I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement as someone who recently helped my elderly father navigate SSA processes. Reading through all these responses, it's clear you have a solid plan and great advice from experienced community members! One small tip I'd add - consider bringing a small bottle of water and maybe a snack if you think there might be a wait. Even arriving early, sometimes there can be unexpected delays, and staying comfortable helps you stay patient and organized. Also, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative if there are any other updates or services that might be helpful for your mom while you're there. Since you're managing things long-distance, it's a great opportunity to address multiple needs in one visit. Your preparation and dedication really show how much you care about your mom's well-being. The fact that you're being so proactive about this address change will save her a lot of stress and ensure her important documents reach her. Wishing you a smooth visit tomorrow - this community would love to hear how it goes!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I literally just went through this exact same situation three weeks ago! My mom is 78 and moved to assisted living, and I'm her rep payee living two states away. Reading through all these responses brings back exactly how I felt - that phone system is absolutely impossible right now. I think I tried calling SSA six different times over two weeks, with wait times ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours, only to get disconnected every single time. So incredibly frustrating when you're trying to help an aging parent! I finally went to my local SSA office here in Texas (mom moved to a facility in Arizona) and it was honestly one of the smoothest government interactions I've ever had. The representative immediately understood the situation and said interstate rep payee address changes are very routine for them. Here's exactly what I brought that worked perfectly: - My driver's license - Original rep payee approval letter - Mom's SSN written clearly on a piece of paper - New facility address with unit number - Copy of facility lease agreement (didn't need it but had it just in case) The whole process took 12 minutes from start to finish. They even gave me a receipt with a confirmation number, which was such peace of mind. One tip that really made a difference - I called the office at 8:45 AM to confirm they were doing walk-ins that day, then got there about 20 minutes before they opened at 9. I was second in line and avoided any afternoon crowds. Your mom is so fortunate to have you handling this for her. Based on all the positive experiences shared here, you're absolutely on the right track going in person. The in-person approach really is the way to go with the current phone system issues. Best of luck tomorrow - you've got this!

I'm new to this community, but I wanted to share my experience since it's incredibly similar to yours! Just last week, I switched my Social Security direct deposit from Chase to Ally Bank through my online SSA account, then closed my Chase account the very next day because of their ridiculous new fee structure (sounds familiar, right?). I was absolutely panicking just like you are right now - Social Security is my main income and I couldn't afford any payment delays or issues. But here's what actually happened: my payment went directly to my new Ally account right on my normal payment date with zero problems! The change processed in just 4 business days through the online system. When I called SSA on day 2 to check the status (because I was freaking out), the representative could see my new Ally account was already showing as "pending activation" in their system. By day 4, it had changed to "verified and active." Since you also made your change through the online portal and are dealing with the same Chase fee frustrations I just went through, I'm confident you're going to be fine. The key thing to ask when you call SSA tomorrow is whether your Bank of America account shows as "active," "verified," or "processing" in their system - that's the magic indicator everything is moving forward correctly. Based on my very recent experience and all these other success stories from people who used the online system, it really seems like the 30-60 day estimate is just a worst-case scenario they quote. The online portal consistently processes these changes within 4-7 business days from what I'm seeing here. Try not to panic too much - the online system is much more efficient than expected!

I'm new to this community, but I had to share my experience because it's exactly what you're going through right now! Just 5 days ago, I switched my Social Security direct deposit from Chase to Capital One through my online SSA account, and then immediately closed my Chase account the same day because I was so done with their new monthly fees. I was in complete panic mode just like you are - Social Security is my primary source of income and I couldn't afford any payment delays. But here's what happened: my payment went straight to my new Capital One account right on schedule with absolutely no issues! The change processed incredibly fast through the online system - only 3 business days! When I called SSA on day 2 to check (because I was terrified), the representative told me my new Capital One account was already showing as "verified and processing" in their system. By day 3, it was marked as "active." Since you also made your change through the online portal and are switching away from Chase due to the same fee issues, you're probably going to be completely fine. When you call SSA tomorrow morning, ask specifically if your Bank of America account shows as "active," "verified," or "processing" in their system - that's the key status that indicates everything is working properly. Based on my experience from literally this week and all these other success stories, the online system works SO much faster than those scary 30-60 day estimates they give. The pattern is clear - online changes seem to process within 3-7 business days consistently. Try not to stress too much, you've got this! The online portal is much more reliable and efficient than expected.

I've been following this discussion with great interest as someone who's been researching international retirement options for the past year. The wealth of real-world experience shared here is incredible! I wanted to add something that might be helpful for anyone considering this path: the SSA actually has a specific phone line for international beneficiaries at 410-965-0160. While many people have complained about long wait times on the main SSA number, this international line tends to have shorter holds and the staff there are specifically trained on overseas benefit issues. Also, regarding the banking situation that several people have mentioned - I recently spoke with representatives from both Bank of America and Charles Schwab, and both confirmed they have good international partnerships and reasonable fees for overseas ATM access. This could be helpful for those planning to keep US accounts while living abroad. One last tip: if you're planning this move, consider joining some Facebook groups like "Americans Living in Portugal" or "US Expats Portugal" - they're full of people who've made this exact transition and are incredibly helpful with practical day-to-day questions that don't always come up in official resources. The information shared in this thread has definitely moved Portugal higher up on my own retirement destination list!

As someone who's been researching this exact scenario for my own future retirement, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences! This thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on official SSA resources. One additional resource I discovered that might be helpful - the American Citizens Services unit at US embassies often hosts informational sessions for American expats on topics like Social Security, Medicare, and tax obligations. The US Embassy in Lisbon apparently holds these sessions quarterly. It might be worth checking their website or calling to see when the next session is scheduled if you're serious about making this move. Also, for those mentioning the complexity of coordinating the move, I found a checklist on the State Department's website specifically for Americans planning to retire abroad that covers everything from notifying SSA to handling voter registration. It's under their "Services for US Citizens Abroad" section. The consistency of everyone's positive experiences with continuing Social Security benefits in Portugal is really encouraging. It sounds like as long as you follow the proper notification procedures and keep up with the annual questionnaires, it's actually pretty straightforward. Portugal seems like it really has positioned itself well for American retirees!

As a federal employee who just started collecting benefits at 62, I wanted to add something about the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) that might help other government workers. Just like with 401k contributions in the private sector, your TSP contributions still count toward the earnings limit even though they're pre-tax. This caught me completely off guard because I was contributing the maximum catch-up amount ($30,000 total for 2025) thinking it would help keep me under the earnings limit - NOPE! The SSA looks at your gross pay before any TSP deductions, so all that money I was putting away for retirement was still being counted against the $22,320 limit. I had to quickly adjust my contribution percentage to avoid going over. Also, for any federal employees reading this - be extra careful about overtime, locality pay adjustments, and any special pay differentials. All of that gets included in your gross earnings calculation. The good news is that your federal pension (FERS annuity) payments don't count toward the earnings limit, so you can collect both your Social Security and your federal pension without the pension affecting the earnings test. Just wanted to share this since the federal pay system has some unique quirks that might not be obvious to everyone.

I've been collecting since turning 62 eight months ago and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I learned the hard way that might help others - if you work for a company that gives you stock options or restricted stock that vests, those count toward the earnings limit too when they vest, even if you don't sell the shares. I got hit with a surprise $3,200 stock vesting in November that pushed me over the limit for the year. The company's payroll system treated it as regular wages and reported it to SSA, so it showed up in my Box 3 Social Security wages. I had completely forgotten about those shares since they were granted two years before I retired. My advice: check with HR about any outstanding equity compensation that might vest after you start collecting benefits - it's easy to overlook but can definitely cause problems with the earnings test!

As someone who recently went through this exact process with my grandfather, I can't stress enough how valuable this thread has been! I wanted to add one more practical tip that saved me a lot of trouble: When you get the SSA-1696 form processed, ask the SSA office for a copy with their official stamp or processing date on it. Some representatives at banks, medical offices, or other agencies have asked me to prove that the authorization is actually active with SSA, not just that the form was submitted. Also, regarding record-keeping - I started using a simple notebook to log every phone call, form submission, and interaction with SSA, VA, and other agencies. Include dates, representative names, and what was discussed. This has been incredibly helpful when I've had to reference previous conversations or when there were discrepancies in what different reps told me. The 1696 approach has worked really well for us so far. My grandfather is still able to receive his benefits normally, but I can handle all the communication and paperwork issues that come up. It's definitely the sweet spot between having no authority and taking on the full representative payee responsibilities. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world advice is so much more helpful than trying to figure out government websites alone!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation with my 91-year-old father who's also in assisted living. Reading through everyone's experiences has really clarified the path forward. One question I have for those who've used the SSA-1696 form: How long did it typically take to get processed? I'm wondering if I should plan for a few weeks or if it's more like a few months. My dad is still competent but I can see some decline, so I want to get this done as soon as possible. Also, for those who mentioned keeping records - do you track just the major interactions or literally every phone call? I'm trying to figure out the right level of detail to maintain without driving myself crazy with paperwork. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't get from government websites!