Just wanted to add from my experience - if you're only $500 over, you might want to double-check your calculation against the exact earnings limit for your situation. The 2024 limit was $22,320 if you're under FRA all year, but make sure you're only counting wages, salary, and self-employment income. Things like vacation payouts, sick leave payouts, and some bonuses might be counted differently depending on when they were earned vs. when they were paid. I thought I was over one year but it turned out some of my "2024" income was actually attributed to 2023 work, so I stayed under the limit after all. Worth verifying before you stress too much about the adjustment!

Just wanted to share that I went through this exact situation two years ago. I was $800 over due to an unexpected consulting payment, and SSA didn't adjust my benefits until about 6 months after I filed my taxes. They sent me a letter about 2 weeks before they made the deduction explaining they would withhold $400 (half the overage amount). What surprised me was that they actually gave me the option to pay it back as a lump sum instead of having it deducted from my monthly check - I chose the lump sum since it was easier for my budgeting. The whole process was much less scary than I thought it would be once it actually happened. Just make sure you keep that letter they send you for your records!

As someone new to this community, I'm really impressed by the comprehensive advice and support everyone has provided here! I'm actually in the early stages of considering adopting my great-nephew (age 5) who currently receives survivor benefits from his father, so this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable for understanding what we might face. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently attended a Social Security workshop at our local senior center, and the presenter mentioned something called a "protective filing" that can sometimes be useful in complex situations like this. Essentially, if you think you might be eligible for benefits but aren't sure about timing or documentation, you can file a protective claim that preserves your potential entitlement date while you gather everything needed for a formal application. This might be worth asking about when you meet with SSA, especially given the timing considerations several people have mentioned regarding applying for retirement benefits before or after the adoption is finalized. Also, @Zara Ahmed, I noticed you mentioned planning retirement "within the next year or two" - you might want to check if either you or your wife will qualify for any special timing considerations since you're caring for a child under 16. Sometimes this can affect the optimal timing for benefit applications. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has become such a comprehensive guide for families navigating these complex benefit situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive discussion! I'm currently in a similar situation with my adopted daughter (age 7) who receives survivor benefits from her biological mother, and my husband and I are approaching retirement age. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so enlightening, especially the practical tips about documentation and the various SSA processes involved. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently learned from our local AARP chapter that they offer free Social Security counseling sessions where trained volunteers can help you understand benefit calculations and timing strategies. This might be a good complement to meeting directly with SSA, especially for getting a second opinion on the complex benefit interactions you're dealing with. Also, based on what I've read here, I'm planning to create what I'm calling a "benefits roadmap" that outlines all the key decision points and timelines for our situation. This would include things like optimal retirement filing dates, when to notify SSA about the adoption, and what documents to prepare at each stage. It seems like having this kind of strategic overview could help avoid some of the confusion and delays others have experienced. @Zara Ahmed - your proactive approach to researching this thoroughly before the adoption is finalized is so smart! This thread has become such an invaluable resource for families in complex benefit situations. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's made me feel much more confident about navigating our own path forward.

I'm also navigating SSI issues as a newcomer here and this thread has been incredibly informative. What strikes me is how many families are dealing with this exact same problem - it seems like there's a real gap in how SSA handles custody changes and ensures benefits follow the child's actual living situation. For anyone starting this process, I'd suggest creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything: dates your child is with you, expenses you cover, medical appointments, therapy sessions, school activities, etc. Having this organized from day one will make the SSA application much smoother. Also, if your custody agreement specifies overnight percentages like 70/30, make sure you have certified copies - SSA will want official documentation. One question for those who have been through this: did any of you face retaliation from the other parent during the process? I'm worried about potential complications with visitation or other custody issues while pursuing the payee change.

I'm new to this community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm in a very similar situation. My 13-year-old son with intellectual disabilities receives SSI, but his mother is the representative payee even though he lives with me about 65% of the time following our recent custody modification. Reading through all these responses has given me so much valuable information - especially about Form SSA-11 and the fact that SSA typically prefers to assign payee status to whoever has majority physical custody. I had no idea about the annual Representative Payee Report requirement either, or that SSA can investigate how current benefits are being used. What really resonates with me is how many families are dealing with this exact issue. It seems like there's a systemic problem where SSA doesn't automatically review payee arrangements when custody situations change. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything like everyone has suggested - expenses, overnight stays, medical appointments, therapy sessions - and look into that Claimyr service to actually get through to SSA. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's encouraging to know that others have successfully navigated this process and gotten the benefits properly allocated to follow their child's actual living situation. The money should be supporting our kids wherever they spend their time, not just benefiting one parent's household.

That's fantastic news! So happy to hear your appeal was successful. Thanks for updating us - it's helpful for others who might face similar issues in the future.

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This is such encouraging news for families dealing with similar situations. Your experience really highlights how important it is to gather comprehensive documentation and not give up after the initial denial. The fact that you got backpay too is huge - that makes such a difference for families who rely on these benefits. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with the successful outcome and the specific steps that worked. This thread is going to be incredibly valuable for other parents navigating SSA's confusing policies around non-traditional schools.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to commend you for being proactive about securing these benefits for your mother's estate. Based on everything shared here, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. Just wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I dealt with a similar situation with my father's VA benefits - consider making copies of EVERYTHING before you submit it to SSA. Keep the originals for your records and only give them copies, even if they ask for originals. Government agencies sometimes misplace documents, and you don't want to be scrambling to get new certified copies of death certificates or other important papers. Also, when you do get the SSA-1724 filed and receive a case number, consider setting a calendar reminder to follow up every 3-4 weeks if you haven't heard anything. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, especially with something this complex involving new legislation. Your mother was lucky to have someone like you looking out for her interests even after she's gone. These WEP/GPO affected families deserve every penny they're owed, and I hope SSA processes your claim quickly and without hassle. Best of luck with everything!

I'm sorry for your loss and can relate to your situation. My stepfather passed in January 2024 and had been receiving reduced benefits due to WEP for over a decade. We just received his retroactive payment check last week after filing in December - it took about 7 weeks total once we got all the paperwork submitted correctly. A few things that helped us get through the process faster: 1. We called ahead and scheduled an appointment at our local SSA office rather than just walking in. The scheduled appointments get you someone who has more time to work through complex cases. 2. Bring a simple one-page summary showing the math - what he received monthly vs what he should have received without WEP/GPO for each month from Dec 2023 forward. Having this ready saved a lot of time during the appointment. 3. We also brought his government pension award letter and his most recent SSA benefit statement to help them verify the reduction amounts. The final payment was almost exactly what we calculated it should be, so the math worked out correctly. Don't get discouraged if it takes longer than expected - there's definitely a backlog, but they are processing these claims. The key is just getting everything filed properly with all the right documentation. You're doing the right thing by pursuing this for her estate.