How long it took to get your first Social Security check

[audreyh1]

Signed my wife up yesterday online. Quite an easy process thus far although the Safari browser wouldn't work, but Chrome was super fast. probably need an update on Safari.

Interesting. We had no problem with using Safari to sign up on a laptop.

 

[RobLJ]

For current info: I applied at the beginning of Nov, got an email that it had been received a few days later, then checked online about 3 weeks later and saw that it was in Stage 2 of 3 ( assumed 3 would be approval).
I got nervous the first week of Jan, and decided to call Friday of the 2nd week to check on it. Before that, a nice lady called me on Thursday while I was in a pub, left a message to call about the application.
I called Friday morning; the question was whether to start in Jan (my FRA month) or February, as I had filed. With that, my application was approved for January.
Just got the confirmation letter confirming the amount this morning. The last step is to tell them where to deposit the check, which is due Feb 25 or Feb 26.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Helped my wife file December 28th for a December 2024 start. First check was received on 2nd Wednesday January 8th 2025 and in my deposit account on the 7th. All online and worked amazingly well, no complaints.

I applied on January 6th and got my final approval letter three weeks later on the 27th. Benefits start in February 2025. It wasn't the easiest process to navigate, but wasn't the hardest either. SS workers were usually great. I'm so glad that everything seem to be inplace. I am looking forward to receiving my initial benefits next month.

 

[Alan]

It is now over 4 months, and now 70 days of being in step 2 of my application “waiting for an agent in London to review”. I’ve sent multiple emails to the FBU and no reply. Their phone lines are only open 09:30 to 1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I tried today to call them. The message when I call is that their lines are now open, transferring you now, followed by a message that our lines are all busy, call again later then the line is dropped. Not even a call waiting list or offer to call me back.

I’ve tried calling 40 times so far today….

 

[audreyh1]

It is now over 4 months, and now 70 days of being in step 2 of my application “waiting for an agent in London to review”. I’ve sent multiple emails to the FBU and no reply. Their phone lines are only open 09:30 to 1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I tried today to call them. The message when I call is that their lines are now open, transferring you now, followed by a message that our lines are all busy, call again later then the line is dropped. Not even a call waiting list or offer to call me back.

I’ve tried calling 40 times so far today….

Oh no!

 

[Alan]

Oh no!

When we first moved back they were much more responsive, even had an IRS office which would take questions and even accept paper tax returns. You can’t buy tax software here without fudging the system, either by using a credit card with the correct first line of your address followed by the city, State and zip code of the tax company, or by using a credit card associated with a US address which is what I do. (My daughter has a US forwarding mail service)

When my wife applied for her SS to start a few years ago the FBU actually responded within 6 weeks and we were very impressed. Their website says they support 44,000 US citizens in the UK and some other countries but they only must have 1 or 2 folks these days. One member of an expat forum I frequent was so joyful a few weeks ago when he got through to them after weeks of calling every Tuesday and Wednesday. He said it was amazing that the agent who answered was even the one assigned to his application but I suspect the chances of that happening is at least 50/50.

The FBU London provides assistance to over 44,000 beneficiaries throughout the UK, Bermuda and the following countries in Africa: Botswana, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

[audreyh1]

Alan, when is your start month?

 

[Alan]

Alan, when is your start month?

February.

 

[audreyh1]

It seems possible that they won’t work on reviewing your application until Feb. People starting earlier would have priority.

 

[Alan]

It seems possible that they won’t work on reviewing your application until Feb. People starting earlier would have priority.

Understood, and if it wasn't reading the feedback from other USCs living in the UK I wouldn't be too concerned. And all this concern on the expat forums was throughout last year, well before the repeal of the GPO and WEP. (My wife's SS is one that will need recalculating as well, worth about $400/month extra).

I just hope they prioritize new applicants over recalculations of existing folks with WEP/GPO reduced pensions. In the UK it is mostly WEP that has been an issue as the UK SS payments (OAP) reduce the US SS benefits.

Fortunately we don't need the money, it's really a small issue in the grand scheme of things.

 

[audreyh1]

I see. So did some applicants get checks late?

 

[Alan]

I see. So did some applicants get checks late?

Yes, very late. All back dated but one person was ticked off because his back payments arrived after the end of the UK tax year with the big lump sum pushing him into a higher tax bracket.

Even when it was working well a few years ago and my wife applied in April 2021 to start in April and the FBU called her in 6 weeks to progress her claim it still took until December before her payments started coming through, the first one being a large payment backdated to April. After the FBU had processed her claim she could login on her online account and see it in step 3 waiting for processing by someone in Maryland. Eventually we called that office and talked to a very personable guy who apologized and said it will eventually get processed.

 

[Luvtoride]

Update. My DW called SS today and was told her application was approved and she should see the updated status in SSA.gov today. Sure enough, it shows Steps 3 of 3 completed on 1/27/25. Her benefits will start with her first payment for January on the 2nd Wednesday of February. YAY
Only about 100 days from application to approval!

Update. DW received her 1st SS direct deposit yesterday, 2/1 Saturday (not 2/12 as SSA had confirmed) to her. She received her full benefit amount without taxes being withheld as requested
Looks like more calls on Monday.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Update. DW received her 1st SS direct deposit yesterday, 2/1 Saturday (not 2/12 as SSA had confirmed) to her. She received her full benefit amount without taxes being withheld as requested
Looks like more calls on Monday.

Congratulations. Did she ever get a letter detailing her benefits and monthly deductions?

 

[Luvtoride]

Congratulations. Did she ever get a letter detailing her benefits and monthly deductions?

LOL, the ONLY communication she received was of the approval of the total benefit she would receive, on Jan 27th on the website. That also said to expect her first benefit payment on February 12. We will have to get the tax withholding straightened out.

 

[PERSonalTime]

LOL, the ONLY communication she received was of the approval of the total benefit she would receive, on Jan 27th on the website. That also said to expect her first benefit payment on February 12. We will have to get the tax withholding straightened out.

They might be able to resolve the withholding issue over the phone.

 

[audreyh1]

I believe you have to submit a certain form for withholding and that it can’t be done online.

 

[PERSonalTime]

I believe you have to submit a certain form for withholding and that it can’t be done online.

I just verbally told the SS worker during my in-person appointment. But completing the form is probably SOP.

 

[lem1955]

I applied for benefits Feb 1 to begin in May. I'll be 70. Checked today and see it is in process. My DW tried to apply for spousal benefits yesterday, but because mine is still in process we had to wait until I am approved. We were able to make a phone appointment with our local SSA office for mid-Feb. I'm very excited about this increase in income. We will be able to save once again.

 

[meleana]

My husband applied on line 3 months before his 70th birthday to start that month (April) and he got his first check in May.

 

[sroby2020]

I called the SSA after 60 days. I was on hold for over 2 hours listening to horrible music.
I got a live person and within 5 minutes was approved and done.
When I applied, my wife and brother also applied. They were approved in about 1 week.

 

[Drake3287]

Under the new WEP/GOP rules I applied for spousal SS online January 6th and as of January 31st my application has been approved with an effective date of February 1. My first check/deposit should be the second Wednesday of March. My monthly amount is actually more than I had thought, it's about one hundred dollars more than the 50% of my spouses check. Not sure how that happened, everything I've read clearly says up to 50% of the spouse.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Under the new WEP/GOP rules I applied for spousal SS online January 6th and as of January 31st my application has been approved with an effective date of February 1. My first check/deposit should be the second Wednesday of March. My monthly amount is actually more than I had thought, it's about one hundred dollars more than the 50% of my spouses check. Not sure how that happened, everything I've read clearly says up to 50% of the spouse.

Congratulations! I believe the percentage is calculated based on her PIA, not her actual check.

 

[Drake3287]

Congratulations! I believe the percentage is calculated based on her PIA, not her actual check.

Would her PIA be the same as the monthly amount prior to taxes and Medicare Part B being taken out? I was assuming I'd get 50% of her pre tax and Medicare amount.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Would her PIA be the same as the monthly amount prior to taxes and Medicare Part B being taken out? I was assuming I'd get 50% of her pre tax and Medicare amount.

I don’t think so. It’s probably more than that amount.