Gebe
US Veteran
I'm eligible for my SS in three months. Anyone applied online lately? Is it pretty straight forward now or the usual federal hassle? How long before you received your benefits after applying?
Anyone Apply Online For Social Security Lately?
- Thread starter Gebe
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ohiobuckeye
Member
I didn't trust the on line system and went into the office to do it face to face. Turned out I had a bunch of questions and having someone with the answers sitting on the other side of the table was a big help.
If you apply early enough, your benefits take a couple of months to start after your birthday. The formula they use essentially eliminates the first payment, even though they say it does not. My Birthday was 8/21, and my first check arrived the 4th Wednesday in October. They no longer send all SS checks the first of the month but instead, scatter them across the month. Mine comes the 4th Wednesday and my wifes's on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
If you choose the face to face option, just for giggles, look around and take note of who else is in the SS office to apply for benefits. The day I was there, I was the only one in the waiting area over 40....most of the people there wanting benefits appeared to be in their 20's and 30's, and maybe a couple in their 40's. I was there for a little over an hour and never saw anyone near my age, except for the retired leo that was the security guard.
If you apply early enough, your benefits take a couple of months to start after your birthday. The formula they use essentially eliminates the first payment, even though they say it does not. My Birthday was 8/21, and my first check arrived the 4th Wednesday in October. They no longer send all SS checks the first of the month but instead, scatter them across the month. Mine comes the 4th Wednesday and my wifes's on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
If you choose the face to face option, just for giggles, look around and take note of who else is in the SS office to apply for benefits. The day I was there, I was the only one in the waiting area over 40....most of the people there wanting benefits appeared to be in their 20's and 30's, and maybe a couple in their 40's. I was there for a little over an hour and never saw anyone near my age, except for the retired leo that was the security guard.
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The day I was there, I was the only one in the waiting area over 40....most of the people there wanting benefits appeared to be in their 20's and 30's, and maybe a couple in their 40's. I was there for a little over an hour and never saw anyone near my age, except for the retired leo that was the security guard.
Boy that's the durned truth. Everybody is disabled or workin' some angle.
Boy that's the durned truth. Everybody is disabled or workin' some angle.
OP
Gebe
US Veteran
Thanks for the good info ohiobuckeye! I live rural and my closet SS office is an hour away which is why I wanted to do it online.
When you went FTF what papers or whatever did you bring with you?
Should I apply a couple months before my 62nd birthday which is in Sept.?
I know what you mean about the youngins. There's good ones out there but a lot of them sure look for handouts. I think my generation spoiled them too much.
I applied online and it went very smoothly. I did not need to send a copy of my DD 214, birth certificate or anything else. My birthday was in February and I got my first check in March. The office called me and told me what I good job I did in filling out the forms.
JcMack
Member
I went thru this when I turned 62 in Feb of '09. The SSA and IRS refuse to give you info on their interaction concerning your finances. So my first "check" arrived in April. Because my additional income prior to April was approx. $4800, by July I owed $3000 back to SS. Also SS will tell you "you can earn $1180 a month and still receive your full SS allotment". True, but if your SS plus additional income exceeds $22000 a year (single) or $33000 a year (married) you will owe income tax on your SS benes. In your case you will probably have payment in Nov and Dec.. 7000 people a day now apply for SS benefits. I applied on line. I found it revolting to sit in a SS office with a load of people on disability whose only problem was the inability to push their chair away from the dinner table.
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CW Spook
US Veteran
When I turned 62, 2 years ago, I applied online for myself and last fall did it again for my wife. It was amazed at how easy it was both times.
dkees
Member
I'm with Max.....applied online, smooth as butter. I would suggest you don't wait until you are 62 to apply. I was told how much and when I would receive it, both were right on the money. No problems to this day.
Now Medicare..........that's a whole 'nother story.
Now Medicare..........that's a whole 'nother story.
Harrison
US Veteran
Ditto here. I applied online it was easy and straight forward. You don't even have to do it all at once. I had some military forms and and old divorce papers I had to hunt up. I stopped hunted up the papers and finished it the next day.
My wife went into the SS office and set for over three hours, and still had to come home, get papers and go back the next day and set some, more. Online is a secure as anything can be today.
My wife went into the SS office and set for over three hours, and still had to come home, get papers and go back the next day and set some, more. Online is a secure as anything can be today.
OP
Gebe
US Veteran
Thanks so much for all the good information gentlemen! I'm going to apply online and I might as well do it now as opposed to when I turn 62 in Sept. Thanks again!
rangemaster
Member
My Mom applied for SSI disability in December or so, and just got her first check this week. It was pretty easy and straight-forward for her.
I'm currently getting widower's benefits which I applied for online. Had to go in for a FTF, just to show the marriage license. Other than that, no problem what so ever. For my own benefits, I'll do the online route again since it was easy and straight forward. The payment date these days is based on the B-day of the person who qualified for the benefits. If the b-day is in the first two weeks of the month, you get paid on the second wed., third week - 3rd wed., forth week - 4th wed.
They tell you you should be applying about 3 months before you're due for benifits.
They tell you you should be applying about 3 months before you're due for benifits.
I applied on line in Jan, of 2009 and about a week after I applied I got an email asking to see my DD214 where I was retired with disability (30%) and I took it in and was only there for about 15 minutes as they had a couple of windows just for document turn in. I was the ONLY white guy there and all were Mexicans from what I could see? Anyways I got my 1st check in Feb so the wait wasn't too long and the amount was exactly what they had been telling me in the letters I had been getting.
I am expecting the payments to go up slightly since I have been teaching some at night and the schools are putting $$$$ into my SS account so it will be recalced someday.
I am expecting the payments to go up slightly since I have been teaching some at night and the schools are putting $$$$ into my SS account so it will be recalced someday.
straightshooter1
US Veteran
I applied online, and it was really easy.
I got a call about some money I made in 1981 which I really couldn't recall (Reserves paid me for active duty, I think). I told her what I recalled, she said she'd fix it (never quite understood the "problem"), and a few days later I got a letter telling me when I'd get my first check.
It came as stated, and has been on time since.
No way I'd go sit around their office and wait.
I'd like to publicly thank all of you who are still working and paying in for my retirement benefits. I'm still working on getting my own money out of SS, but, after that, I'll be spending yours.
It is the American way, isn't it?
Bob
I got a call about some money I made in 1981 which I really couldn't recall (Reserves paid me for active duty, I think). I told her what I recalled, she said she'd fix it (never quite understood the "problem"), and a few days later I got a letter telling me when I'd get my first check.
It came as stated, and has been on time since.
No way I'd go sit around their office and wait.
I'd like to publicly thank all of you who are still working and paying in for my retirement benefits. I'm still working on getting my own money out of SS, but, after that, I'll be spending yours.
It is the American way, isn't it?
Bob
And they seem powerless to do anything to stop it from going broke.
Evil Dog
US Veteran
I went in to the local office rather than doing it on-line. Much easier to talk to an actual person.
I'm one of those retired LEOs that work security in a SSA office.
The reps make appointments for filing, as it can take a little bit of time (usally about 30-45 minutes) for retirement benefits. That way, folks don't have too much of a wait. They also do telephone appointments. Filing for disability takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
If you file on line and mess up, the local office will call you and tell you how to fix it.
We don't get too many really young ones that apply for disability. We do get a few foreign nationals in ther office, but most are just getting SS cards. Those are here legally, as they have to have papers (visas, work permits, etc) to get a card.
More and more folks are looking for help, due to the economy. A good number of people in their 60s, who aren't really ready to retire, are coming in, due to their jobs disappearing.
The reps make appointments for filing, as it can take a little bit of time (usally about 30-45 minutes) for retirement benefits. That way, folks don't have too much of a wait. They also do telephone appointments. Filing for disability takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
If you file on line and mess up, the local office will call you and tell you how to fix it.
We don't get too many really young ones that apply for disability. We do get a few foreign nationals in ther office, but most are just getting SS cards. Those are here legally, as they have to have papers (visas, work permits, etc) to get a card.
More and more folks are looking for help, due to the economy. A good number of people in their 60s, who aren't really ready to retire, are coming in, due to their jobs disappearing.
rayb
US Veteran
My experience with the local office was so-so.
I started doing an application on-line and that went more or less ok.
About the same time, i got a call from a representative in Albuquerque who was very helpful, had a good knowledge of "the system", gave me some options I didn';t even know I had to consider.
So now I'm still working full time, and drawing a reduced amount at age 67. When I have to start drawing due to age, my payments will be considerably higher since I continued to work and pay into the system.
Medicare, however has been a total nightmare. What a mess that has been. If there is ANY way you can stay out of it i heartily recommend you do so.
My opinion is that you are better off to do as much as possible on line if at all possible.
Your experiences and opinions may vary.
rayb
I started doing an application on-line and that went more or less ok.
About the same time, i got a call from a representative in Albuquerque who was very helpful, had a good knowledge of "the system", gave me some options I didn';t even know I had to consider.
So now I'm still working full time, and drawing a reduced amount at age 67. When I have to start drawing due to age, my payments will be considerably higher since I continued to work and pay into the system.
Medicare, however has been a total nightmare. What a mess that has been. If there is ANY way you can stay out of it i heartily recommend you do so.
My opinion is that you are better off to do as much as possible on line if at all possible.
Your experiences and opinions may vary.
rayb
ncy54
Member
Did online. Piece of cake, as they say. Apply now, so you get your first check on time.
c.marsh
Member
social security////6 yrs ago
i called ahead for appointment.went in with birth cert. an ssc.wait was about 15 minutes.the clerk got me more money than i had figured ..the waiting room was full when i arrived...it may well be to your benefit to go in person/////
i called ahead for appointment.went in with birth cert. an ssc.wait was about 15 minutes.the clerk got me more money than i had figured ..the waiting room was full when i arrived...it may well be to your benefit to go in person/////
