I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristian. I went through a similar situation when my mother passed away two years ago, also dealing with an unresponsive executor sibling. You're absolutely right that you can file Form 1724 independently - the executor's cooperation isn't required for survivor benefit applications. From reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice about the name change documentation (simple written explanation works fine) and unfortunately confirmed that your college-age sister won't be eligible since she's no longer in high school. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you call SSA (if you manage to get through), ask them to make a note in their system that you've submitted an application on [date you mail it]. This can help if there are any processing delays or if your paperwork gets misplaced. Also, consider setting a calendar reminder to follow up in about 6-8 weeks if you haven't heard anything by then. The whole process can feel overwhelming, especially when you're grieving, but it sounds like you're well-prepared now with all the great advice from this community. Best of luck with your application!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristian. Reading through all these responses, it's clear you've received excellent guidance from this community. I just wanted to add one small thing that helped me when I went through this process last year - when you're gathering all your documents, consider creating a simple checklist to track what you have and what you still need. It really helped me stay organized, especially when dealing with multiple family members and their various name changes. Also, if you do end up calling SSA, try calling on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings around 8-9 AM - I found those times had slightly shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. The grief process is hard enough without having to navigate bureaucracy, but it sounds like you're handling everything thoughtfully and thoroughly. Wishing you the best with your application!

Just wanted to add something important that I learned when helping my neighbor with this - make sure your father-in-law gets a copy of his Social Security Statement before applying! You can access it online at ssa.gov/myaccount or request a paper copy. This will show his complete work history and estimated benefits, which helps verify everything is correct before he applies. Also, since he's been working for 9 years, he's probably very close to earning those 40 credits needed. You typically earn 4 credits per year if you make at least the minimum amount (around $6,500 in 2024), so he likely already qualifies or will very soon. One more tip: if he decides to delay retirement past his Full Retirement Age, his benefits will actually increase by about 8% per year until age 70. This could be worth considering if he's in good health and can continue working!

As someone who works in immigration law, I can confirm everything mentioned here is accurate! Green card holders absolutely qualify for Social Security retirement benefits under the same rules as citizens - 40 credits (roughly 10 years of work). One additional consideration for your father-in-law: since he's been working for 9 years, I'd recommend he check his Social Security earnings record now to make sure all his wages have been properly credited. Sometimes there are discrepancies that need to be corrected, and it's much easier to fix these issues while he's still working. Also, regarding the international travel concerns mentioned earlier - if your father-in-law is from a country that has a totalization agreement with the US, he may be able to combine work credits from both countries to qualify for benefits. This could potentially help him reach the 40-credit threshold faster if needed. The key thing is that receiving Social Security benefits will NOT affect his immigration status or green card in any way - these are earned benefits he's paid into through payroll taxes.

I'm also going through the exact same situation! Filed my retirement application in late November and it's been about 6 weeks now with complete radio silence from SSA. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to think maybe I filled something out wrong or my application got lost somewhere in their system. It's really frustrating that their website still claims 30 days when clearly 6-8 weeks is the new reality for everyone. Like others mentioned, my MySocialSecurity account just shows "processing" with zero helpful details or timeline updates. I'm also hoping to start benefits in January, so it's comforting to hear from folks like Evan that processing delays shouldn't affect the actual benefit start date as long as we filed before our intended start month. The complete lack of communication during this whole process is definitely the most nerve-wracking part - even a simple acknowledgment email would help so much with the anxiety. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - this community discussion has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the SSA website!

I'm also going through this exact same waiting period! Filed my retirement application in mid-November and I'm now approaching 8 weeks with absolutely nothing but that "processing" status on MySocialSecurity. This entire thread has been such a huge relief to read through - I was genuinely starting to panic that maybe I had made some critical error on my application or that it somehow got lost in their system. It's incredible how misleading their 30-day processing estimate is when clearly everyone here is waiting 6-8 weeks minimum. I'm also planning to start benefits in January, so reading Evan's explanations about how processing delays don't affect the actual benefit start date has been enormously reassuring. The complete radio silence from SSA during this whole process is honestly the most stressful part - even a basic "we received your application and are processing it" email would make such a difference for anxiety levels. Thank you to everyone who has shared their timelines and experiences here - this community discussion has been infinitely more helpful than anything I could find on the SSA website or by trying to call them!

I'm a case worker who helps families navigate Social Security benefits, and I wanted to add a few professional insights to this excellent discussion. First, regarding timing - I always recommend applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to start, especially with dependent children involved. The processing can be slower when multiple beneficiaries are on one record, and any missing documentation can add weeks to the timeline. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if any of your adopted children have disabilities or special needs, they may be eligible for different benefit calculations or extended benefits beyond age 18/19. Make sure to mention any disabilities during your appointment, as this could significantly impact their long-term benefit eligibility. Also, keep in mind that if you remarry after starting benefits, it generally won't affect your children's benefits, but it's something to be aware of for future planning. The representative payee reporting isn't as scary as it sounds - SSA mainly wants to see that funds are used appropriately for the children's needs (housing, food, clothing, education, medical care). Keep receipts for major purchases, but you don't need to account for every dollar spent. Best of luck with your retirement planning! Your children are fortunate to have someone thinking so carefully about their financial future.

I've been working as a benefits counselor for several years and wanted to emphasize something important that hasn't been fully addressed - make sure you understand the "deeming" rules that might apply to your situation. Since you have custody of adopted children, SSA will need to verify that these children are primarily dependent on you for support and not receiving substantial support from their birth parents or other sources. This usually isn't an issue with adopted children, but I've seen cases where biological parents were still providing financial support that affected benefit calculations. Bring documentation showing you're the primary source of support - things like tax returns where you claim them as dependents, health insurance coverage, school records listing you as the guardian, etc. Also, a practical tip: when you set up those representative payee accounts, consider asking the bank about setting up automatic transfers to a savings account for each child. Even putting aside $50-100 per month from their benefits can build up a nice nest egg for when they turn 18. SSA actually looks favorably on this type of saving for the children's future needs, and it shows you're managing the funds responsibly. The annual reporting really isn't burdensome once you get into a routine - I help families with this all the time and most find it manageable after the first year.

I'm sorry for your loss, Annabel. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. I wanted to add something that might give you some peace of mind - many people in your situation actually end up in a better financial position with survivor benefits than they were with SSI. Not only are the payments typically higher, but as others mentioned, you won't have to worry about the strict asset limits and constant reporting requirements that come with SSI. You'll be able to have a normal savings account and won't have to report every small change in your circumstances. The transition might feel overwhelming right now, but once you're receiving survivor benefits, it's generally much simpler to manage. Also, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to explain anything you don't understand during your appointment - they're required to help you understand your options, and it's completely normal to need clarification on these complex rules. You've got this!

I'm new to understanding Social Security benefits, but I wanted to share something that might help with the document gathering process. If you're having trouble getting your ex-husband's death certificate because you're divorced, you might want to contact the funeral home that handled his arrangements first - they often keep records and might be able to guide you on how to request it as a former spouse. Also, many states allow you to order death certificates online through their vital records website if you have basic information like his full name, date of death, and place of death. It usually costs around $15-25 and takes about a week to receive by mail. This might be faster than trying to navigate bureaucracy while you're dealing with everything else. I hope this helps, and I'm sorry for your loss.