[cordenny]

I will be applying for Social Security Benefits. I was wondering what experiences you have had either applying in person, or online, or over the phone. I thought I was calling far in advance for an appointment, but there is a 2 month wait.

I would appreciate any and all advice.

Thank you.

[New Englander]

Online. Easy peasy.

[ureout]

I did it on line.. it was easy

[Roll With It]

I made an appointment and did it at the office. I wanted to make sure I was doing it correctly. I'm old school!

[asianthree]

Our office was 78 day wait. I walked SS office signed in. 45 minutes later sitting down with a person.

[manaboutown]

Over the telephone about eleven years ago. All I had to do was mail them a certified copy of my birth certificate which they returned to me. Pre digital world. I ended up speaking to two different ladies, both knowledgable and pleasant.

[jnieman]

Three years ago on line. Took about 15 minutes. If you wish you can sign up to have taxes taken out. I did.

[smurphy]

I applied online and about a year later,my wife did the same.

You fill out the application online and a few weeks later, they will call you, go over the application with you, answer any questions and they finalize the application. In that call they will then let you know what your options are, your amount and when your first payment will be.

[malbe]

I applied for social security online and four weeks later received a letter in the mail to contact a Ms Jones at the social security office.
I called for seven days and left seven voice mails with no return calls. Finally my luck changed and she answered the phone. Looked
up my information and told me my account was marked as "fraud". She told me I would have to go into my local office and put me
on hold to make an appointment for me. When we got off hold she told me someone from my local office would be contacting me. Seven more days go by and no return phone calls. I called my local office and was told that I should come in immediately if it was for fraud. I went in the next day and was told they couldn't see me and to come back on the following Monday. Finally on that Monday everything was straightened out once I provided my driver license everything was good. If I could do it again, I would do it in person.

[Marathon Man]

Online. First you need to set up your account with the SSA. After that, you can apply on line. You can also see your earning history, benefits table, etc.

Best way to go in my opinion.

[raynan]

Online.

[queasy27]

I completed everything online and got my card in the mail. Nobody called me to follow up.

I needed to go to the office in Leesburg last year to straighten something else out, and strongly recommend, if possible, going mid-month, mid-week, and late in the afternoon. That reduced my original three-hour wait to 40 minutes.

[NECHFalcon68]

Online...register for an account and sign up to receive all correspondence via email.
Seamless process. In my experience, one of the few government sites that appears to work well.
And it allows for more time to enjoy retirement.

[2BNTV]

By phone over 8 years ago. I called about 7 Pm and the SS rep was in Seattle.

She explained all payment options to me as I took my benefit one year before full retirement age. It was a pleasant experience. Easy peasy.

I recommend calling them late in the day as I got thru with the minimal wait time.