I'm new to this community but reading through your situation has me so frustrated on your behalf - the conflicting information from SSA workers is absolutely inexcusable when families are dealing with grief and trying to secure their disabled children's care. Based on everything shared here, it really sounds like there might be calculation errors in your daughter's case. The fact that so many experienced families have found mistakes with parental deeming rules when survivor benefits are involved gives me real hope for your situation. A few things I wanted to add that might help: When you call to request that detailed income breakdown, don't accept "we don't have that information available" as an answer. They absolutely have the calculations - they just might not want to dig them up. Be persistent and ask to speak with a supervisor if needed. Also, regarding the Pickle Amendment application process - I'd suggest calling your state Medicaid office first to confirm exactly where and how to apply before making any trips. Some states handle it through county offices, others through state agencies directly. Getting the right office from the start will save you time and frustration. One more thing - if you do find calculation errors (which honestly sounds likely based on everyone's experiences here), don't be surprised if it takes multiple attempts to get them corrected. Document everything and don't give up. Your daughter's healthcare depends on these benefits, and you have every right to accurate calculations. You're doing an amazing job advocating for her during such a difficult time. This community clearly has your back, and it sounds like you now have a solid plan of action to fight this properly!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your story really resonates with me - I'm currently helping my elderly parents navigate similar benefit complications and the amount of conflicting information from different workers is absolutely maddening. What really stands out from reading through all these responses is how many people have discovered calculation errors, particularly with the parental deeming rules when survivor benefits are involved. This gives me so much hope for your situation! The fact that they didn't provide you with a detailed breakdown of their calculations when terminating your daughter's SSI is a huge red flag - as others have mentioned, when agencies are confident in their math, they typically show their work. I'm taking notes from everyone's advice here for my own family's situation: the critical 60-day appeal window, requesting detailed income calculations, contacting Protection & Advocacy organizations, and researching state-specific Pickle Amendment processes. It's overwhelming but having this roadmap from people who've actually been through it is invaluable. One thing that really struck me is how this community has more practical, accurate knowledge than most of the actual SSA workers families are dealing with. That shouldn't be the case, but at least we have each other to share these hard-won insights. Connor, you're being an incredible advocate for your daughter during what must be an incredibly difficult time. Don't let this system's complexity discourage you - it sounds like you now have a solid plan to fight this properly, and there's real reason to hope they made calculation errors that can be corrected. Please keep us posted on how it goes!

As someone who recently navigated this exact situation, I want to add my voice to confirm what everyone else has said - you absolutely can collect both VA TDIU at 100% and Social Security retirement benefits without any reduction to either. I went through this process about 8 months ago when I turned 65. A couple of things from my experience that might help: **Application timing is crucial** - I applied exactly 3 months before my 65th birthday, but there were still processing delays that pushed my first payment back by about 5 weeks. If you're planning to apply at 65, I'd actually recommend starting the process 4 months early to account for potential delays. **The Medicare decision is more complex than it seems** - When you apply, they'll automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A, but you'll need to actively decide about Part B. Even though VA healthcare covers most things, I ended up enrolling in Part B after talking to other veterans who found it useful as backup. The monthly cost is significant ($175.30 in 2025), but having dual coverage has already paid off when I needed a specialist appointment that had a long VA wait time. **Your work history puts you in great shape** - With 30 years of work before TDIU, you should have an excellent Social Security benefit calculation. I had a similar work history and was pleasantly surprised by my monthly benefit amount. Given your granddaughter's college timeline (sounds like she's still a couple years out), you might want to seriously consider waiting until your FRA at 66 and 2 months. That permanent reduction at 65 really adds up over time, and the extra 14 months of waiting could mean thousands more dollars available during her actual college years when you'll need it most. Best of luck with your decision - having both income streams has been a game-changer for our family's financial security!

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely as I'm approaching a similar situation in about 18 months. The consistency of everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - it's clear that you really can receive both VA TDIU and Social Security retirement benefits without any issues. @Giovanni, your situation sounds very well-positioned with that 30-year work history before TDIU. Based on everything I've read here, waiting until your FRA at 66 and 2 months seems like it could be the optimal strategy, especially since your granddaughter's college timeline gives you some flexibility. That extra 14 months of waiting could translate to significantly more money available right when her college expenses hit hardest. The practical tips everyone has shared about applying 3-4 months early, considering Medicare Part B as backup coverage, checking your earnings history online for accuracy, and using local SSA offices for in-person help are exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating these systems so much easier. One additional thought - since multiple people have mentioned VA education benefits for dependents, you might want to contact your local VA office specifically about educational assistance programs for grandchildren. Sometimes there are lesser-known benefits that could supplement whatever you're able to contribute from your Social Security. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences in this thread. This has been an incredibly educational discussion that will undoubtedly help many veterans facing similar decisions!

This has been such an incredibly helpful and comprehensive discussion! As someone who's new to this community and just starting to think seriously about Social Security planning, I'm amazed at how much I've learned from everyone's contributions. What started as Ana's specific question about her ex-spouse has turned into a masterclass on Social Security rules, ex-spousal benefits, remarriage implications, and filing strategies. The collective knowledge shared here - from former SSA employees to people who've navigated these situations personally - is invaluable. A few key takeaways that really stood out to me: - SSA doesn't automatically check or notify people about potential benefit increases - Remarriage completely changes ex-spousal benefit eligibility - Early filing creates permanent reductions through "deemed filing" rules - There are so many interconnected factors beyond just your own earnings record I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips about contacting SSA, the resource recommendations, and the real-world examples everyone shared. This is exactly the kind of community-driven knowledge sharing that helps people make informed decisions about such important financial matters. Ana, I hope you'll follow up after your SSA consultation - even though your original question is resolved, I'm sure there will be insights about your own filing strategy that could benefit others. Thanks for starting such a valuable discussion!

As someone new to this community, I've been following this entire discussion and it's been incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and real-world experience shared here is exactly what I was hoping to find when I joined. What really stands out to me is how Ana's seemingly straightforward question revealed so many layers of complexity in the Social Security system. The remarriage factor completely changing the equation, the deemed filing rules, the fact that SSA doesn't automatically notify people about potential increases - these are all crucial details that aren't immediately obvious when you first start researching benefits. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips everyone shared about actually contacting SSA (the Claimyr service, timing calls for shorter waits, scheduling in-person consultations). As someone who will need to navigate this system in the coming years, knowing these workarounds for the notorious phone wait times is invaluable. The emphasis on keeping good documentation and understanding all your options before filing really resonates with me too. It's clear that these decisions have long-term consequences and there's often no going back to optimize later. Thanks to everyone who contributed their expertise and experiences - this thread is going to be such a helpful resource for anyone dealing with similar ex-spousal benefit questions or Social Security planning in general!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you received a large backpay amount, you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments for next year to avoid another surprise tax bill. Since SSDI doesn't automatically withhold taxes like regular employment, many people get caught off guard. You can set up voluntary withholding from your monthly SSDI payments by filling out Form W-4V, or make quarterly payments directly to the IRS. I learned this the hard way after my first year of benefits!

Looking at all the helpful advice here, I wanted to add something that might help with the immediate concern about owing a large tax bill. If you do end up owing more than you can pay when you file, the IRS has several payment options available. You can set up an installment agreement online through their website, and if you owe less than $50,000, you can often get approved automatically for a payment plan. Also, don't panic if the tax calculation seems overwhelming - many tax software programs like TurboTax and H&R Block have specific sections for Social Security benefits and can walk you through the lump-sum election calculation. That said, given the amount of your backpay ($31,500), it's probably still worth investing in a tax professional who specializes in Social Security taxation, especially for this first year. They can make sure you're taking advantage of all available strategies to minimize your tax burden.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely shocked by how many people have experienced lost mail with SSA! Reading through everyone's stories has been both enlightening and terrifying - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem. The strategies everyone has shared are incredibly valuable though. @dea3190a90ca I'm so glad you were able to get confirmation through fax with just 17 days left! That's cutting it really close but it sounds like you handled it perfectly with the multi-pronged approach. The fax confirmation for immediate peace of mind plus certified mail backup seems like the ideal strategy. I'm definitely taking notes on all these tips - asking for reference numbers, using certified mail for everything important, and knowing that local offices can accept fax submissions for urgent deadlines. It's frustrating that we need all these workarounds in 2025, but this community knowledge is invaluable for those of us just learning to navigate these systems!

As someone completely new to both this community and Social Security processes, this thread has been an absolute goldmine of information! I'm honestly shocked to learn how frequently mail gets lost at SSA - it's terrifying to think that such critical, time-sensitive documents can just disappear without a trace. The fact that so many of you have developed elaborate backup strategies really speaks to how broken the system is. @dea3190a90ca I'm so relieved you were able to get confirmation through your local office's fax option with only 17 days left! Your approach of using multiple methods (fax for immediate confirmation plus certified mail backup) seems like the perfect strategy for peace of mind. I'm taking detailed notes on all the practical advice shared here - the reference number tip for fax submissions, certified mail protocols, visiting local offices for urgent deadlines, and even that Claimyr service recommendation. It's frustrating that we need all these workarounds in 2025, but I'm incredibly grateful this community exists to share these invaluable strategies with newcomers like me!