I was able to get through to SSA finally! The agent confirmed I'll only get 6 months of retroactive benefits, so I've definitely lost some money by waiting. But at least I'm getting it sorted now. The agent mentioned my benefit amount is a bit higher than it would have been at exactly 70 due to my extra work years, just like someone mentioned here. Still mad at myself for not knowing about this sooner though!

Great to hear you got through and are getting it sorted out! Don't beat yourself up too much - this is unfortunately a very common mistake because SSA doesn't do a good job of informing people about the rules around age 70. At least you caught it relatively quickly compared to some horror stories I've heard. The silver lining about your higher benefit amount from the extra work years is nice too. Make sure to keep an eye on when your first payment arrives - sometimes there can be processing delays even after you've applied.

To clarify what everyone has said: 1) Your daughter's DAC benefit will be 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is his benefit at full retirement age, regardless of when he actually started collecting. 2) When applying, bring documentation showing disability before age 22 and continuous disability. Medical records from childhood will be very helpful. 3) For Medicaid protection, specifically ask about "Section 1634(c) protected Medicaid status" - this is the provision that allows former SSI recipients who switch to DAC benefits to maintain Medicaid eligibility even if their new income would otherwise make them ineligible. 4) She will need to wait 24 months after DAC eligibility begins before Medicare coverage starts, which is why maintaining Medicaid during this period is crucial. 5) The application for DAC benefits is separate from your husband's retirement application - you need to specifically apply for it.

I work for a disability advocacy organization and want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully addressed: 1) **File the DAC application IMMEDIATELY** - DAC benefits can be retroactive up to 12 months, but only from the date of application. Every month you delay is money lost. 2) **The "disabled before age 22" requirement** - Make sure you have solid medical documentation showing her disability existed before her 22nd birthday. Birth records, early childhood medical records, school IEP documents, etc. are all valuable evidence. 3) **Medicaid continuation timing** - Don't wait for SSA to process the DAC claim before contacting Medicaid. Start the Section 1634(c) application process now. Some states require you to apply within 30 days of the SSI termination. 4) **Work incentive programs** - Even though your daughter may not be working now, if she ever has any work capacity in the future, SSDI comes with better work incentive programs than SSI (like the Ticket to Work program). The bottom line: Your daughter should get 50% of your husband's $3400 FRA amount (so about $1700/month), not 50% of his reduced $2500 benefit. That's a $450/month difference - significant money over time. Don't let SSA shortchange her!

Your cousin is partly right, but it's more nuanced. There is a Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) that caps the total amount payable on one worker's record. However, when one beneficiary becomes ineligible, the remaining beneficiaries don't automatically get that portion. Instead, their benefits are recalculated based on the new family composition, which might sometimes result in a slight increase, but never the full amount of what the ineligible person was receiving. In most survivor situations though, each person is already receiving their maximum individual entitlement, so there's often no change when one beneficiary becomes ineligible.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - navigating SSA benefits while caring for a child with disabilities is incredibly overwhelming. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you're getting solid advice about the benefits not transferring and the importance of thorough documentation for the DAC claim. One thing that might help with the immediate planning: since you know your household income will drop significantly when your benefits stop at her age 16, you could start preparing now by creating a budget based on just her $1,375/month plus whatever you'll earn from your new job. This might help you identify exactly what financial gaps you'll need to address and give you time to explore additional resources like food assistance, utility programs, or other local support services for families with disabled children. Also, regarding the SSA office visits - have you tried calling ahead to ask about their least busy times? Some offices are less crowded early morning or late afternoon. You might also ask if they offer any phone appointments for existing cases rather than requiring in-person visits. Hang in there - you're doing everything right by planning ahead and advocating for your daughter.

As others have confirmed, if your husband waited until age 70 to claim, the statement is likely not reflecting his delayed retirement credits (DRCs). Each year he delayed past his FRA increased his benefit by 8%, up to a maximum of 32% if he waited from FRA to 70. When you claim survivor benefits, you'll receive the higher of: 1. Your own retirement benefit ($1,300) 2. The actual amount your husband was receiving at the time of his death ($3,600) This is why planning for survivor benefits is such an important part of married couples' Social Security strategy - having one spouse (typically the higher earner) delay benefits to age 70 not only maximizes their lifetime benefit but also potentially provides a higher survivor benefit for the remaining spouse.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My husband is 68 and planning to wait until 70 to claim his benefits, while I'm already receiving mine. After reading through all these responses, it's really helpful to know that the SSA statements might not show the accurate survivor benefit amounts, especially when delayed retirement credits are involved. It sounds like the key takeaway is that as a surviving spouse at FRA, you should receive whatever your husband was actually getting at the time of his passing, not necessarily what the statement projects. The fact that he waited until 70 to maximize his benefit should work in your favor for survivor benefits too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to hear from people who've actually gone through this process!

One last piece of advice: Get the name and direct extension of the person who helps you at the in-person appointment. This is invaluable if you need to follow up later. Also, I recommend checking your Medicare.gov account about 4-6 weeks after your appointment to see if your premium amount has been adjusted, as you might not receive a formal letter right away. If nothing changes after 6 weeks, that's when you should follow up.

I've been through the IRMAA appeal process twice now and want to add a few more tips. First, if you do get through to schedule an appointment, ask specifically for a "field office appointment for IRMAA reconsideration" - this helps them route you correctly. Second, bring a calculator and be prepared to show the math on how your current income differs from 2023. The agents appreciate when you can clearly demonstrate the income change. Also, if your local office has online appointment scheduling through their website, that sometimes works better than calling. Finally, don't be discouraged if your first attempt gets denied - you can appeal again with additional documentation. The whole process is frustrating but persistence usually pays off!