I applyed in the end of July of 2005 and completed everything that they wanted and now it has been almost 8 months and still nothing I tried calling and she isn’t calling me back and haven’t recieved anything in the mail. –Jessie

Jonathan Ginsberg responds: Jessie, you don’t say where you live, but it appears to me that something is not right. First, after you apply, you should be sent a written acknowledgement of your claim. If you have not received this, then I would be concerned that your case file has been lost.

Second, the wait for an initial decision is usually three to five months. If it has been eight months, that is too long.

I would suggest the following. First, you should call SSA at 800-772-1213 to see if you are in the system. Confirm that they have your correct address and advise the telephone operator that you have not received anything about your claim.

Second, I would send a letter, return receipt requested, to your local Social Security office. If you have the name of an adjudicator, direct your letter to that person. Ask for a status update and also state in your letter that you have not received a denial notice of your initial application and that this letter should serve as your appeal of any such denial.

Finally, I would enlist the help of your Senator’s office. Every U.S. Senator has one or more staff persons who assist Social Security claimants. Sometimes a phone call or letter from your Senator can get the process moving. If SSA has lost your file, you will want to ask them to “rebuild” it while honoring your original filing date.

–Jonathan