I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional resources that might help with your mom's situation. After reading through this thread and seeing all the great advice about tax refund exclusions and burial funds, I wanted to mention that many states also have SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselors who can help navigate Medicare/Medicaid issues for free. Also, if your mom qualifies for the burial fund exclusion and tax refund exclusion as discussed, make sure to ask SSA to document both exclusions in writing in her file. This can prevent similar issues if she receives tax refunds or other one-time payments in the future. One thing I learned from helping my neighbor with a similar SSI resource issue is that SSA sometimes makes calculation errors, especially when multiple exclusions apply. Don't hesitate to ask them to walk through their math step-by-step to make sure they're applying all the exclusions correctly. The combination of the tax refund exclusion ($1,420) and potential burial fund designation ($1,200) should definitely get her well under the $2,000 limit. Good luck at the SSA office tomorrow - it sounds like you're going in well-prepared with all the documentation and knowledge from this helpful community!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too but have been reading through all the helpful advice in this thread. Your situation with your mom's SSI Medicaid termination notice sounds really stressful, but it's encouraging to see so many people who have successfully navigated similar resource limit issues. Based on everything shared here, it sounds like you have a really strong case with the tax refund exclusion and burial fund designation. The math works out well in your favor too - if you can get $1,420 excluded for the tax refund and $1,200 for the burial fund, that leaves only $630 in countable resources, which is well under the $2,000 limit. I don't have personal experience with this specific situation, but I wanted to add that when dealing with any government benefits office, it can really help to stay calm and organized even when you're feeling panicked inside. Having all your documentation ready and being able to clearly explain the exclusions you're requesting will make the process smoother. Best of luck at the SSA office tomorrow! This community has shown me there are so many knowledgeable people who have been through these challenges and come out successfully on the other side. Please do update us on how it goes - I'm sure your experience will help other families facing similar situations in the future.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped us tremendously during my nephew's transition from SSI to DAC last year. We discovered that you can actually request a "bridge payment" in some cases if you can demonstrate immediate financial hardship due to the benefit transition gap. When we called SSA (using the Claimyr service mentioned above - it really does work!), we specifically asked to speak with a "benefits specialist" rather than just a general representative. The specialist was much more knowledgeable about transition options and was able to arrange a one-time emergency payment that covered about 80% of his regular benefit amount during the gap period. We had to provide documentation showing his rent was due and utilities were at risk of disconnection, but it was totally worth the extra paperwork. Also, I'd strongly recommend creating a "transition binder" with copies of everything - the DAC approval letter, SSI award letter, lease agreement, utility bills, bank statements, and any correspondence with SSA. Having all this organized in one place made every phone call and application process so much smoother. We ended up needing to reference these documents multiple times throughout the transition. The process is definitely stressful, but based on all the great advice in this thread, you're already way more prepared than we were! The community knowledge here is incredible.

I'm new to this community and just want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and advice on this thread. My brother is about to start this same transition from SSI to DAC benefits, and reading through all of your responses has been incredibly helpful for preparing ahead of time. One small thing I wanted to add that might help others - when I called our local Area Agency on Aging to ask about emergency assistance programs, they mentioned that some food banks and community organizations have special "benefits transition" emergency food boxes specifically for people going through situations like this. It's not cash assistance, but it can help stretch your budget during the gap period when money is tighter than usual. Also, I learned that if your son has any automatic bill payments set up through his bank, you might want to temporarily switch those back to manual payments during the transition period, just to avoid any overdraft fees if the timing gets messed up with the new payment schedule. The level of knowledge and support in this community is really amazing - thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and help others navigate this complicated process!

pls update us after u talk to SSA! we r in similar spot but im the higher earner (wife). wanna know what happens!

I went through this exact same situation last year! My wife took her benefits at 65 ($980/month) and I waited until my FRA at 67. When I filed, she did get a spousal increase, but it was calculated exactly like Hannah explained - they used our PIAs, not the actual benefit amounts. Her total went from $980 to $1,165, which was her reduced benefit plus the difference between 50% of my PIA and her full PIA. The key thing is to get your benefit estimates from SSA beforehand so you can calculate this yourself. Also, make sure to apply for the spousal benefit - it's not automatic! You have to specifically request it when the higher earner files. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Like you, I had no idea about spousal benefits when I first applied. Here's what I learned: You definitely need to call and specifically ask about "excess spousal benefits" - they won't automatically check for you. The key thing is that it's based on 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is what he would have gotten at his full retirement age. Since his benefit is around $3,100, his PIA is probably in that ballpark too. So 50% would be roughly $1,550. Since your benefit is $1,850, you probably won't qualify for additional spousal benefits because your own benefit is already higher than 50% of his PIA. But definitely still call to verify - sometimes the actual PIA calculations can be different than what people are currently receiving, especially if there were delayed retirement credits involved. I used the Claimyr service that someone else mentioned because I couldn't get through the regular SSA line, and it was worth every penny to avoid the endless hold times!

I'm a Social Security representative and wanted to clarify a few things I'm seeing in this discussion. First, you absolutely should call to request a spousal benefit review - this isn't something we automatically process when someone is already receiving their own retirement benefits. The calculation is indeed based on 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not his current monthly payment. Since he started at his Full Retirement Age, his current benefit should equal his PIA. With his $3,100 monthly benefit, 50% would be $1,550. Given that your current benefit is $1,850, you likely won't qualify for additional spousal benefits since your own benefit exceeds that 50% threshold. However, I still recommend calling because there can be nuances in the calculation based on your specific work history and benefit computation. When you call 1-800-772-1213, ask specifically for a "spousal benefit eligibility review" and have both Social Security numbers ready. The best times to call are typically Tuesday-Thursday between 10 AM-2 PM to avoid peak volume times. Regarding retroactive payments, the maximum is 6 months from your application date for retirement/spousal benefits, and this policy is strictly enforced except in cases of clear administrative error on our part.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you call SSA to request the suspension, make sure to ask them for a confirmation number or letter documenting your request. I've heard stories of people having their suspension requests "lost in the system" and then facing overpayment issues later. Having that documentation can save you a lot of headaches if there are any processing delays or mix-ups. Also, keep track of the exact date you requested the suspension since that's when it should become effective. Good luck with the new position - sounds like a great opportunity!

Great discussion here! As someone who went through this exact process last year, I can confirm that requesting a voluntary suspension is definitely the way to go. A few additional tips from my experience: 1. When you call SSA, be very clear that you want to "voluntarily suspend" your retirement benefits - not "withdraw" or "terminate" them. The terminology matters. 2. They'll ask for the effective date of suspension. I recommend making it the month before you start your new job to be safe. 3. If you're enrolled in Medicare Part B and having premiums deducted from your SS check, you'll need to set up direct billing with Medicare. SSA should help coordinate this, but follow up to make sure it happens. 4. Consider keeping a log of all your interactions with SSA - dates, times, representative names, confirmation numbers. This saved me when there was a processing delay. The math really works in your favor here. I suspended at 63 and restarted at my FRA - my monthly benefit went from $1,620 to $2,340. Plus no stress about earnings limits or overpayments. Congratulations on the job opportunity!