Social security retirement benefit application

[Anonymous]

Anyone knows how long it takes for social security early retirement benefit application to be approved online? I turn 62 on mid-May, and I applied online back at March. It has been more than 2 months already, and it is still pending status online. I have tried to call, either no one answers or get transferred to voicemail (and no one ever calls me back after I left multiple voicemail). Do I have to drop by the Rockville office to talk to someone instead or it is standard that it takes that long to be processed?

[Anonymous]

"Please note that relatively few people can begin receiving a benefit at exact age 62 because a person must be 62 throughout the first month of retirement. Thus most early retirees begin at age 62 and 1 month." https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/earlyretire.html

So you aren't eligible for benefits until June anyway.

SSA is very understaffed. Keep calling (either the local office or the national 800 number) and if you want, contact your Representative and/or Senators to sign a release and have their case work staff help you inquire about the status. I know the head caseworker in Jamie Raskin's office and this type of work is a big part of what they do.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard about 3 months.

[Anonymous]

Have you done the math on taking retirement at 62? If you expect to live a long life, it pays to wait until 65 or even later.