I'm new to navigating Social Security benefits, but reading through your situation and all these responses has been incredibly helpful and eye-opening. It sounds like you're dealing with a really complex situation that combines multiple challenging factors. What strikes me most is how many people have experienced similar issues with conflicting information, disappearing online accounts, and the "CANNOT issue benefits" notices. It seems like SSA's systems really struggle when there are family maximum benefit calculations involved, especially with disabled children receiving benefits. The suggestions everyone has provided create a really comprehensive action plan: contacting your congressman's office, requesting specific forms like the SSA-1090-SM and BENDEX screen, asking for a manual computation specialist, and using services like Claimyr to actually get through to knowledgeable representatives. I'm particularly struck by how many people mentioned that persistence is key and that you shouldn't accept vague answers like "just ignore that notice." You clearly deserve accurate, consistent information about benefits you've earned through decades of work. The fact that your online account shows your daughter's representative payee information but your own benefits have disappeared definitely suggests they're doing manual computations on your record. While frustrating, it sounds like this is actually normal during these complex reviews. I hope you're able to get this sorted out quickly with the strategies everyone has shared. It's encouraging to see how this community supports each other through these bureaucratic challenges!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out after reading through your situation - what an absolute nightmare you're dealing with! It's really eye-opening to see how complex Social Security benefits can become when there are multiple family members involved. From everything everyone has shared, it sounds like you're caught in what they call a "manual computation" situation where their automated systems can't handle the complexity of your family's benefits (yours, your wife's, and your daughter's disability benefits). The family maximum benefit calculations seem to be the main culprit causing all this chaos. The disappearing online account is apparently "normal" during these manual reviews (though incredibly frustrating), and the multiple conflicting letters suggest different SSA employees are working on your case and making adjustments as they go. I'm really impressed by all the specific strategies this community has provided: contacting your congressman's office (which Brandon said got results in just a week!), requesting those SSA-1090-SM and BENDEX forms, asking for a manual computation specialist, and using services like Claimyr to actually get through to knowledgeable representatives. The representative who told you to "ignore" an official notice was completely inappropriate - you absolutely deserve clear, consistent information about benefits you've earned through decades of work. It's both reassuring and concerning that so many others have experienced similar issues, but at least you know you're not alone. With all these actionable strategies and this supportive community, I'm confident you'll get this resolved. Please keep us updated on your progress!

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! I'm feeling much more confident about my upcoming appointment now. I've made notes about: - Regular SS retirement benefits won't be reduced by inheritance - Potential tax implications from investment income - Checking on the Required Minimum Distributions from the inherited IRA - Considering long-term Medicaid planning I really appreciate everyone taking time to help explain this!

Just wanted to add one more practical tip for your SSA appointment - you don't need to bring documentation about the inheritance itself since it won't affect your retirement benefits. Focus on bringing the documents they actually need: your birth certificate, W-2s or tax returns, and any military service records if applicable. However, you might want to consult with a tax professional about the inherited IRA since those distribution rules can be tricky and the tax implications could be significant depending on the original owner's age and whether distributions had already started. The "10-year rule" for inherited IRAs can catch people off guard! Wishing you the best with your appointment and sorry for your loss.

One more thing to know about your first payment - they pay benefits in the month following the month they're due. So November benefits are paid in December, December benefits in January, etc. Something to factor into your planning.

Just wanted to add - since you're planning to request benefits starting November 1st and you mentioned your financial advisor brought up retroactive payments and taxes, make sure you're clear on the terminology during your call tomorrow. What you're actually requesting is a "protective filing date" or benefits with a start date prior to your application date, which will result in back payments for November and December. True "retroactive" benefits in SSA terms only apply if you're past full retirement age. The rep should understand what you mean, but using the right terminology can help avoid confusion and make sure you get exactly what you're asking for.

congrats on retireing!! i wish someone explained this earnings stuff to me before i started SS. would have waited til my FRA probly

Welcome to the community! I went through this same situation when I started my benefits at 64. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of my monthly earnings - I created a simple spreadsheet tracking each month's wages so I could stay under that $1,860 monthly limit. Also, since you're working at an accounting firm, you probably already know this, but make sure you're tracking gross wages, not net pay - SSA uses your gross earnings for the earnings test. The system is definitely confusing, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions early on. That puts you way ahead of where I was!

As someone who works in benefits counseling, I want to emphasize how important it is to get official confirmation from SSA about your specific situation, even though everyone here is giving you correct general information. While DIC payments definitely don't count toward the earnings limit, there can sometimes be nuances based on your complete benefit picture. I'd also suggest documenting everything when you do speak with SSA - get names, dates, and reference numbers for any conversations about your benefits. This protects you if there are any discrepancies later. Your situation with DIC plus early retirement SS is actually fairly common among military survivors, so the SSA representatives should be familiar with it. One last tip: when you do start receiving SS, keep detailed records of any part-time work income throughout the year so you can easily track whether you're approaching that earnings limit.

I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your planning - make sure you understand how your reduced Social Security benefits will be calculated at 63. Since your full retirement age is 67, taking benefits at 63 means you'll receive about 75% of your full benefit amount (roughly a 25% reduction). This reduction is permanent, but as others mentioned, any money withheld due to exceeding the earnings limit will be recredited to you after you reach FRA. Also, I'd suggest running some scenarios with the SSA's online calculators or speaking with a financial planner who understands military survivor benefits. The combination of guaranteed DIC income plus reduced early SS benefits might actually work out better for your situation than waiting, especially considering your family health history concerns. Just make sure you factor in healthcare costs too - Medicare doesn't start until 65, so you'll need coverage for those two years between retiring at 63 and Medicare eligibility.