I'm sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation during an already difficult time. Based on what you've described, it really does sound like there may be an issue with how SSA processed your protective filing date. One thing that might help while you're trying to get through to SSA - if you still have any documentation from your early September contact (like a confirmation number, email, or notes you took), gather that before you call. Even something like your phone records showing you called SSA in September could be helpful evidence. Also, when you do get through, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor if the first agent can't adequately explain the discrepancy. Sometimes front-line agents aren't as familiar with protective filing rules, and a supervisor might be more equipped to review your case properly. The fact that multiple people here have experienced similar issues suggests this isn't uncommon, which is both frustrating and reassuring - frustrating that it happens, but reassuring that you're not wrong to question it. Keep pushing for those answers about your September and October payments. That $2,900 is rightfully yours if you're entitled to it.

I work as a benefits counselor and see this protective filing date issue come up frequently with widow benefits. Your situation is textbook - you contacted SSA in September expressing intent to file, which absolutely should establish your protective filing date regardless of when you completed the paperwork in October. Here's something that might help: when you call SSA, ask them to look up your "Modernized Claims System" (MCS) record. This should show the date of your initial contact. If they can't find a September record, ask them to check their "Internet Claims" system as well, since sometimes initial contacts get logged in different systems. Also, be prepared for them to potentially ask about the specific nature of your September call - they might claim it was just "inquiry" rather than "intent to file." Make it clear that you called specifically to start your widow benefits application process, not just to ask general questions. If you hit roadblocks, you can also contact your local Social Security office directly - sometimes they're more helpful than the national 800 number. And if all else fails, your congressional representative's office can often help resolve SSA disputes like this. Don't let them shortchange you on those missing months. The rules are on your side here.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately going through the exact same situation with my 25-year-old son who has been on SSI since age 18 due to autism spectrum disorder. When I applied for DAC benefits last month after starting my retirement, the SSA representative gave me the identical line about "new guidance" allowing them to use existing SSI determinations without medical records. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and alarming - it's clear this misinformation is systematic across SSA offices. What really bothers me is how authoritative these representatives sound when giving completely wrong information that leads to predictable denials and delays. I'm already proactively gathering my son's medical records from before he turned 22 based on the excellent advice from @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons. It's frustrating that we have to ignore official SSA guidance and rely on community knowledge, but I'm grateful this resource exists. Count me in for the group complaint effort that several people have mentioned. This pattern needs to be addressed systematically to prevent other families from experiencing these unnecessary delays in accessing benefits that could be life-changing. The potential increase from SSI to DAC benefits would be transformative for my son's independence and quality of life. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community support is invaluable when navigating such a broken system.

I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with the exact same situation with my 30-year-old daughter. She's been on SSI since age 20 due to intellectual disability, and when I applied for her DAC benefits after starting my retirement six weeks ago, I received identical misinformation from the SSA representative about "streamlined procedures" for long-term SSI recipients. The agent was so confident when telling me that medical records weren't needed and would actually delay the process. After reading all these experiences, I'm now expecting a denial and have already started gathering medical documentation from before my daughter turned 22. What's most concerning is how systematic this misinformation appears to be - multiple families receiving word-for-word identical incorrect guidance from different SSA offices over an extended timeframe. This clearly indicates a serious training or policy communication failure within the agency. I'm definitely interested in joining the group complaint effort that's been discussed. With so many families experiencing this exact pattern, we have compelling evidence of a widespread problem that needs to be addressed at the administrative level to prevent future families from enduring these unnecessary delays and stress. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons for the professional insights about actual documentation requirements. It's unfortunate we have to rely on community knowledge rather than official SSA guidance, but this information is invaluable for preparing proper appeals. The potential transformation from SSI to DAC benefits would be life-changing for my daughter - the financial increase, removal of asset limitations, and eventual Medicare eligibility could provide so much more security and independence. I'll keep fighting through this broken system and will update everyone on my case progression.

I'm new to this community and found this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm 57 and starting to think about my Social Security strategy for the next few years. What's fascinating is how consistent everyone's experience has been with getting that first payment early, yet feeling completely blindsided by it. It really seems like SSA has this whole separate processing system for initial payments that they just don't bother explaining to anyone. Reading through all these real experiences has taught me more about what to actually expect than hours of reading official SSA materials. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread for when my time comes - knowing that the first payment might arrive at some random time but then everything settles into the normal birth-date schedule is exactly the kind of practical insight you can't get anywhere else. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - this is what makes online communities so valuable for navigating these complex systems!

I'm new to this community and currently 63, planning to apply for my Social Security benefits next year at my FRA. This entire discussion has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea about this "early first payment" phenomenon! What really strikes me is how universal this experience seems to be, yet it's completely absent from any SSA materials I've read. It's like they have this secret processing system for first payments that nobody talks about. Reading everyone's real experiences here has been so much more valuable than all the official pamphlets and websites combined. Now I know to expect my first payment to potentially arrive at some random time, but to plan my budget around the regular birth-date schedule from day one. It's amazing how this community fills in all the practical gaps that the government leaves out. Thank you all for sharing your stories - this is exactly why I joined this group!

As someone who just completed my FBU Manila interview last week (March 2025), I wanted to add some current insights to this incredibly helpful thread! **Recent process updates**: The document checklist timing seems to have standardized - they sent mine exactly 8 days before the interview, which included all the standard documents others mentioned plus a new requirement for proof of current address (utility bill or bank statement from the last 3 months). **International calling success**: I used Google Voice over WiFi as my primary method from Southeast Asia, with WhatsApp calling as backup. The Google Voice connection was surprisingly stable and clear - might be worth adding to your technology toolkit alongside the Skype and other options mentioned here. **Interview flow**: My call lasted about 40 minutes and followed the same structure everyone described, but they also spent extra time discussing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) since I had some foreign pension income. Make sure you're prepared to discuss any non-US retirement benefits you might have. **Practical tip**: I created a simple one-page "cheat sheet" with all my key information (SSN, employment history timeline, spouse details, direct deposit info) that I could reference quickly during the call. Really helped me stay organized when they jumped between topics. The preparation advice in this thread is spot-on - being proactive with communication and having multiple backup plans really pays off. The FBU staff continue to be professional and patient with overseas applicants. You're in great hands with all this preparation!

As someone who's been following this conversation closely, I wanted to add my perspective as a newcomer to the Social Security overseas application process. I'm planning to apply through FBU Manila later this year and this thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what to expect. The consistent themes I'm seeing across everyone's experiences are really helpful: - Having multiple communication backup methods (Skype, WhatsApp, Google Voice over WiFi) - Being proactive about requesting the document checklist early if you're traveling - Creating organized reference materials (like that one-page cheat sheet idea) - Testing your technology setup before the actual interview What strikes me most is how supportive and understanding the FBU Manila staff seem to be with overseas applicants. Reading through all these positive experiences, even when there were minor hiccups, gives me confidence that this process is very manageable with proper preparation. For those of you who have completed the process - did you find that having this level of detailed preparation made the interview feel less stressful than you initially expected? I'm curious if all this advance planning actually translates to a more relaxed experience during the actual call. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly. This community knowledge is making what seemed like a daunting process feel much more approachable!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately going through almost the exact same situation! Had my phone appointment for my daughter's auxiliary benefits 14 days ago and was told it was approved for $1,198 monthly. The rep was so confident and said we'd get the approval letter "within a week" and the first payment would arrive shortly after that. Here we are two weeks later with absolutely nothing - no letter, no payment, and my online account shows zero updates. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief because I was genuinely starting to panic that something went wrong with our application. It's really eye-opening how consistently SSA seems to give these overly optimistic timelines that rarely match reality. Based on everyone's shared experiences, it sounds like 3-4 weeks is much more realistic than the one week they promised. Eva, I hope you get your letter and payment soon - the waiting is incredibly stressful when you're counting on that income for budgeting! Thank you for starting this thread, it's been so helpful to see that these delays are unfortunately normal.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately experiencing something very similar! Had my phone appointment for my son's auxiliary benefits 11 days ago and was told it was approved for $1,043 monthly. The rep seemed so certain and said we'd receive the approval letter "within 5-7 business days" with the first payment following shortly after. So far absolutely nothing has arrived - no letter, no deposit, and my online Social Security account shows zero updates about the auxiliary benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring because I was starting to genuinely worry that something had gone wrong with our application. It's really frustrating to see how consistently SSA gives these overly optimistic timelines that seem to rarely match the actual processing reality. Based on all the shared experiences in this thread, it's becoming clear that I should prepare for the 3-4 week timeline instead of the 5-7 days they promised during my call. Eva, I really hope you get your approval letter and first payment soon - the financial stress of waiting when you're budgeting around that expected income is absolutely nerve-wracking. Thank you so much for starting this discussion, it's been invaluable to see that these processing delays are unfortunately the norm rather than something unique to individual cases!