Just wanted to add one clarification that might help with your planning - when you're thinking about survivor benefits, keep in mind that if your husband delays claiming past his FRA (say until age 70), his benefit will grow by about 8% per year due to delayed retirement credits. If he passes away after that, your survivor benefit would be based on that higher amount, not just his original PIA. So his claiming strategy can significantly impact your potential survivor benefits down the road. Also, regarding the earnings test - it's worth noting that even if you claim benefits before your FRA and have earnings that reduce your monthly payments, those "withheld" benefits aren't lost forever. SSA will recalculate your benefit at FRA to give you credit for those months when benefits were reduced due to earnings. But once you hit FRA, it's a clean slate - work as much as you want with zero impact on benefits!

This is such a helpful discussion! As someone who's been navigating these same questions with my spouse, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be useful. If you're planning to continue working after your FRA, don't forget that your continued earnings could potentially increase your own Social Security benefit calculation if those later years represent some of your highest earning years. SSA recalculates your benefit annually if you have earnings that would increase your average, which could boost either your retirement benefit or the baseline for spousal benefit comparisons. Also, I learned from my financial planner that it's worth running the numbers on different claiming strategies - sometimes it makes sense for the higher earner to delay claiming to maximize both the current spousal benefit and future survivor benefits, while the lower earner might claim earlier. The "file and suspend" strategy is no longer available, but there are still ways to optimize timing between spouses. Definitely worth getting a personalized analysis of your specific situation!

That's fantastic news! So glad the Claimyr service worked for you and you finally got connected to someone who understood CIC benefits. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when you reach the right person who actually knows the rules. Your list of documents looks perfect - sounds like the Technical Expert really knew what she was talking about. The fact that she scheduled you for an in-person appointment is also a great sign since those tend to go much smoother for complex cases like yours. Thanks for sharing the update! This whole thread will be really helpful for other parents dealing with similar situations. Looking forward to hearing how your appointment goes next week. Fingers crossed everything gets processed smoothly from here!

Congratulations on finally getting through to someone knowledgeable! This is exactly why I always tell people dealing with complex SSA issues to keep pushing until they reach a specialist. Regular claims reps just aren't trained on the nuances of benefits like CIC for disabled adult children. Your persistence really paid off, and I'm sure this thread will help so many other parents in similar situations. The step-by-step documentation you've shared here is invaluable - from asking for Technical Experts to citing the specific Social Security Act section numbers. One small tip for your in-person appointment: bring copies of everything rather than originals when possible, since SSA sometimes needs to keep documents for their files. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a few weeks to complete even after your appointment - CIC benefits can involve multiple reviews. Really hoping everything goes smoothly for you next week! Please do update us on how it turns out.

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who works with Social Security disability and survivor claims, I want to emphasize what others have said - the child support amount you're receiving should NOT automatically disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. The key test is whether your late husband provided more than 50% of your daughter's total living support. From what you've described - him being the primary breadwinner covering housing, utilities, food, and other household expenses while the $1,720 child support mainly covers her personal needs - it sounds like he was likely providing well over half her support. A few important reminders: - Apply immediately and request a protective filing date to preserve your claim - Gather comprehensive documentation: bank statements, tax returns, household bills, proof of living arrangements - Don't forget about the one-time $255 death benefit - Benefits can be retroactive, but only for a limited period Even if the child support reduces your benefit amount somewhat due to family maximum limits, you're still likely to receive meaningful financial assistance. I've seen many families in similar situations successfully obtain survivor benefits despite receiving child support. The worst outcome is they deny the claim, but based on your circumstances, that seems unlikely. Your family needs and deserves this support during such a difficult time. Don't let uncertainty prevent you from applying for benefits you're entitled to receive.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you're going through right now. I lost my spouse two years ago and went through the survivor benefits process, so I understand how overwhelming this feels when you're already dealing with grief. The good news is that the $1,720 child support shouldn't disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. SSA looks at the total support picture, not just income amounts. Since your husband was covering your major household expenses (housing, utilities, food, insurance) while the child support mainly went to your daughter's personal needs, he was likely providing well over 50% of her total support. A few things that helped me during my application: - I called early in the morning (around 8 AM) to get through to SSA faster - I organized all our financial documents beforehand - bank statements, tax returns, household bills - I made a list of exactly what my husband paid for versus what other income sources covered Don't wait to apply thinking you might not qualify. Even if benefits are reduced due to family maximums, you'll likely still receive substantial help. The application process took about 6-8 weeks for me, but they backdated the benefits to the month after my spouse died. You're being incredibly strong advocating for your family during this difficult time. Your stepdaughter is lucky to have you fighting for her future security.

my wife filed dec 5 for jan benefits and got aproved jan 23 so like 7 weeks. but her sister filed same day and still waiting now. ssme office even. makes no sense how random it is

Update: I finally got through to SSA today after trying at exactly 8:00am! The agent said my application had a flag because I had worked in another state for a few years and they were waiting on wage verification. She removed the flag since it had been pending too long and said my benefits should be processed within 5-7 business days. She also confirmed I'll receive backpay for January and February. Thank you all for your advice and sharing your experiences!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to figure out Social Security benefits during such an emotional time adds extra stress. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the payment timing - you should receive the November 23rd payment since it's actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. Social Security pays in arrears, so each payment is for the previous month. One additional tip I'd share is to keep detailed records of all your interactions with SSA - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers if they give you any. This can be really helpful if there are any complications later. Also, when you do get through to report the death, ask them to send you written confirmation that the death has been reported and processed in their system. The phone system is notoriously difficult, but don't give up. Many people have success calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours when call volume might be lighter. If all else fails, the in-person visit is definitely worth trying. Take care of yourself during this difficult time - you're handling a lot right now.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khalid. Losing a parent is never easy, and dealing with government agencies during grief can feel overwhelming. The community here has given you really solid advice - you should indeed receive the November 23rd payment since Social Security pays in arrears, meaning that payment is actually for October when your mother was alive the entire month. I went through something similar when my grandmother passed away two years ago. One thing that helped me was preparing a simple script before calling SSA - having her Social Security number, date of death, and funeral home information written down made the conversation smoother when I finally got through. Also, if you have any siblings or other family members who might also try to report the death, make sure to coordinate so multiple people aren't calling about the same case. The advice about calling early morning or during lunch hours is spot on - I had success around 1:30 PM when I called. Don't be discouraged if it takes multiple attempts. You're doing everything right by seeking information and planning to report this promptly. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.