My Social Security experience

With all the political chaos surrounding Social Security in the Trump Administration, I thought it might be useful to report on my experience. I submitted an online for Social Security payments on 11 December 2024, with benefits requested to start in March 2025. You can’t request a day, only a month. I was notified on my SS page that the application had been received on 11 December and that it was under review in an office in Pennsylvania. The notification also said that the review process typically takes 30 days and that I'd be notified if there were any problems. On January 10 (30 days), my SS page still said the application was under review. Same on 9 February (60 days). On 28 March, I was notified that my application was approved.

During this time, I learned a couple of useful things: (1) like your pay check, SS checks drop at the end of the month, (2) it normally takes 3-5 months from the date of application for the first check to arrive and (3) if your check is delayed past the first month you requested, you’ll still get the money starting from the first month you requested. I’m one of the fortunate Americans who doesn’t depend on SS to make ends meet, so a delay in my SS check wasn’t going to land me in the street and the wait wasn’t stressful.

In the event, my SS check for March 2025 was deposited on 1 April, three and a half months after I applied, but right on schedule for the month I requested. My advice is to apply as soon as you can (four months before the month you request is the earliest).