To clarify for everyone: You have three options for setting up direct deposit with Social Security: 1. Through your mySocialSecurity account under Settings > Direct Deposit 2. By calling SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 3. By visiting your local Social Security office in person I recommend option #1 as the most efficient. The online system will accept your banking information even if your benefit application is still processing. Your direct deposit information will be linked to your record and used for your first payment. If you wait for SSA to contact you, there's a chance your first payment might be issued as a paper check.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I submitted my application about 6 weeks ago and had the same concern about the direct deposit not being part of the initial application. I followed the advice here and set up my direct deposit through my mySocialSecurity account right after applying. My benefits started this month and the direct deposit worked perfectly on the scheduled date. Don't stress about it not being in the original application - that's just how their system works. The online account method is definitely the way to go rather than waiting for them to send you forms or trying to call. Saved me a lot of worry!

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more confident about doing the online application now. I'll gather all my documents first, take my time with the application, and make sure to save/print a copy when I'm done. For my situation, it sounds like applying now for benefits to start in September makes perfect sense. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Good luck with your application! You've gotten some really solid advice here. Just to add one more tip - when you're filling out the online application, don't worry if it seems like a lot of questions. The system is designed to gather all the information they need upfront, which actually helps prevent delays later. And remember, you can always call back with your confirmation number if you have questions after submitting. You've got this!

One more thing to consider - if you're planning to work for several more years, you might want to check your annual Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your complete earnings history. This will help you identify which years had the lowest earnings that could potentially be replaced by your current $84,000 salary. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings (indexed for inflation) to calculate your benefit, so you can get a sense of whether your current work will meaningfully impact those calculations. Also, keep in mind that only earnings up to the Social Security wage base count each year - for 2025 that's $176,100, so your full $84,000 will count toward potential benefit increases.

Great question! I'm in a similar situation - turned 67 last year and kept working. The good news is that your benefits can definitely increase through the AERO process others mentioned. What I found helpful was creating a my Social Security account online and downloading my full earnings history to see which years might get replaced. In my case, I had some really low earning years in the early 90s when I was starting out, so my current salary of $75k is definitely going to boost those calculations. One tip: if you do call SSA (and I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned to avoid the hold times), ask them specifically about your "bend points" - that's the technical term for how they calculate your benefit increases. The rep I finally reached was really helpful in explaining how much my specific situation might improve. Also don't forget to factor in the tax implications like others said - but even with that, any increase is still extra money in your pocket!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've scheduled a meeting with the VA benefits counselor next week and I'm going to bring printouts of the SSA determination letter. I'll definitely specify that we're applying for DIC benefits and make sure SSA understands these are VA service-connected benefits when we report them. I'm also going to look into both the ABLE account and the Childhood Disability Benefit options. I had no idea there were so many different programs with different rules! It's a relief to hear from others who've successfully navigated this and been able to receive both benefits. Managing my son's care alone has been overwhelming since my husband passed, so this financial support will make a huge difference.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Brady. Going through this while grieving is incredibly difficult. I wanted to add that when you meet with the VA benefits counselor, also ask about any state-level veteran survivor benefits that might be available in your area. Some states have additional programs that stack on top of federal benefits. Also, regarding the Childhood Disability Benefit that Kelsey mentioned - this is really important to pursue. Since your son was disabled from birth, he may qualify for disabled adult child benefits on your husband's record, which could potentially be higher than the regular survivor benefit amount. Even with the SSI offset rules, getting the higher base amount could be beneficial. One more tip: if you haven't already, contact your local disability advocacy organization. They often have benefits counselors who can help coordinate between agencies and catch details that might get missed. Many offer free consultations for families in situations like yours. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your son during such a difficult time. Keep that documentation organized like Norah suggested - it really does make a difference when dealing with multiple agencies.

When I was on SSI a few years ago, I found the local SSA office gave completely different answers than what the written policies said. I would suggest: 1. Document everything in writing 2. Get the KBB "poor condition" value, not the standard value 3. Take pics of the vehicle's damage and get repair estimates 4. Consider doing the transfer when your relative is close to redetermination so there's less time for issues Also don't let them sign the old car over to you until the money is in their account and they've documented receipt. They should keep all the paperwork for at least 3 years. SSA loves to do lookbacks.

To address your follow-up question about legitimate spend-down purchases: Yes, winter clothes and uncovered medical expenses are perfectly acceptable. There are no restrictions on what they can purchase as long as: 1. They're not converting the cash to another countable resource (like stocks or a second vehicle) 2. They're not giving away the money (which could trigger another transfer penalty) 3. They get their countable resources under $2,000 by the last day of the month Keep receipts for everything. If they're ever questioned about what happened to the money, they'll need to show exactly how it was spent. Also, consider having them report the vehicle transaction to SSA when it happens, rather than waiting for them to discover it. Being proactive demonstrates good faith.