Since you had a joint account with your father, here's what will likely happen: SSA will notify the Treasury Department, which will then send a reclamation request to the bank. The bank will then debit the account for the amount of the payment. This typically happens within 1-3 months after they've been notified of the death. If you've already reported the death to SSA by phone, you've done what you need to do. Just make sure that money remains in the account. If you want extra reassurance, you can visit your local SSA office in person with a copy of the death certificate.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this bureaucratic maze while grieving is incredibly difficult. Just to add to what others have said - you're absolutely doing the right thing by being proactive about this. I went through something similar with my grandfather's benefits last year. The key thing is documentation - when you do get through to SSA (and you will!), make sure to get a confirmation number or case number for reporting the death. Also ask them to mail you written confirmation that they've updated their records. One small tip: if you have trouble getting through by phone, try calling right when they open at 8 AM local time. I found that's when I had the best luck reaching someone. The wait times are usually shorter first thing in the morning. You're handling this responsibly and that's what matters. The system is set up to eventually catch these things, but being upfront about it shows good faith and will only help your situation.

Just checked my account - my deposit just posted! It's Tuesday evening here. So it looks like they're starting to process them now, just a few days later than the usual early deposit. Hope everyone else sees theirs soon too!

Great to hear some people are starting to see their deposits! I'm still waiting on mine but this gives me hope. I checked with my bank (Bank of America) and they confirmed they haven't received the ACH file yet, but the representative said they've had several Social Security recipients call today with the same concern. It sounds like the Federal Reserve is processing these in batches as they work through whatever system updates caused the initial delay. I'll keep checking throughout the evening and tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helped knowing this was a widespread issue and not something wrong with my specific account!

btw make sure when they do finally call you have ALL your kids docs ready - birth certificates, ssn cards, school info if theyre older, custody papers if theres any complicated family situation. they get super annoyed if you dont have everything and might make you start over with another appt

I went through something very similar and want to add that you should also request a "receipt" or confirmation number every time you interact with SSA about your children's benefits. When I was dealing with missed appointments, I started asking the person on the phone to give me a confirmation number for our conversation and have them note in my file that I was calling about dependent benefits tied to my July 2024 protective filing date. This created a clear paper trail that helped when I eventually got everything sorted out. Also, if you have to keep rescheduling phone appointments, try asking if they can schedule you for the earliest slot of the day - I found those were less likely to get bumped or missed. The whole process is frustrating but don't give up - your kids are entitled to those benefits and the backpay from your original filing date!

One more important tip: when completing the function report portion of the CDR, be very specific about bad days versus good days. Many people with bipolar disorder have some good days where they can function better, but what matters is consistency. Make sure to explain how many bad days he has per week/month and what those look like. SSA needs to understand that even if he can do something occasionally, he can't do it reliably enough to maintain employment. Focus on specifics like: - How often he has episodes of severe depression or mania - How long these episodes typically last - What triggers worsen his symptoms (especially work-related stressors) - How his condition affects sleep, concentration, and ability to complete tasks - Specific examples of difficulties with social interactions This level of detail helps paint an accurate picture of why he remains unable to work despite medication compliance.

I went through a similar CDR situation with my wife who has bipolar disorder. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. Don't panic about the 9-month gap - what matters more is that he's been medication compliant and his condition hasn't actually improved. 2. When you get that psychiatrist appointment, bring a detailed list of his current symptoms and limitations. I made the mistake of assuming the doctor would remember everything from previous visits. 3. Ask the psychiatrist to specifically address in their notes how his bipolar disorder, depression, and social anxiety continue to prevent him from maintaining any type of employment - even sedentary work. 4. For the CDR paperwork, I found it helpful to keep a daily log for about 2 weeks before submitting, tracking his mood episodes, anxiety levels, and what he was/wasn't able to accomplish each day. This gave me concrete examples to reference. 5. Don't forget to mention medication side effects if he has any - drowsiness, brain fog, etc. can also impact work capacity. The good news is that severe bipolar disorder with major depression is typically considered a condition where medical improvement is less likely. Stay focused on documenting his ongoing limitations rather than worrying about the review process itself. You've got this!

Update: I finally got through to someone at SSA after being on hold for 2 hours. They said my provisional payments should start within the next 2-3 weeks and that my case has been assigned to an examiner for review. Feeling a bit relieved but still worried about making it until then. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!

That's such great news! I'm so happy you finally got through to someone who could give you actual information. 2-3 weeks for provisional payments sounds much more reasonable than what some people are experiencing. Make sure to keep that reference number or case number from your call if they gave you one - it can help speed things up if you need to call again. You've been through the hardest part already by getting all your paperwork submitted quickly. Hang in there, you're almost through this nightmare!