How long does it take to start receiving social security benefits after applying?

Without delays concerning the pandemic, it can take the Social Security Administration (SSA) about six weeks to process an application. For many people, this benchmark is even too long. For someone requiring support to survive, six weeks can be an eternity.

Another factor which affects the turnaround time of applications is making sure your application is correct; mistakes obviously make the process longer.

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What information do you need to be in order?

Some of the most important information the SSA needs are:

For people not born in the US, documents pertaining to your citizenship are also required.

How large is the Social Security COLA increase for 2022?

In October, the SSA announced a historic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 5.9 percent that will be applied to benefits for 2022. The increase makes history as the highest offered to seniors in over forty years and is mostly a result of higher than normal inflation brought on by multiple factors resulting from the covid-19 pandemic.

In just one year, prices in the US have increased 6.8 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In November, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent, following a jump of 0.9 percent in October. The COLA increase is needed to prevent a real-term benefit cut, but inflation is still outstrpping it.

When will the hike to Social Security benefits take effect?

The boost will benefit around 70 million people who receive either Social Security and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It will begin on December 30, 2021, when around 8 million SSI recipients will see their first payments based on the COLA 2022. The remaining beneficiaries can expect their first check with the increase reflected in January.