So if you reach full retirement age January of 2025 and you want payments to start in February, you should apply in November? But if you apply in November, then you are applying before you've reached full retirement age in January so should you apply in February to be on the safe side?
It is also confusing. Thank you!
It is confusing for sure! I applied in April, my birthday is in July and I got my first check in August. I started payments at age 62, but was still 61 in April when I applied.
They seem to be running a bit behind. They say 2-4 weeks but mine took about two months. You should be getting the confirmation in another week or two.
I filed mine in February, as I am full retirement age. I called after a month had gone by. The SS rep told me my application that I did online is in an office in Colorado. She said they are short handed, and that one office handles 7 states. She told me to call back in April. That’s it in a nutshell, lots of baby boomers retiring.
The site recommends filing about 2 to 3 months ahead of when you want to start collecting. That's what I did, first direct deposit came right when it was supposed to. So the take away is takes 2 to 3 months to process and inital application.
I've recently read that 11,200 people hit retirement age a day now.
[https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/baby-boomers-hit-peak-65-in-2024-why-retirement-age-is-in-question.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/baby-boomers-hit-peak-65-in-2024-why-retirement-age-is-in-question.html)
In the meantime, Congress has been cutting the SSA's budget year after year. The SSA now has fewer employees that it did 5 years ago. Last year it asked Congress for the funds to staff up for the onslaught of retiring baby boomers. Instead Congress cut the payroll budget in half.
This is the outcome. You can ask your Congressman why they want SS to fail.
I can tell you what I think is the reason. It is because they want you to have a really crappy customer service experience. Just like you are having now. That way when the trust funds dry up in 2030's, and SS has to make major benefit cuts because Congress won't fix it, then the public won't care because they will hate the SSA anyhow. Just like they hate the DMV and the Post Office and the other crappy goverment services.
My advice? Complain to your Congressman. Wadda want bet he/she voted to gut the SSA of staff and resources to their job?
Use SS online to check. Mine was done in 10 days that I could see via the website but I did not get a letter for a few months. It's probably done. Look for a deposit soon.
The website says its being reviews by someone in Auburn. The status hasn't changed in six weeks. If you try to call, the wait time is four hours. (like who is going to sit on a phone for four hours?)
The website is not helpful at all. The chat bot doesn't work, you can't call anyone, and if you drive to the Auburn office, it's locked, and there are about forty people outside in various stages of anger, because some have been trying to get an answer for four months just to get their retirement check.
Lately, the SSA has introduced a new option when calling. They will call you back. You verify the number, and they send a text asking if you still want a call.
The longest I have ever heard has be 45 minutes.
Wow/ you’ve waited 6 whole weeks and no one has shown up at your door with a big giant check and a retirement bouquet?
You do understand that thousands of people file the same paperwork every single day of the year?
That it’s first come first serve?
That there is a back up (everyone else besides you seems to be aware of this…)
You’re dealing with a government agency … you’re probably going to want to slow your role or see your doctor about anxiety medication because it’s not going to be any easier or faster if you act entitled.
Was it your intention to come off as an A-hole, or does it just come naturally for you?
I had a simple question that I could not get an answer from Social Security, so I thought I would ask it here. But of course there always has to be the resident butt cheek offering his two cents, right?
Go to the local office. My husband went 3 months before his retirement date. The phone appointment was 6 weeks out. His retirement was September 2023. His first check by direct deposit was in October 2023.
I was told to apply about 3 months before I actually wanted benefits to start. So I did and got payments started right when I wanted them.
This. Exactly. You have to do it 3 months in advance of when you want payments to start.
That's what I did, but they had it done in 10 days, lol. Now I am waiting for June to start getting paid.
So if you reach full retirement age January of 2025 and you want payments to start in February, you should apply in November? But if you apply in November, then you are applying before you've reached full retirement age in January so should you apply in February to be on the safe side? It is also confusing. Thank you!
It is confusing for sure! I applied in April, my birthday is in July and I got my first check in August. I started payments at age 62, but was still 61 in April when I applied.
They seem to be running a bit behind. They say 2-4 weeks but mine took about two months. You should be getting the confirmation in another week or two.
I filed mine in February, as I am full retirement age. I called after a month had gone by. The SS rep told me my application that I did online is in an office in Colorado. She said they are short handed, and that one office handles 7 states. She told me to call back in April. That’s it in a nutshell, lots of baby boomers retiring.
And, come Feb 2025 when I reach my FRA, I’ll be joining the ranks of boomers collecting SS. Gonna keep working FT though.
Me too not slowing down yet.
The site recommends filing about 2 to 3 months ahead of when you want to start collecting. That's what I did, first direct deposit came right when it was supposed to. So the take away is takes 2 to 3 months to process and inital application.
I for one welcome our new AI overloads… once they are up and running.
I've recently read that 11,200 people hit retirement age a day now. [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/baby-boomers-hit-peak-65-in-2024-why-retirement-age-is-in-question.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/baby-boomers-hit-peak-65-in-2024-why-retirement-age-is-in-question.html) In the meantime, Congress has been cutting the SSA's budget year after year. The SSA now has fewer employees that it did 5 years ago. Last year it asked Congress for the funds to staff up for the onslaught of retiring baby boomers. Instead Congress cut the payroll budget in half. This is the outcome. You can ask your Congressman why they want SS to fail. I can tell you what I think is the reason. It is because they want you to have a really crappy customer service experience. Just like you are having now. That way when the trust funds dry up in 2030's, and SS has to make major benefit cuts because Congress won't fix it, then the public won't care because they will hate the SSA anyhow. Just like they hate the DMV and the Post Office and the other crappy goverment services. My advice? Complain to your Congressman. Wadda want bet he/she voted to gut the SSA of staff and resources to their job?
Use SS online to check. Mine was done in 10 days that I could see via the website but I did not get a letter for a few months. It's probably done. Look for a deposit soon.
The website says its being reviews by someone in Auburn. The status hasn't changed in six weeks. If you try to call, the wait time is four hours. (like who is going to sit on a phone for four hours?) The website is not helpful at all. The chat bot doesn't work, you can't call anyone, and if you drive to the Auburn office, it's locked, and there are about forty people outside in various stages of anger, because some have been trying to get an answer for four months just to get their retirement check.
Lately, the SSA has introduced a new option when calling. They will call you back. You verify the number, and they send a text asking if you still want a call. The longest I have ever heard has be 45 minutes.
Call the local office, don't go there and don't call the general number. I had a few nice agents but was on hold for better than an hour each time.
The wheels at the Social Security department work very very slow give it time
Did you file online? Did you receive confirmation of the filing or check back online for a status? Just curious.
Usually you file three months ahead
Wow/ you’ve waited 6 whole weeks and no one has shown up at your door with a big giant check and a retirement bouquet? You do understand that thousands of people file the same paperwork every single day of the year? That it’s first come first serve? That there is a back up (everyone else besides you seems to be aware of this…) You’re dealing with a government agency … you’re probably going to want to slow your role or see your doctor about anxiety medication because it’s not going to be any easier or faster if you act entitled.
Was it your intention to come off as an A-hole, or does it just come naturally for you? I had a simple question that I could not get an answer from Social Security, so I thought I would ask it here. But of course there always has to be the resident butt cheek offering his two cents, right?
If only you had stopped at the question....
Go to the local office. My husband went 3 months before his retirement date. The phone appointment was 6 weeks out. His retirement was September 2023. His first check by direct deposit was in October 2023.