I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. This whole situation sounds incredibly stressful on top of everything else you're dealing with. I went through something very similar when my father-in-law passed away in 2022. What finally worked for me was a combination of persistence and knowing exactly who to talk to at both organizations. For SSA, in addition to the forms others mentioned, try calling their dedicated "Report a Death" line at 1-800-772-1213. Sometimes this gets you to specialists who handle these cases more efficiently than the general customer service line. When you call, specifically mention that the bank is withholding estate funds pending the reclamation, and ask if they can expedite or provide written confirmation of the timeline. For the bank, definitely try the Trust/Estate Services route others suggested, but also ask them about their "compassionate release" policy. Many banks have provisions for releasing funds for specific final expenses (like burial costs or memorials) even while holding the SSA amount. The veteran's marker base should absolutely qualify as a legitimate final expense. One more thing - if your father's bank is a member of the FDIC, you can also file a complaint directly with the FDIC if they continue to be unreasonable. Banks take federal regulatory complaints very seriously. Your father's service to our country deserves to be properly honored. Keep pushing - you're advocating for him exactly as he would have wanted you to do.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. This bureaucratic nightmare is exactly what grieving families shouldn't have to deal with. I went through a nearly identical situation when my dad passed away last year. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration: 1. **Call SSA's dedicated death reporting line at 1-800-772-1213** (as Katherine mentioned) - this bypasses the general customer service maze and connects you directly to death benefit specialists. 2. **File both SSA-1724 AND SSA-721 forms** - the combination really speeds things up. You can actually submit the 1724 online through your SSA account if you create one. 3. **Request written confirmation** from SSA that shows the death has been reported and provides their timeline for reclamation (usually 60-90 days). 4. **Call your father's bank's corporate number** and ask specifically for "Estate Services" or "Fiduciary Services" - not the local branch. Tell them you need funds released for legitimate final expenses under their "compassionate release" policy. 5. **Document everything** - dates, names, what was said. This paper trail becomes crucial if you need to escalate. The bank legally cannot freeze the entire account indefinitely - only the SSA payment amount. If they continue refusing after you speak with Estate Services, mention you'll be filing complaints with both your state banking commission and the FDIC. Your father served our country and deserves that proper memorial. This will get resolved - you just need to get to the right people who actually understand the process. Thank you for his service.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation! Applied for my retirement benefits in late November and I'm also stuck at step 2. Haven't gotten any of those mysterious text messages yet, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm almost expecting them now! It's both frustrating and somewhat reassuring to see I'm not alone in this. The inconsistency in processing times and communication from SSA is really concerning - some people waiting 6 weeks, others 14+ weeks, all for what should be straightforward applications. @Zara Mirza - I hope you get some movement on your application soon! Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you're still within the normal (albeit frustrating) timeframe. Thanks for posting this - it's been really helpful to read everyone's advice and experiences.

Welcome to the community! I'm also a newcomer here but unfortunately not new to SSA delays. I submitted my disability application 8 months ago and it's been a rollercoaster of confusing communications and long waits. What strikes me about your situation @Zara Mirza is how common these phantom text messages seem to be - I've gotten them too! It's like their notification system is completely disconnected from their actual case management. I've learned to just ignore the texts at this point since they never correspond to anything real in my account. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all my interactions with SSA - dates of calls, reference numbers, what each rep told me, etc. It's been invaluable when I have to call back because at least I can reference exactly what was said before. The inconsistency in information between different representatives is mind-boggling. Hang in there - from what I've seen in this thread, retirement claims do seem to move faster than disability once they get going. Hopefully you'll see movement soon!

Coming back to your original question: In Iowa specifically, there are no state-specific rules that would make POA arrangements affect Social Security or Medicare differently than federal guidelines. The same federal rules apply in all states. As long as your father's own income and resources haven't changed, his benefits should remain the same regardless of the POA arrangement.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your dad's memory is getting worse, you might want to consider setting up automatic bill pay for his essential expenses (utilities, Medicare premiums, etc.) through his bank account. This can help ensure nothing gets missed while you're managing his finances under the POA. Most banks can set this up easily and it gives you one less thing to worry about each month. Also, if he hasn't already, make sure he has you listed as an authorized person on his Medicare account so you can help with any issues that come up with his coverage.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Selena. This is definitely a situation where you need to be proactive with SSA. I worked as a benefits counselor for several years and can confirm what others have said - you absolutely must contact them yourself to report the death and apply for survivor benefits. They don't have an automatic system that switches divorced spouse benefits to survivor benefits when an ex-spouse dies. The good news is that your monthly payment should increase substantially - survivor benefits can be much higher than the 50% maximum you get with divorced spouse benefits. Since you started benefits at 62, you'll still have some reduction, but it should be a significant improvement over your current $1,275. Make sure to call as soon as possible and have all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree). Document the date you first report his death, as they can backdate payments to that date. Don't let them tell you the process will take months - while processing can take 4-6 weeks, they should be able to give you a timeline and keep you updated.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Selena. I went through this exact situation 3 years ago when my ex-husband passed away. You absolutely need to contact SSA immediately - they will NOT automatically switch your benefits, even though you're already in their system as his ex-spouse. I was receiving about $1,100/month in divorced spouse benefits, and after applying for survivor benefits, it increased to $1,750/month. The process took about 5 weeks once I submitted all the paperwork. Make sure you have his death certificate, your marriage certificate, and divorce decree ready when you call. Most importantly, document the exact date you first report his death to SSA - they backdate the increased payments to that date, not when they finish processing your application. Don't delay on this - every month you wait potentially means losing money you're entitled to. The 22-year marriage definitely qualifies you, and the survivor benefit should be significantly higher than your current payment even with the early filing reduction.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the comprehensive guidance shared in this thread! I'm currently helping my cousin navigate her first SSI back pay situation, and finding this discussion has been incredibly reassuring. What really stands out is the consistent advice from multiple people who have successfully been through this exact process: formal written rental agreements, fair market rent calculations, early establishment of payment patterns, meticulous documentation, and proactive SSA communication. The fact that so many community members have navigated this successfully using the same approach gives me tremendous confidence. I wanted to add something we learned from our local SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) program coordinator - they recommended creating a simple "payment log" where your sister records each housing payment with date, check number (or transfer confirmation), amount, and purpose. This creates an additional contemporaneous record that complements all the bank documentation everyone has mentioned. Also, our coordinator emphasized that the rental agreement should specify exactly what's included (utilities, internet, parking, etc.) so there's no ambiguity about what the payment covers. This prevents any questions during reviews about whether additional support is being provided. The documentation toolkit everyone has built here is incredible - market analysis, expense worksheets, benefits files, calendar tracking, photos of shared living space, notarization options. This thread has become such a valuable master guide for properly using SSI back pay for housing while maintaining benefits eligibility. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and professional insights. This community's collective wisdom is truly invaluable for successfully navigating these complex systems!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive discussion! I'm currently helping my disabled sister navigate a very similar SSI back pay situation, and the wealth of practical advice shared here has been more valuable than anything I could find through official channels. What really strikes me is how consistently everyone emphasizes the same key requirements: formal written rental agreements, fair market rent calculations, early establishment of consistent payment patterns, comprehensive documentation, and proactive SSA communication. Seeing multiple community members share successful experiences using this exact approach gives me tremendous confidence that this is the right path forward. I wanted to add one insight from our recent meeting with a local disability rights attorney - they stressed the importance of having your sister personally make each rent payment from her own account, rather than having you handle any of the financial transactions on her behalf. This reinforces her independence and autonomy in the arrangement, which SSA views favorably when evaluating whether it's a legitimate housing arrangement versus family assistance. The documentation strategies everyone has shared are absolutely brilliant - from rental market analysis to expense worksheets to payment logs and benefits files. This thread has essentially created a complete playbook for properly using SSI back pay for housing expenses while maintaining benefits eligibility. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences and hard-won knowledge. This community's collective wisdom is truly invaluable for successfully navigating these complex government systems!