How long it took to get your first Social Security check

[PERSonalTime]

I applied for spousal benefits on Jan 6. Had application review transferred from Richmond, CA office to my local office on Jan13. Spoke with local SS rep on that same day and scheduled an in person appointment for Jan 17. Met with local on the 17th. The next day, online info indicated that my application had been approved on Jan 17th, an official notification would be sent by mail and that my benefit check should be deposited in February.

 

[djsander]

I applied for spousal benefits on Jan 6. Had application review transferred from Richmond, CA office to my local office on Jan13. Spoke with local SS rep on that same day and scheduled an in person appointment for Jan 17. Met with local on the 17th. The next day, online info indicated that my application had been approved on Jan 17th, an official notification would be sent by mail and that my benefit check should be deposited in February.

How did you apply for spousal benefits? Everything said apply online. My wife couldn’t find anything in her online account. She is already receiving her benefits. Called the local number and the very rude and argumentative person finally set her up for a phone interview in February. It seems another vague part of the process or we are just missing something.

 

[Time2]

My wife a I are all signed up to start in March, first checks in April.
Regarding the step 2 of 3 completed, I'm pretty sure it stays that way until your start month.
Directly below the, "steps 2 of 3 completed", it says,
"Your claim has been approved but will continue to show pending until the month you elected to start your benefits."

 

[djsander]

My wife a I are all signed up to start in March, first checks in April.
Regarding the step 2 of 3 completed, I'm pretty sure it stays that way until your start month.
Directly below the, "steps 2 of 3 completed", it says,
"Your claim has been approved but will continue to show pending until the month you elected to start your benefits."

Mine was approved right away to start in April. She’s receiving her benefit already and now it seems the run around to start a spousal benefit for her. Nothing straight forward. It appears you both applied at the same time which probably made the difference. It’s totally ridiculous that she was already recieiving a benefit then I applied they just shouldn’t be able start the spousal benefit for her when my benefit starts. It’s another one of those unnecessary government complexities.

 

[PERSonalTime]

How did you apply for spousal benefits? Everything said apply online. My wife couldn’t find anything in her online account. She is already receiving her benefits. Called the local number and the very rude and argumentative person finally set her up for a phone interview in February. It seems another vague part of the process or we are just missing something.

I applied online the day after the new bill was signed. There’s a link on the first page on the ssa.gov website for applying online. It’s relatively easy to apply online. check it oout and let us know how it goes.

 

[FlaMariner]

I am 13 months away from reaching 62.....

Does anyone know when is the first day I can hit the button to apply?

 

[audreyh1]

Apparently you have to be 62 the while month to be eligible for SS benefits. Birth dates on the 1st or 2nd meet this requirement. Others will be eligible the following month.

You can apply for SS benefits 4 months ahead of your start month. You get your first check one month later.

When to Apply for Social Security to Start Benefits at 62

The earliest you can apply is four months before the month you want your benefits to begin. Read to learn about exceptions and payment schedules.

www.aarp.org

 

[Alan]

Hello
Anyone remember how long it took to get your first Social Security check?
The website shows my application started on Dec 1, 2024 and is now in step 2 of 3.
It says it should typical be 30 days.

Many people having this issue and have waited 4 months and still no check. Read the comments at the link.

Huge delays in Social Security processing new retirement applications
https://community.aarp.org/t5/Socia...ecurity-processing-new-retirement/m-p/2492283

Retirement Benefits
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 RICHMOND CALIFORNIA started reviewing your application on December 1, 2024. For most people, this review takes 30 days.

I'm in a similar position. Applied online in October last year and have been in the started step 2 phase, waiting for the agent to finish the review since Nov 12, 2024.

Next week I'll start trying to call the office but the phone lines are only open for 4 hours 2 mornings a week, one of which I have a weekly activity and can't call.

Hey ho, I'm sure I'll get there in the end. When my wife applied in 2021 it took 6 weeks after applying for the local review and telephone call from an agent (step 2), then several months in step 3 before the first payment was made. A total of 8 months from initial application, and the first payment included back pay to the date she had asked for it to begin.

 

[Time2]

Next week I'll start trying to call the office but the phone lines are only open for 4 hours 2 mornings a week, one of which I have a weekly activity and can't call.

I did not find this to be true, we had to go through many calls to get my wife's application straightened out. I find on the SSA site, "you can speak to a Social Security representative between 8 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday" As I understand it, you are overseas, and maybe this is pertains to local office hours.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Mine was approved right away to start in April. She’s receiving her benefit already and now it seems the run around to start a spousal benefit for her. Nothing straight forward. It appears you both applied at the same time which probably made the difference. It’s totally ridiculous that she was already recieiving a benefit then I applied they just shouldn’t be able start the spousal benefit for her when my benefit starts. It’s another one of those unnecessary government complexities.

I'm not sure, but I "think" you have to already be receiving SS benefits on your own record before she can apply for spousal benefits on your record. The fact that you're not presently receiving benefits on your record might be where the glitch is occurring with getting her signed up for spousal benefits.

 

[audreyh1]

I did not find this to be true, we had to go through many calls to get my wife's application straightened out. I find on the SSA site, "you can speak to a Social Security representative between 8 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday" As I understand it, you are overseas, and maybe this is pertains to local office hours.

Alan is in England.

 

[Koolau]

7 years since I applied in person. Is it now verboten to apply in person? I called ahead a couple of months (before the 3 month window as I recall) and requested an in-person application process. I got an appointment which was no big deal to attend (other than parking) well within the 3-months before benefits time frame. I was told what to bring in the way of documentation.

Even then (back in the dark ages) I was counseled that I COULD apply on line. I mentioned that not everyone has a computer (I didn't say that I didn't have a computer). I was told it was no problem to apply in person, just that the appointments took a while to arrange (which is why I started early).

I like sitting across from a nice lady who had HER computer in front of HER. I didn't have to do anything but answer a few questions and share my documentation. When I walked out, I knew to the day when my payments would begin and I had the name of the nice lady who had helped me - just in case anything went wrong (being late-paid when applying at age 70 would have meant losing a month's payment permanently). I wanted to have proof that I had applied - not a promise on my computer screen - but YMMV.

 

[Alan]

I did not find this to be true, we had to go through many calls to get my wife's application straightened out. I find on the SSA site, "you can speak to a Social Security representative between 8 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday" As I understand it, you are overseas, and maybe this is pertains to local office hours.

My local office is the Federal Benefits Unit in the London US Embassy. We live closer to the US consulate in Edinburgh but no FBU there.

When my wife was applying in 2021 we did actually call the SSA in the USA during step 3 but got nowhere, the agent just told her that it would be processed eventually.

 

[Davidhelp]

Today I did call the number for the Richmond, CA office and the automated voice said over 120 minute wait. I had other things to do so I will call on Monday....

Social Security Administration - Richmond Branch Office
3164 Garrity Way
Richmond, CA 94806
(800) 772-1213

 

[PERSonalTime]

Today I did call the number for the Richmond, CA office and the automated voice said over 120 minute wait. I had other things to do so I will call on Monday....

Social Security Administration - Richmond Branch Office
3164 Garrity Way
Richmond, CA 94806
(800) 772-1213

Call your nearest local office by Canoga Park, not the Richmond office. Ask the person in your local office to contact the person processing the application in Richmond to request a transfer of the application to your local office for processing. When my local SS made the request, it all of 15 minutes to get the transfer done.

 

[Davidhelp]

#40 Thanks, I will try that. I wonder what their process is to contact them to get this done so quick. Maybe a chat line like microsoft Teams.

 

[PERSonalTime]

#40 Thanks, I will try that. I wonder what their process is to contact them to get this done so quick. Maybe a chat line like microsoft Teams.

I think it was some sort of internal text or email, because I was on the line while she was communicating with the Redmond rep and I didn't hear her talking to anyone. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[djsander]

I'm not sure, but I "think" you have to already be receiving SS benefits on your own record before she can apply for spousal benefits on your record. The fact that you're not presently receiving benefits on your record might be where the glitch is occurring with getting her signed up for spousal benefits.

I’m sure that is correct. I’ve read multiple variations. We will see when she gets the phone interview. Not a big hurry, but they could have some straight forward information on the process. The other thing that got me riled up is the attitude of the person that my wife spoke with to make the appointment.

 

[AudiDudi]

The first time I filed was in April 2018 for Spousal for a July start date. I filed in person and in June as we were driving, DW got a call to verify the info I had given was correct. First check arrived in August. The 2nd time I filed I had done the paperwork and set up a phone interview . I filed in April (2022), had the phone interview in May (about 5 weeks after doing the paperwork) and my first check based on my own benefit was in August.

 

[jollystomper]

I recall, at the beginning of 2020, DW's was delayed over 30 days, but that was mainly due to her being born outside the U.S. She had to call them because they did not find evidence of her birth city existing in a state, as they confused an abbreviation on her birth certificate as a state abbreviation.

 

[Luvtoride]

Did you look at SSA.gov online? I could see the whole process online when I applied last year and my benefit paid on time with no issues.

Yes, we’ve checked SSA.gov and no indication given other than applied in October and “in process”. She called again and spoke to someone at SSA and they were “perplexed” as to why no further update or indication of anything else needed to complete her application review. After working and paying in for 45 years, we would expect better service and responsiveness.

 

[CRLLS]

If I recall correctly, when I applied for spousal benefits, I saw the SS website change to step 3 only a few days before I saw the money deposited. A few days later, I received the letter in the mail. That was 7 years ago, so things may have changed since then.

FWIW, my b'day is on the 21st day of the month. I was surprised to see my deposits were made on the 3rd Wednesday in spite of all my research says that I should receive them on the 4th Wednesday. I am not sure if that was because DW was paid in the 3rd Wed and that carried over to spousal payments? When I switched to benefits on my earnings, deposits remained on the 3rd Wed. I am not complaining.

 

[AudiDudi]

<snip>

FWIW, my b'day is on the 21st day of the month. I was surprised to see my deposits were made on the 3rd Wednesday in spite of all my research says that I should receive them on the 4th Wednesday. I am not sure if that was because DW was paid in the 3rd Wed and that carried over to spousal payments? When I switched to benefits on my earnings, deposits remained on the 3rd Wed. I am not complaining.

Same here regarding switching from spousal to my own - I kept the the same Wednesday.

 

[Gumby]

Yes, we’ve checked SSA.gov and no indication given other than applied in October and “in process”. She called again and spoke to someone at SSA and they were “perplexed” as to why no further update or indication of anything else needed to complete her application review. After working and paying in for 45 years, we would expect better service and responsiveness.

As I've mentioned before, when I applied 4 years ago, the first indication I got that I was anywhere beyond "Step 1" is when the money appeared in my bank account.* I didn't get the approval letter until about a month after that. I wouldn't worry too much. If they are late, they pay retroactive to the starting month specified in your application.

* which, to be clear, was exactly when I had expected to get my first check.

 

[Luvtoride]

As I've mentioned before, when I applied 4 years ago, the first indication I got that I was anywhere beyond "Step 1" is when the money appeared in my bank account.* I didn't get the approval letter until about a month after that. I wouldn't worry too much. If they are late, they pay retroactive to the starting month specified in your application.

* which, to be clear, was exactly when I had expected to get my first check.

Yes, understood. I’m not worried about it but it’s just another government inefficiency that should be addressed instead of some of the other priorities (not trying to be political). We shall see in a couple of weeks if her SS deposit shows up.