Retirement Social Security

Social Security Is Slowing Down - Here’s How to Get Your Benefits On Time

It may recently have become harder to file for benefits.

By Maurie Backman , Edited by Kristy DeSmit

Updated April 21, 2026

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Many seniors need Social Security benefits for a stress-free retirement. But now, filing for benefits may be trickier than expected. And a big part of the reason boils down to massive staffing cuts.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has reduced headcount at the Social Security Administration (SSA) by roughly 7,500 employees. That includes more than 3,000 employees who were tasked with assisting visitors at SSA field offices and callers to the SSA's national 800 number.

In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that as of January 2026, the SSA had fewer employees than at any time since 1967, at which point the agency served 52 million fewer beneficiaries.

Staffing cuts at the SSA could cause delays in getting benefits, but here's how to minimize the chances of that happening to you.

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Make sure your earnings record is correct

Your Social Security benefits are calculated based on your wages earned during your 35 highest-paid years of work. Earnings are adjusted for inflation in that formula.

Because your specific earnings play a key role in determining your retirement benefits, it's important to make sure the SSA has correct wage information for you on record. If you have earnings that are underreported, it could cause a delay in your benefits if you need to work with the agency to get your wage history corrected before your claim is processed.

For a smoother process filing, check your Social Security statements to make sure they're accurate before you're ready to take benefits. You can access them online by creating a my Social Security account.

Your earnings statements don't just report your wages. They also give you an estimate of your monthly retirement benefits based on different filing ages.

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Apply for benefits online

You have different options for filing for Social Security benefits. You can file by phone, in person, or online.

If you want to get your benefits without a big delay, filing online is generally the best way to go. The SSA's website is available 24/7, and you won't have to wait to speak to anyone or for an in-person appointment to come up.

If you're going to apply for Social Security online, you'll need a my Social Security account. You'll also need to gather some basic information, including:

Your date and place of birth
Your employer details for the current year and two years prior, or self-employment details for that timeframe
Your bank account details for direct deposit of benefits

Call the SSA during off-peak hours

You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. But given recent staffing cuts, wait times can be long. Calling at off-peak hours could minimize the time you're forced to spend on hold.

The SSA reports that wait times to speak to a customer service representative are usually shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. You may want to follow these guidelines to avoid frustration.

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Bring complete documentation when you visit an SSA field office

You may have to wait a while to get an in-person appointment at a local Social Security office. So it's important to make sure you have the right documentation with you if you're going there to file for benefits. Not having complete documentation could delay your claim.

The SSA may ask for:

Your Social Security card
Your original birth certificate or a copy certified by the issuing agency
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were born outside the U.S
A copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) if you served before 1968 (photocopies are okay)
A copy of your W-2 forms and/or self-employment tax return for the previous year (photocopies are okay)

The SSA advises moving forward with your benefits application even if you don't have all of the necessary documents immediately. In some cases, your local Social Security office may be able to contact your state Bureau of Vital Statistics and verify your information at no extra cost, or find other ways to verify your information.

Bottom line

Getting your Social Security benefits on time may be crucial to your retirement plans, especially if you expect those monthly checks to be your main source of income. But given recent staffing cuts, it's important to file as soon as possible to avoid delays.

This especially holds true given that the SSA has postponed the rollout of two national systems that are supposed to centralize case management and appointment scheduling — the National Workload Management System and the National Appointment Scheduling Calendar. Both were initially expected to roll out on March 7. The SSA has confirmed that it still intends to introduce these systems in 2026, but a firm date has not yet been set.

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