I went through this exact same process with my three kids after my SSDI approval earlier this year! You definitely don't need separate MySocialSecurity accounts for your children - minors can't create their own accounts anyway. Here's what worked for me: Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 right at 8am when they open (this timing is absolutely crucial for getting through quickly) and say exactly this: "I need to file Form SSA-16 applications for auxiliary benefits for my three dependent children based on my approved SSDI record." Have all documents ready before calling: birth certificates and Social Security cards for all three kids, plus your SSDI approval letter. The representative can actually process all three applications over the phone, which saves you from having to visit an office with the kids. Key things to know: - Each child can get up to 50% of your benefit, but with three kids you'll likely hit the family maximum (usually 150-180% of your benefit amount) which might reduce individual payments slightly - You'll automatically be appointed as their representative payee - Benefits should be retroactive to when your SSDI began - file ASAP to maximize back payments! - Processing typically takes 6-8 weeks once applications are submitted - Each child will receive their own separate debit card/payment I received several months of retroactive payments for all three of my kids because I filed immediately after my approval. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected once I got connected with someone knowledgeable. Don't wait - every day you delay means potentially losing retroactive benefits. Good luck and congrats on finally getting approved after such a long wait!

I just went through this exact process with my two kids after my SSDI approval 4 months ago! You definitely don't need separate MySocialSecurity accounts for your children - they can't create accounts as minors anyway. Here's what worked for me: Call 1-800-772-1213 right at 8am when they open (this timing is key!) and say "I need to file Form SSA-16 applications for auxiliary benefits for my three dependent children based on my approved SSDI record." Have their birth certificates, Social Security cards, and your approval letter ready before calling. The representative processed all applications over the phone, which saved me an office visit. Each child is eligible for up to 50% of your benefit, though with three kids you'll likely hit the family maximum (typically 150-180% of your Primary Insurance Amount) which may reduce individual amounts slightly. You'll automatically be their representative payee. Most importantly - file immediately! Their benefits should be retroactive to when your SSDI started, so you could receive back payments for the months since your approval. My kids' applications took about 6 weeks to process and I received several months of retroactive payments. Each child will get their own separate debit card for payments. Don't delay - every day you wait potentially means losing retroactive benefits. The process was much smoother than I expected once I reached someone knowledgeable. Congrats on your approval after such a long wait!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Oliver. This thread has been incredibly informative and shows how supportive this community can be during such difficult times. Yes, to confirm what everyone has said - survivor benefits absolutely do receive annual COLA increases just like all other Social Security benefits. Your benefits won't be frozen at the initial amount, which should help with your long-term budgeting concerns. I wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I was dealing with similar SSA phone issues: if you're having trouble getting through during regular hours, sometimes their automated system will let you schedule a callback appointment. You can often access this option by calling their main number and going through the phone menu - it's not always advertised, but it can save you from sitting on hold for hours. Also, since you mentioned budgeting for the next few years, remember that COLA increases are announced in October but don't take effect until January. The 2024 COLA was 3.2%, and while we don't know what 2025 will be yet, having that predictable January timing can help with your financial planning. You've gotten such excellent advice here about claiming strategies and resources. Take your time working through the numbers - you have valuable options available that are worth exploring carefully. Wishing you strength as you navigate this process.

Oliver, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is one of life's most difficult challenges, and having to navigate these complex benefit rules while grieving adds such an overwhelming burden. I see you've received incredibly thorough and helpful advice in this thread - this community really shows its best when people are facing difficult situations. Everyone has confirmed that yes, survivor benefits absolutely do receive annual COLA increases, so you can count on your benefits adjusting with inflation each January. What strikes me most about this conversation is how it illustrates the gap between what the SSA website provides and what people actually need to understand their options. You came here with a straightforward question about COLA increases and discovered you have valuable claiming strategies available that could significantly impact your financial security for decades to come. The roadmap everyone has laid out for you is excellent: create that online account for benefit estimates, try the early morning phone calls or callback scheduling, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging or SHIP program for free counseling, and then make informed decisions with actual numbers rather than trying to navigate abstract rules. Your thoughtfulness in planning ahead during such a painful time shows real strength. Take comfort in knowing you have time to make these decisions carefully, you have valuable options available to you, and this community will be here to support you through the process. Sending you thoughts of comfort and strength as you work through these important decisions. Please do keep us updated - your journey will undoubtedly help others facing similar circumstances.

I'm currently going through this transition myself and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 65, started Medicare Part B last year while still working, and just began my Social Security benefits this month. Sure enough, I got hit with the double payment too - Medicare took $203 from my bank account AND SSA deducted it from my first SS check. What really bothers me is that this seems to be such a predictable, routine problem that you'd think there would be better coordination by now. I called Medicare this morning using the 1-800-MEDICARE number that everyone recommended, and just like others have mentioned, the rep immediately knew what I was calling about before I finished explaining. She said "Social Security transition?" and I hadn't even gotten that far in my explanation yet! The good news is they were able to stop future bank withdrawals immediately and started the refund process for this month's duplicate payment. They gave me confirmation numbers for both actions, which I wrote down based on the advice in this thread. The rep said to expect a paper refund check in 6-8 weeks. For anyone else dealing with this - definitely call sooner rather than later. The Medicare rep mentioned that the longer you wait, the more complicated it gets to unravel multiple months of duplicate payments. Also, have your Social Security benefit start date handy when you call - they'll ask for it to verify when the SSA deductions began. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it made the whole process much less stressful knowing exactly what to expect!

I'm about to turn 65 next month and will be starting Medicare Part B while continuing to work for another year before taking Social Security. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea this coordination issue existed! It sounds like when I do eventually start my SS benefits, I'll need to immediately call Medicare to stop any bank withdrawals to avoid the double payment nightmare that so many of you have experienced. One question for those who've been through this - is there any advantage to setting up the Medicare Part B payments through Social Security deduction from the very beginning when you first enroll in Medicare, even if you're not taking SS benefits yet? Or do you have to be actively receiving benefits for that option to be available? I'm wondering if there's a way to avoid the bank withdrawal setup altogether and prevent this coordination issue from happening in the first place. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences - this thread should honestly be required reading for anyone approaching Medicare and Social Security eligibility!

dont trust SS to be there when u retire!!! my dad says the whole system is going bankrupt by 2034 and we'll all get reduced benefits anyway so what does it matter

Great question! As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security planning, I'd add that there's another factor to consider: the "bend points" in the benefit formula change annually. The progressive nature means your first dollar of average monthly earnings gets a 90% return, but earnings above certain thresholds get much lower returns (32% and 15%). One thing people often overlook is that if you're married, you'll also want to consider spousal benefits and survivor benefits in your planning. The higher earner's benefit becomes especially important for the surviving spouse. Also worth noting: while maximizing earnings helps, don't sacrifice your health or family life just to boost SS benefits. The difference between a good salary and maximum salary might only translate to a modest increase in monthly benefits due to that progressive formula structure.

I'm new to this community and wanted to first offer my heartfelt condolences on your father's passing. I recently joined after my own family started dealing with Social Security complications, and I've been really impressed by how supportive everyone here has been. Reading through all the responses, it's clear your brother has a strong case for DAC benefits. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from helping a friend navigate SSA issues is to consider bringing a simple notebook to jot down names and employee ID numbers of everyone you speak with at SSA. My friend found this incredibly helpful when she had to follow up later - she could reference specific conversations and the staff seemed to take her more seriously when she had detailed records. Also, if your brother has any current medical documentation that shows his disability onset date, it might be worth bringing that along too. While he's already receiving SSDI so the "disabled before 22" requirement should be clear, having backup documentation never hurts when dealing with government agencies. The advice everyone has shared here about persistence, preparation, and not taking no for an answer is spot on. Best of luck with this process, and please keep us updated on how it goes! This community clearly cares about helping each other through these challenging situations.

I'm new to this community and wanted to first express my sincere condolences on your father's passing. I recently joined after my own family started dealing with Social Security issues, and I've been following this thread with great interest as we're navigating similar challenges. While I don't have personal experience with DAC benefits yet, I wanted to share something I learned when helping my aunt with her SSA paperwork last month. She found it really helpful to create a simple checklist of everything she needed to accomplish during her appointment - not just what documents to bring, but also what questions to ask and what forms to request. This helped her stay focused during what turned out to be a pretty overwhelming meeting with multiple interruptions and distractions. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, it sounds like your checklist might include things like: requesting form SSA-4-BIC, asking for a protective filing date, requesting benefit calculations for both scenarios, asking about backdating to your father's date of death, and making sure to speak with someone who specializes in survivor benefits if the first person seems unfamiliar with DAC benefits. The wealth of knowledge and support in this community is truly remarkable. Everyone who has shared their experiences - both positive and challenging - has created such a valuable resource. Wishing you and your brother all the best as you navigate this process!