Actually, that's not correct. These are different benefit types with different eligibility rules and payment structures. Child's benefits and mother's/father's benefits are calculated differently and have different termination points. It's important to understand which is which for financial planning.

well thats what they told me when i applied but mayb my worker was wrong idk the whole system is so confusing

Thank you for sharing your experience. That sudden drop at 16 sounds scary. My youngest is only 6, so I have time, but I need to make sure I'm prepared for that change. I wish SSA would make this clearer in their communications.

Legal blindness doesn't always mean total blindness. I use screen reading software plus high contrast settings. Some legally blind people can still see shapes, light, and even read with strong magnification. But I'm blind enough that I can't drive, can't read normal print, and qualify for SSDI.

Finally got through yesterday! The agent confirmed what some of you suggested - it's a retroactive payment for the difference between my SSDI benefit and my dad's higher benefit rate (which I'm now receiving as a disabled adult child). The check is legitimate and I can deposit it. They're sending formal documentation explaining everything. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

That's exactly what I was worried about! Their letters can be so confusing. I'll make sure to read any notices extra carefully when I get closer to FRA. Thanks for sharing your dad's experience.

Wait so if my wife gets a spousal benefit from my SSDI, will her amount change when I convert to retirement? I'm confused because I thought spousal benefits were different percentages for disability vs retirement?

Spousal benefits are generally calculated the same way whether they're based on a disability or retirement record - typically 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount if claimed at the spouse's full retirement age. If your wife is receiving a spousal benefit now, it should remain the same after conversion.

That's really interesting! I have no idea if his lawyer mentioned it or not. This was back in 2000 so it was a long time ago. Maybe they didn't consider it or maybe they didn't care about it at the time. I bet a lot of people don't think about Social Security implications during divorce, especially when they're younger. Good to know that lawyers do sometimes advise on this!

While I understand your frustration with the seeming arbitrariness of a strict cutoff, benefit eligibility rules often need clear lines. A prorated system might seem fairer but would be much more complex to administer. The 10-year duration requirement was established to ensure a substantial relationship existed before entitlement to benefits on another person's record. Without some defined threshold, determining eligibility would become subjective. It may help to remember that someone who doesn't qualify for divorced spouse benefits can still receive benefits based on their own work record, and there are other safety nets like SSI for those with limited resources.

I was born in October 1960, so I'll turn 65 in October 2025. My full retirement age is 67, so I won't reach that until 2027. So I'll definitely be subject to the earnings test for all of 2025 and 2026.

This is extremely helpful, thank you! I think this is exactly the strategy I'll follow. I'll talk to my employer about reducing my hours starting July 2025, and I'll file my application a few months before that. Really appreciate everyone's advice here - this was much more helpful than I expected!

That's very good advice - I'll definitely document everything. Better safe than sorry. I really appreciate the tip!

Thankfully it's just my son receiving benefits on my record right now. My current wife has her own Social Security from her work history. This all makes much more sense now - I really appreciate everyone's help!

Good question for clarification, but the rule about not being entitled to benefits for the month of death actually applies to both regular Social Security retirement/survivors/disability (OASDI) and SSI. The main difference is in how they handle payments already made. For SSI, payments are for the current month, while regular Social Security payments are for the previous month.

You've summarized it perfectly. And yes, these administrative tasks are incredibly challenging during a time of grief. Just take it one step at a time. Remember to check if there are any other potential survivor benefits that might apply to her immediate family members, if applicable.

knew it!! exact same thing happened to me. glad you got your answer!

Great news! IRMAA adjustments are one of the most common reasons for unexpected deposits. For anyone else reading this in the future: if your income drops due to a life-changing event (retirement, death of spouse, divorce, etc.), you can file Form SSA-44 to request an IRMAA reduction without waiting for your next tax return to be processed.

For me, it's a combination of factors. First, I have some health concerns that run in my family, so longevity isn't guaranteed. Second, I've run the calculations and determined that my break-even point is around age 80 - meaning I'd need to live past 80 for waiting to claim later to pay off. Third, I have other retirement savings I can draw from, so I'm planning to use SS for basic expenses and preserve my other investments. But everyone's situation is different!

Thanks for sharing! Those are good points to consider. I'm still healthy at 61 but who knows what the future holds. Maybe I should rethink my strategy...

That's a really good point I hadn't considered. I'll have to look at my budget to see if I can stretch my savings for those extra months. It might be worth it to avoid dealing with benefit reductions and potential overpayments. Thanks for the suggestion!

OH! That makes sense now, thanks for explaining. So the person who started this thread, their dad died in January and the January payment (received in January) was actually for December so they should be able to keep it? Or am I still confused?

No, that's not quite right. The payment received in January is for December (which they're entitled to keep). But if SSA sent a payment in February (for January), that's the one that would need to be returned since the person wasn't alive for the entire month of January. In the original poster's case, it sounds like their father received the January payment (for December) before he died on January 18th, and that's the payment SSA would reclaim because payments are paid in arrears.

Glad you got it resolved! Did you end up having a long wait time to speak with someone?

Yes, I was on hold for over an hour and got disconnected twice before finally getting through. Wish I'd known about that Claimyr service you mentioned before I spent half my day on this! But at least it's handled now.