This is exactly the kind of systemic issue that makes dealing with SSA so exhausting for people who are already struggling with disabilities. I'm a social worker and see this concurrent benefits confusion constantly - it's like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing at SSA. What really gets me is how this puts the burden on vulnerable people to become experts in federal benefits law just to get what they're legally entitled to. Your brother shouldn't have to fight this hard for money that's rightfully his. A few practical suggestions from my experience helping clients through similar situations: - Document everything in writing (which it sounds like you're already doing) - If you hit roadblocks with reconsideration, consider contacting your state's Protection and Advocacy agency - they specialize in disability rights and often have direct lines to SSA supervisors - Some legal aid offices have specific SSA benefits units that handle these exact types of administrative errors The good news is that once you get the right person who understands concurrent benefits, this should be resolved quickly. But it's absolutely unacceptable that people have to jump through these hoops in the first place. Hang in there - you're fighting the good fight for your brother.

I'm so sorry your brother is dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone who recently went through a similar concurrent benefits approval process, I can tell you that what the SSA told him is completely wrong. You absolutely CAN and SHOULD receive backpay from both programs when you're approved for concurrent SSI and Social Security disability. The fact that SSI already did their calculation correctly (reducing their payment to account for his Social Security benefit) proves that both programs recognize the legitimacy of both benefits. Social Security has no legal basis to deny backpay simply because he's receiving SSI. This sounds like a classic case of an undertrained representative who doesn't understand how Title II and Title XVI benefits work together. I'd suggest asking to speak with a supervisor immediately, and definitely get everything in writing. Don't let them brush you off with vague explanations - demand specific policy citations for why they think SSI receipt eliminates Social Security backpay eligibility. Your instincts are absolutely right that something is wrong here. Keep pushing - your brother deserves every penny of that backpay!

To add some clarity here - the living arrangement question serves several purposes: 1) It helps SSA determine if there might be multiple potential claimants, 2) It identifies if there might be issues with the validity of the marriage, and 3) It helps with determining household expenses for certain calculations. As long as you were legally married and there's no question about the validity of the marriage, separation without a legal separation agreement should not impact eligibility for survivor benefits. The key facts from your situation: legally married, no divorce filed, no legal separation agreement. These are what matter for your survivor benefits eligibility. Your strategy of waiting until FRA for survivors while letting your own benefit grow is generally sound, but you might want to run calculations for different scenarios once you get accurate benefit amounts.

I'm sorry for your loss, Kevin. Based on what you've shared, your separated status should not affect your eligibility for survivor benefits since you remained legally married. The SSA's question about living together is mainly for administrative purposes - they need to document circumstances but it doesn't disqualify legally married spouses. However, I'd recommend being proactive about documentation. When you apply, bring your marriage certificate, his death certificate, and any records showing you maintained separate households for work/personal reasons rather than marital discord. This can help avoid delays if you encounter a caseworker who needs extra clarification. Your strategy of waiting until FRA for survivor benefits while letting your own grow until 70 is smart if you can financially manage the gap years. You might also want to create a my Social Security account online to get benefit estimates - it's much easier than dealing with phone calls or office visits, and you can run different scenarios to optimize your claiming strategy.

I'm in a very similar boat - just started receiving my benefits at 67 and was completely overwhelmed by the withholding options. What I ended up doing was meeting with a tax professional for one session to help me calculate the right percentage based on all our income sources. It cost me $200 but was totally worth the peace of mind. She helped me understand that with my pension and my husband's continued work income, we needed to withhold 15% to avoid owing at tax time. The key thing she told me was to remember that Social Security withholding is "flat" - it doesn't adjust based on your other income like payroll withholding does. So you really need to look at your complete tax picture to get it right. Don't be afraid to start a bit higher than you think you need - getting a small refund is much better than owing thousands in April!

I went through this same situation last year when I started my benefits at 65. Here's what I learned the hard way: definitely start with at least 12% withholding, especially with your combined income sources. What really caught me off guard was how much of our Social Security became taxable once you factor in pension income plus your part-time work. The IRS uses this thing called "provisional income" to determine how much of your SS is taxable, and it includes half your SS benefits plus all other income. With your wife's $29,760 annual benefit plus your $32k work income plus pension, you're likely looking at having 85% of her SS benefits being taxable. I started with 10% withholding and ended up owing about $2,800 at tax time. Bumped it up to 14% the following year and now we usually get a small refund. Also, don't forget you can make quarterly estimated payments if you find the withholding isn't quite enough. Better to be safe than scrambling in April!

I'm also brand new to the SSDI application process and just submitted mine about 5 days ago! This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I was getting really worried that something was wrong when I saw zero movement in MySocialSecurity. It's both reassuring and frustrating to learn that weeks of no updates is completely normal. What really gets to me is how we're already dealing with disabilities that impact our daily lives, and then we have to navigate this incredibly slow and outdated system that adds so much unnecessary stress. The fact that there's no proper real-time tracking in 2025 for something this important is just unbelievable. But finding this community and reading everyone's real experiences has been more helpful than any official SSA information I could find. I'm definitely going to remember the tip about calling local offices instead of the national number, and I'll try to resist the urge to check the portal every single day! Thank you all for sharing your journeys and creating such a supportive space for those of us just starting this overwhelming process.

I'm also completely new to this process and just filed my SSDI application about a week and a half ago! This thread has been such a godsend - I was starting to spiral thinking I'd messed something up when absolutely nothing changed on MySocialSecurity. It's incredible how many of us are going through the exact same experience with this outdated system. What really frustrates me is that we're already dealing with health conditions that make everyday tasks challenging, and then we have to endure this anxiety-inducing bureaucratic nightmare on top of it all. The fact that there's essentially no real tracking system in 2025 for something so critical to people's survival is just mind-boggling. But honestly, finding this community discussion has been more informative and supportive than anything I could find on the official SSA website. Reading everyone's real timelines and experiences has helped me understand that the glacial pace is unfortunately normal, even if it's incredibly stressful. I'm definitely going to try the local office approach if I need to check on my status, and I'm trying to limit myself to checking the portal just once a week instead of daily! Thank you all for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive environment for those of us just starting this overwhelming journey.

This is incredibly useful information! I'm 65 and just enrolled in Medicare Part B but haven't filed for SS yet (waiting until my FRA at 67). I had no clue about the 3-month advance payment system or the potential overlap issue. The fact that your refund took 5 months but happened automatically is both frustrating and reassuring at the same time. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records of all my premium payments - dates, amounts, confirmation numbers, the works. It's also good to know that this shows up as a separate deposit rather than being added to regular benefit payments, since I might not have connected the dots otherwise. Thanks for taking the time to share this experience and for all the helpful follow-up in the comments. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that you can't find in any official SSA documentation!

This is so helpful! I'm 64 and will be enrolling in Medicare when I turn 65 in a few months, but planning to delay SS until 70. I had no idea about the 3-month advance payment requirement or this overlap issue. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is keeping detailed records and being patient with SSA's processing times. I'm definitely going to set up a tracking system for all my premium payments from day one - dates, amounts, confirmation numbers, and screenshots of my Medicare account. It's reassuring to know the system automatically catches these overlaps eventually, even if it takes 5+ months. Thanks for sharing this real-world experience - this kind of practical information is impossible to find in the official documentation but so valuable for planning ahead!