Have you ever been waiting for a Social Security payment for days and it didn’t arrive? In millions of households, Social Security (SSA) is the primary and sole source of income.
Retirees rely solely on Social Security for their benefits, so when payments are delayed or irregular, we become extremely concerned.
What’s happened to our money? Here we will tell you what to do when your money is delayed, and most importantly, what you must do to recover your money and avoid headaches.
Why are your payments delayed?
There are several reasons why your payment may not have reached its destination (your wallet) and some are much more common than you think:
- Problems with your bank: your bank may have withheld the funds because you have irregularities in your account or possible verifications that you have not yet performed.
- Social Security may have outdated information about you, which could result in payments being delayed (or never arriving at all)
- If you no longer qualify for the benefit you are applying for, Social Security will most likely take that benefit away
How do I make a claim?
The first step in making a claim is to determine what is wrong with your application. Once we’ve determined what’s wrong with our payment, we can proceed to claim it.
- Talk to your bank: As we previously stated, it is most likely a bank issue, so the first thing you should do is check to see if your bank is withholding your funds. You must ensure that your bank account is free of irregularities, has no outstanding debts, and that your bank details are up to date. If this process is complete, you can proceed to the next step.
- It is time to contact the Social Security Administration; you can do so in person at a local office or by phone; remember to bring your Social Security number, any documents proving your eligibility for the payment (such as bank account statements), and any notification you have received from this entity. They will investigate the problem and provide you with a solution!
And for the future, can I avoid delays?
Of course! There is nothing worse than waiting for something that never arrives, so here are some tips you can follow to avoid future delays:
- Make sure Social Security has your updated information, including addresses and bank details. If you change banks, notify them immediately so they can deposit your payments into the new account.
- Social Security payments have specific dates. Familiarize yourself with the schedule so you know when to expect your benefits. Remember that regular payments and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) do not always arrive on the same day.
- Check your bank account regularly to make sure everything is in order. If there are changes to your account or other payments, notify Social Security as soon as possible.
And remember not to wait too long when payments start to be delayed, the sooner you notify us, the sooner we can offer you a solution!
