payment in June. The SS rep assured me it would.

So June rolls around, and no withholding. I call the 800 number for my local office, and it connects me with someone in NYC. She tells me there’s no W-4V on record, but she can enter the info for me while I’m on the phone And indeed withholding began with my Jul benefit payment.

 

[RetiredHappy]

So, since I could not complete my application online, I called this morning. Hold time was > 60 minutes and I elected for a call-back. I did get a call-back about 90 minutes later. I explained that I could not complete online because my country of birth was not listed. She was obviously not listening and said the website is designed so that if one cannot complete online, it just means that their system wants us to have an agent complete the application on our behalf. I think someone simply missed that one country and probably several others. Never mind...

She said that my "local" SS office only provides phone support and she will need to schedule someone to call me. She said the soonest appointment that is available is 2 months away, but I have "lots" of time since my benefits won't start until January.

 

[oldtimer]

I applied online this spring, and my online account showed that I was approved within 5 days. My benefits won't begin to be paid until two months after my 62 birthday, however, to my surprise. Apparently there is a little technicality for early age 62 filers, that does not apply at any other post-62 filing situation - you have to be age 62 for a full month before you can file, so your benefits don't actually begin until two months after your 62nd birthday. Yeah, that was not something I knew about!

Actually the payment of your monthly benefit is 2 months after your 62nd birthday. Your 1st payment is for the benefit one month after your 62nd birthday.