I've been receiving Social Security benefits for about 3 years now and absolutely agree with everyone recommending checking accounts. The flexibility is essential when you're managing monthly expenses on a fixed income. One thing I'd add that I don't see mentioned much - consider asking your bank about their fraud protection specifically for Social Security recipients. Some banks have enhanced monitoring for accounts that receive government benefits, which can provide extra security against scams and unauthorized transactions. Given how much seniors are targeted by scammers (as others have mentioned), this extra layer of protection has given me real peace of mind. Also, if you have adult children or family members you trust, consider adding them as authorized users on your account (not joint owners, just authorized). This way if you ever have a health emergency or need help managing finances temporarily, they can assist you without having to go through complicated legal processes. You maintain full control but have a backup plan. The transition to retirement income takes some getting used to, but having that reliable deposit every month becomes such a comfort. You're going to do great!

Congratulations on your retirement! I've been receiving Social Security benefits for about 18 months now and definitely recommend going with a checking account for your direct deposit. The flexibility is crucial - you'll be using those funds for regular monthly expenses, and the withdrawal limitations on savings accounts can be really frustrating. One thing I learned that helped me a lot: ask your bank if they have a "Social Security notification" service. Mine sends me an email the morning my deposit hits, which helps me plan my monthly budget and bills. Also, some banks waive certain fees or offer perks for Social Security recipients - mine waives the monthly maintenance fee and gives me free checks, which adds up over time on a fixed income. I'd also suggest taking advantage of online banking if you haven't already. Being able to monitor your account and set up automatic bill payments has made managing my retirement finances so much easier. The peace of mind that comes with that reliable monthly deposit is honestly one of the best parts of this transition. You're going to love having that predictable income after all those years of work. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

I'm new to this community, but I wanted to share some advice based on my experience helping my cousin navigate a very similar situation with her son who has multiple disabilities. One thing that really helped us was understanding that you can actually request what's called a "disability-only determination" when you apply for SSI. This allows SSA to make the medical disability decision separate from the financial eligibility decision. So even if you're denied SSI payments due to income/resources, you can still get an official determination that your son meets SSA's definition of disability. This can be incredibly valuable for other programs and services, and it means you won't have to go through the entire medical review process again when your financial situation changes. Also, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of any accommodations or modifications you've had to make at home for your son's safety and care. Things like door alarms, cabinet locks, bathroom modifications, etc. These demonstrate the extent of his supervision needs and can be important evidence of functional limitations. Another tip - if your son receives any services through your state's developmental disabilities waiver program or similar services, make sure to include documentation of those services and assessments in your SSI application. These agencies often have comprehensive functional assessments that align well with what SSA is looking for. You're absolutely making the right choice to start this process now. Having that protective filing date and medical determination in place will save you months when your life insurance income ends. The system is complex, but you're clearly being a great advocate for your son!

I'm new to this community, but I wanted to share something that helped us when we went through this exact situation with my son who has autism and seizure disorder. One thing I learned that might be really valuable for you is to make sure you understand the difference between "concurrent benefits" and how they're calculated. When someone receives both survivor benefits and SSI, SSA uses what's called the "windfall offset" - basically, they subtract most of the survivor benefit amount from the maximum SSI payment. So if the maximum SSI is $943 and your son gets $1,275 in survivor benefits, he wouldn't get any SSI payment. BUT - and this is important - he would still be considered an SSI recipient for purposes of automatic Medicaid eligibility and other program qualifications. Also, I'd suggest asking specifically about "continued disability reviews" when you apply. Since your son will likely need lifelong support, understanding how often SSA will review his case and what triggers those reviews can help you stay prepared. For children with conditions like autism and genetic disorders, the reviews are often less frequent, but it's good to know what to expect. Another resource that was incredibly helpful for us was connecting with your state's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). These centers specialize in helping families navigate both educational and disability benefit systems, and they often have staff who really understand how SSI interacts with special education services. You're definitely taking the right approach by applying now. Even though the financial denial is almost certain, establishing that medical determination and protective filing date will be crucial when your life insurance income ends. The process is overwhelming, but you're clearly being a strong advocate for your son and asking all the right questions!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. This situation is unfortunately very common and incredibly frustrating to deal with during an already difficult time. One thing that might help expedite the SSA reclamation process is to also file Form SSA-721 ("Statement Regarding the Disposition of a Check Drawn on the United States Treasury") along with the SSA-1724 that others mentioned. This form specifically addresses the return of benefits paid after death and can sometimes speed things up. Also, when dealing with the bank, try asking specifically if they have a "deceased account specialist" or "bereavement services" department. Many larger banks have specialized staff who handle these situations daily and understand the proper procedures much better than general customer service. If you're still having trouble after trying these suggestions, you might want to contact your state's Attorney General's office - they often have consumer protection divisions that can intervene in banking disputes, especially when estate funds are being improperly withheld. Your father's military service deserves to be properly honored, and you shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for legitimate estate expenses. Keep pushing - this will get resolved!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. What you're dealing with is unfortunately very common but still incredibly frustrating during such a difficult time. One thing that might help is to know that most banks have a specific timeframe they're supposed to follow for SSA reclamations - typically they should only hold funds for 60-90 days maximum while waiting for SSA to reclaim the payment. If it's been over 2 months as you mentioned, they may actually be exceeding their own internal guidelines. When you call the bank's Estate Services department (which I highly recommend based on the other excellent advice here), ask them specifically what their written policy is regarding timeframes for holding SSA payments. Many banks will actually release the funds after a certain period if SSA hasn't acted, especially when presented with proper executor documentation and the SSA forms showing you've initiated the reclamation process. Also, since your father was a veteran, you might want to reach out to your county's Veterans Service Officer. They often have experience dealing with these exact situations and may know specific contacts at both SSA and local banks who can help expedite things. Many counties have these officers available to help veterans' families navigate bureaucratic issues like this. Your father served our country and deserves that proper memorial. Don't give up - you're doing everything right, and this will get resolved. Thank you for his service.

One more important detail - you mentioned you've been divorced for about 3 years, which is perfect. For divorced spouse benefits, you must be unmarried OR if you remarried, you can only get benefits on your ex's record if your current marriage happened after you turned 60. Just wanted to make sure that wasn't an issue in your case!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact process last year! I was born in 1952, divorced after 18 years of marriage, and successfully used the restricted application strategy. The key things that helped me: 1) I brought all my paperwork organized (divorce decree, marriage certificate, both our Social Security statements), 2) I was very clear with the SSA rep that I wanted ONLY divorced spouse benefits and would file for my own at 70, and 3) I got everything in writing before leaving the office. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got my appointment. Now I'm collecting about $1,200/month on my ex's record while my own benefit grows by 8% each year until I turn 70. It's been a huge financial help during this transition period! Good luck with your appointment - you're making a smart move!

As a newcomer to this community, I found this entire discussion incredibly enlightening! I'm in a somewhat similar situation (turning 63 next year, still working, also divorced after 15+ years of marriage) and had no idea these benefit matrices even existed. Reading through everyone's explanations has been more helpful than anything I've found online. The clarification about the rule changes for those born after 1954 is particularly important - I had been under the impression I could still do the "file and suspend" strategy I'd read about, but apparently that's no longer an option. @Mei Liu - your situation really mirrors mine, and seeing how methodically you worked through understanding your options gives me hope I can do the same. I think I need to request my own benefit matrix and start planning now rather than waiting until I'm closer to 62. Thank you to everyone who contributed their knowledge here. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that makes navigating Social Security so much less intimidating!

As someone who just joined this community and is facing a similar crossroads at 61, I can't thank you all enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! I've been putting off dealing with my Social Security planning because it felt so overwhelming, but seeing how methodically you all worked through @Mei Liu's situation has given me the confidence to tackle my own. I had no idea about the earnings test implications for early claiming while still working - that's a huge factor I hadn't considered. The clarification about the rule changes eliminating the old "file and suspend" strategies is also crucial information that I haven't seen clearly explained elsewhere. What strikes me most is how personalized these decisions really are. It's not just about the numbers on the matrix, but about your work situation, health, family circumstances, and so many other factors. This thread perfectly demonstrates why generic online advice often falls short. I'm definitely going to request my own benefit matrix this week and start having these conversations with SSA representatives. Thanks for showing that with patience and the right questions, you can actually get useful answers from the system!