I'm new to this community and incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same representative payee email conflict - I'm my elderly father's rep payee and haven't been able to access my own SSA account for over a year now. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring. I was starting to think I was the only one facing this issue, and the regular SSA reps kept telling me my only option was to create a new email address. Like the original poster, I'm not tech-savvy and really don't want to manage multiple email accounts. The specific solutions shared here are exactly what I needed. I'm especially encouraged by Miranda's recent success story - knowing someone resolved this just last week using the "account separation due to representative payee email conflict" phrase gives me hope. I'm planning to try the Claimyr service to reach technical support quickly, then use that exact terminology. For other newcomers who might be reading this, what strikes me most is how this community provided clearer guidance in one thread than months of calling SSA directly. The key seems to be reaching the right department and using the language they understand internally. I'll definitely report back on my results to help other community members. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their solutions and experiences - this is exactly the kind of support that makes navigating these complex government systems possible!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to express how grateful I am to have found this thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same representative payee email conflict issue - I'm my disabled son's rep payee and haven't been able to access my own Social Security account online for almost two years now. Reading through all these detailed responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. Like many others here, I was told by multiple SSA representatives that my only option was to create a new email address, which I really didn't want to do. The specific solutions and terminology shared here - especially phrases like "account separation due to representative payee email conflict" and asking for "Tier 2 technical specialists" - are exactly what I needed to know. I'm particularly encouraged by Miranda's recent success story from last week. Knowing that someone just resolved this issue using the exact steps outlined in this thread gives me the confidence to try this approach myself. I'm planning to use the Claimyr service to reach technical support quickly, then ask specifically for account separation assistance. For other newcomers who might be struggling with this same issue, what really stands out to me is how this community has provided clearer, more actionable guidance than months of calls to regular SSA customer service. It's clear that reaching the right department within SSA and using their internal terminology makes all the difference. I'll definitely report back with my results to help future community members. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable for navigating these complex government systems!

Just joined this community after discovering this incredible thread while battling my own SSA/Login.gov authentication nightmare! I've been trapped in the same endless loop for almost 3 weeks now and was starting to think I was completely losing it until I found all these amazing solutions you've all shared. The email consistency discovery by @Anna Xian is absolutely mind-blowing - I just realized I probably used different variations of my Gmail address (with and without periods, maybe even different capitalization) when setting up my accounts originally. It's incredible that such tiny formatting differences can completely sabotage the integration between two government systems that are supposedly designed to work together. I'm planning to try the complete sign-out + clear all browsing data + Firefox browser method this weekend, making absolutely sure my email addresses are formatted identically across both SSA and Login.gov platforms. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely look into the Claimyr service for getting through to an actual agent since I've had zero success with the regular phone lines. It's honestly both infuriating and comforting to see how many of us are dealing with this exact same issue - clearly demonstrates this is a widespread system integration failure rather than individual user error. The fact that we've all had to become amateur tech support specialists just to access our own Social Security benefits is completely ridiculous, but I'm so grateful this community has created such a comprehensive troubleshooting resource through shared experiences. This thread provides infinitely better support than anything I could find on the official government websites. Thank you all for taking the time to help fellow community members navigate these broken systems - will definitely report back with my results!

Just joined this community after dealing with my own SSA login headaches! This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how everyone has basically created the ultimate troubleshooting guide through trial and error. I've been having similar issues with the Login.gov/SSA loop and was getting nowhere on my own. The email consistency tip from @Anna Xian is brilliant - I never would have thought such small formatting differences could break the entire authentication system. I'm definitely going to try the complete sign-out + Firefox browser method tonight. It's frustrating that we need this level of community detective work just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful everyone here shares their solutions. This collaborative problem-solving is way more effective than any official government support I've encountered. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource!

Congratulations on your incredible response to treatment! That's such wonderful and hopeful news. I can absolutely understand your anxiety about what happens to your benefits if you continue to improve - it's natural to worry about financial security while you're focused on healing. From what I understand, SSA has specific review processes in place precisely because they recognize that medical improvement doesn't automatically equal the ability to return to full work capacity. Cancer treatment, especially for something as serious as stage 4 lymphoma, often leaves lasting effects that can continue to impact your functional abilities even after achieving remission. The fact that you were just recently approved means SSA has your severe baseline condition well documented. Any future review would need to show significant improvement from that starting point, and they'd have to demonstrate that any improvement actually translates to your ability to perform substantial gainful activity. I'd suggest starting to document all your ongoing symptoms and limitations now - things like fatigue levels, cognitive effects, physical stamina, etc. Even as you improve, these treatment-related effects can be significant and relevant to any future disability determination. Most importantly though, focus on your recovery first. You're dealing with something incredibly challenging and the fact that you're responding so well to treatment is cause for celebration. The administrative side can be managed when the time comes, and you'll have advance notice and options if/when any review happens. Sending you best wishes for continued progress with your treatment!

Rami, this is such encouraging news about your treatment response! I'm really happy to hear you're doing so well with the new protocol. I wanted to add something that might help with your planning - SSA actually has what's called a "medical improvement review standard" specifically for situations like yours. When they do review your case (which typically happens 12-18 months after initial approval for cancer cases), they have to prove that any medical improvement is significant enough to restore your ability to work, not just that your condition has improved. What's particularly relevant for lymphoma cases is that SSA recognizes the long-term effects of chemotherapy and other treatments. Things like immune system weakness, chronic fatigue, neuropathy, and cognitive effects ("chemo brain") can all continue to be disabling even if the cancer itself is in remission. My suggestion would be to start keeping detailed records now of how you're feeling day-to-day - energy levels, any concentration issues, physical limitations, etc. This documentation becomes really valuable during reviews because it shows your actual functional capacity rather than just medical test results. Also, make sure your medical team is documenting all the ongoing effects of your treatment, not just tracking the cancer response. The more comprehensive your medical record is about how treatment has affected your overall functioning, the better. You're smart to plan ahead, but try not to let it overshadow celebrating this amazing progress with your health!

As someone who just went through this process with my father last month, I can confirm everything everyone is saying about POA vs representative payee. The most frustrating part was discovering after months of trying to help my dad that Social Security doesn't recognize POA at all - I felt like I'd been spinning my wheels! What really helped me was going to the SSA office in person rather than trying to handle everything over the phone. Yes, you might wait a bit, but having a face-to-face conversation made the whole process much clearer. The representative was able to explain exactly what documents I needed and walked me through the forms right there. One tip that saved me time: before your appointment, make a simple list of your mother's monthly expenses (rent, food, medications, etc.) with rough dollar amounts. They asked about this during the interview to understand how her benefits are being used, and having it ready made me look prepared and responsible. The transition from just POA to having both POA and rep payee status has been night and day. Now when SSA sends notices or if there's any issue with her benefits, I can actually DO something about it instead of feeling helpless. The peace of mind alone is worth the extra paperwork!

I'm new to this community but currently going through a very similar situation with my elderly father. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea that POA doesn't give you any authority with Social Security! I've been managing my dad's finances with POA for about 8 months now, and we recently had an issue with his Social Security payment that I couldn't resolve because SSA wouldn't talk to me. Now I understand why! The social worker at his assisted living facility mentioned representative payee status, but like you, I thought my POA covered everything. Based on all the advice shared here, it sounds like getting both designations is essential for comprehensive care management. The practical tips about calling SSA at 8am, going in person to the office, and having all documentation ready are so helpful. One thing I'm curious about - for those managing both roles, do you find that nursing homes and other care facilities understand the distinction between POA and rep payee authority? Or do you often have to explain which role applies to different financial matters? Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences in this thread - it's exactly the guidance I needed to move forward confidently with the rep payee application for my father!

This is all incredibly helpful! I had no idea about some of these details, especially the monthly grace year provision that Mikayla and Ella mentioned. That could really change my planning since I'm thinking about retiring mid-year anyway. Just to make sure I understand everything correctly: For 2025, the limit is $23,400 annually, but in my first year of claiming benefits I only need to stay under $1,950 per month for the months I'm actually receiving Social Security? And then it switches to the annual calculation after that first year? Also, does anyone know if there are good online calculators that can help figure out the breakeven point between claiming at 62 with reduced benefits vs waiting until full retirement age? I think Savannah made a really good point about doing those calculations before deciding.

Just wanted to add one more important consideration that might help with your decision - if you're planning to work at your daughter's bakery, make sure you understand the difference between being an employee vs. being self-employed. If you're officially an employee getting a W-2, then your earnings are straightforward for the SSA calculations. But if you're considered self-employed (getting a 1099 or working as a contractor), the earnings test gets more complicated because it's based on net self-employment income after business expenses. Also, since you mentioned needing the extra income, don't forget that even if some of your Social Security gets withheld due to the earnings test, you'll get credit for those withheld benefits when you reach full retirement age - so it's more like a temporary reduction rather than money you lose forever. This might factor into your decision about whether to claim at 62 or wait. The online calculators Santiago mentioned are definitely worth using, especially since your situation involves ongoing part-time work rather than just a simple retire-and-claim scenario.