Thank you, very helpful.

That option to log in directly using SSA username no-longer works (even if the account was created before 2021). I had an account I created many years ago and that direct login worked ok up to about November last year when I was forced to switch to login.gov or ID.me. I mentioned a few days ago that when you switch to login.gov (assuming you can get verified), SSA will still need to mail you a one-time setup code to link your login.gov credentials with the SSA website. That's what happened to both myself and my wife.

Thank you. I'll be in the UK on 24 April, but judging by comments in this forum may be best to file online ?
Going to US Embassy in London isn't a problem for me if required to do so.
I'm just concerned by the posts here indicating all the delays in filing with the US Embassy in UK.
Charlottesville is my local SS office but unless I delay my return date to UK to 24 April, I can't file here unless I extend my stay (which I'm considering).

My recollection is the same as yours - I was forced to create the login.gov/id.me account, even though I had a legacy 'SSA' login. But what puzzles me is - if they no longer allow anyone to use the 'third option' (SSA username/pwd) then why do they bother showing it on the screen as a choice? Maybe if you click on it you get a screen telling you to set up the login.gov/id.me logins. Nope - I just tried it for grins, and when you click on the third option, it prompts you for username / pwd! I don't want to experiment beyond that screen in case it causes conflict with my new account so it will have to remain a mystery.

It did not ask that as a direct question, believe it or not! But it does calculate it for you based on answers to other questions, and presents it to you for confirmation.

First of all, a very early screen in the process tells you "We may use (today's date) as the official date of your application for Social Security benefits. In order to use (today's date), we must receive the signed application by (SIX months later date) or you may lose Social Security benefits". But this is a reference to the 'signed application' - presumably the FINAL step of the process, and is presumably a 'worst case, latest possible' date if everything gets delayed. Since I'm applying for benefits in March, 4 months ahead of the desired July start date, it makes little sense to be talking about a deadline of in September.

A bit later in the application, I got this screen:


This was a bit confusing but since I was applying the full 4 months ahead of when I wanted benefits to start, it was giving me the chance to request the benefits to start earlier than the 4 months hence date (eg, next month, or 2 months from now). Choosing the first option guarantees you get the 'full benefit'. But note, there's no option for 'later than' the 'full benefit' date - the option to wait longer and get more '(age-related bonus?). But maybe the options presented on this screen are driven by other factors (your age, when you are applying, etc). Had I been applying 2 months from now, it may present different options on this screen (age-related reduction, no reduction, age-related bonus?)

Because I chose the 'earliest month possible without ..' option, and because I was applying 4 months in advance, I then got a screen that said 'Based on the information provided, benefits will begin (4 months from now)". So - no, I did not directly enter 'when' I wanted to receive benefits, but I did get a confirmation from them as to when I would receive benefits.

I think an important factor to keep in mind when talking about 'the application' is that there are three components to talk about - there is an 'application submission' event - the date you start the process, which is dead easy - then there is an application processing period, which can be very lengthy and may include multiple interactions with the SSA folks, and then there is a final 'application complete' event, which is when everything is finally signed off and approved. I can pretty much confirm that the application submission bit is simple, but the application processing bit could be troublesome.

Helpful, thank you. OH will be starting one year prior to full pension age, and will accept that reduction (he reckons he can do more with that money than SS can), but doesn't want it to go through any earlier than that. He is expecting the application process to be long, so was thinking to apply early, but if he can't specify a month then he had best leave it until the four month mark. With DOGE fingers now in the social security system we're a bit worried that things might grind to a halt in terms of processing stuff.

In reality, we have no idea when, or if, things may get gummed up. Things may bump along for months and then suddenly fall apart when they start re-writing bits. Or things could fall apart tomorrow, and then recover in a year. Or it may be years before the sh*t really hits the fan. And of course, the mid-terms could return some sanity to the universe, and if you just wait a couple of years all could be well again. We just don't know.

My approach is - get started now, and just see how it goes.

Another thing occurred to me today, in terms of documenting your SS in case their records get screwed up. I get paid a certain amount every four weeks, with two deductions taken out; Medicare pt B premium, and income tax withholding. (The latter is purely voluntary, the former is the default for folks over Medicare age, although, if you wish, you don’t have to have it deducted - you can choose to pay it directly to Medicare.)

If things go to pot they may stop paying those deductions to IRS and to Medicare. Something else to document manually and/or worry about.

And for those without much in the way of alternate income, who will be in serious difficulties if they miss even a single check, it's very difficult to just "wait and see what happens". If you have a cushion, ok, but if you don't...

I can login into the login.gov - and get the code sent (to my UK phone) and it takes me to a SSA page where it says "Next, we need to verify your identity to give you access to online services." - wanting all my details (which it has) - not least since when I fill it all in a click next, it says "You already have an existing Social Security account"....

Have you tried ID.me? Mine is working fine, and we will attempt to set up one for OH.

Is this your first time using this route? I don't recall now since I've done it several times, but I'm wondering if this is because it's your first time through that particular route. Does a second pass through the whole process repeat the 'we need to verify your identity...' step again?

My only other thought is, do you have aggressive cookie blocking or similar? I'm wondering if 'login.gov' is somehow transferring key info to ssa.gov during the login process, and you are somehow blocking that. Long shot.

So we had something a bit like this with id.me. Husband already had an account from last year. On trying to sign in this week it also gave the "we need to verify" message and it knew he already had an account. So he had an account, but there is now a verification step as well. Can't remember what we gave it the first time, but we had to do it all again. So he just went through the verification steps including the live video bit. All quite easy.

I just logged in again, to see if my application had proceeded from Step 1 to Step 2, and got this:


"We're sorry, we cannot provide your Benefit Application Status at this time ...".

Not what I was hoping for, but I'll check back next week. (It is Friday night; maybe the computers have taken the weekend off ).

That is so frustrating but hopefully the systems will be working again next week.

Has Musk been firing staff again?