I just wanted to add one more consideration that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're planning to have your Social Security deposited to Vanguard, make sure you understand their customer service hours and accessibility. While banks typically have 24/7 phone support and extensive branch networks, investment firms like Vanguard have more limited hours (usually business days only). This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's worth considering if you ever need immediate help with account access or have urgent questions about your deposits. I learned this the hard way when I had a question about a deposit on a Saturday and had to wait until Monday to get answers. For day-to-day management it's not an issue, but it's something to keep in mind as you're weighing the pros and cons of different approaches. That said, their online platform and mobile app are excellent for checking balances and managing investments once you're set up, so most routine tasks can be handled without needing to call customer service.

As someone who's been working in banking operations for over a decade, I wanted to share a few additional technical details that might help others avoid some common pitfalls I've seen with government benefit direct deposits to investment accounts. First, make sure Vanguard provides you with their specific "government ACH" routing number if they have one - some financial institutions use different routing numbers for government payments versus regular ACH transfers. This could explain why some people experienced rejections even when they thought they had the correct information. Second, when you submit your direct deposit information to SSA, I'd recommend asking them to send you written confirmation of the account details they have on file. This way you can double-check that everything was entered correctly before your first payment is processed. Finally, keep in mind that SSA typically does a "pre-note" test transaction (usually for $0.01) before sending your first full payment. If this test fails, it can delay your payments by 30-60 days while they sort it out. So definitely don't close your existing bank account until you've confirmed that both the test transaction and your first full payment have gone through successfully. The good news is that once everything is working, it tends to be very reliable! But the initial setup is where most problems occur, so it's worth being extra careful with those first few steps.

Update: I went back to the closer office (in the neighboring county) today, and guess what? They helped me with no problem! The rep even apologized for the misinformation I was given last time. They accepted my SSA-44 form and all my documentation showing our income drop after retirement. She said I should receive a decision letter in about 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for giving me the confidence to go back and try again!

Fantastic update! This is exactly why persistence pays off with Social Security issues. Your experience perfectly illustrates what many of us have been saying - the first person you talk to isn't always the most knowledgeable, and policies can be misunderstood or misapplied. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar IRMAA issues: Mason's success story shows that retirement-related income drops ARE valid life-changing events, ANY Social Security office can help you (not just your county), and sometimes you just need to try again if you get incorrect information the first time. Hoping your appeal gets approved quickly and you get those surcharges removed retroactively. Thanks for coming back to update us - it really helps future folks who might search this community for IRMAA advice!

This entire conversation has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's just starting to understand how Medicare and Social Security work together! I'm still a few years away from eligibility, but reading through @Javier Torres's complete experience - from that initial confusion about getting an unexpected check to finally getting clear answers from SSA - really shows how manageable these situations are once you understand what's happening. It's so reassuring to learn that timing coordination issues between government systems are actually pretty normal rather than signs of major problems. The Claimyr tip is definitely going in my saved resources for future reference since phone wait times with government agencies seem to be such a universal challenge. Thank you to everyone who shared their similar experiences - it really helps newcomers like me feel more prepared for navigating these processes down the road!

As someone who's completely new to both this community and the world of Social Security/Medicare, this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm still about 10 years away from eligibility, but seeing @Javier Torres's complete journey from initial confusion to resolution has taught me so much about what to expect. It's really eye-opening to learn that these timing coordination issues between SSA and Medicare are actually pretty common rather than rare system errors. The fact that so many community members shared similar experiences shows this is something new enrollees should probably anticipate might happen. I'm definitely saving the Claimyr tip for future reference - dealing with government phone systems sounds challenging enough without having to wait hours on hold. Thank you to everyone who contributed their real-world experiences here. It's community knowledge like this that makes navigating complex government services feel much more approachable for newcomers like me!

I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredible frustration you must be feeling after 18+ months of delays. This timeline is absolutely unacceptable for what should be a straightforward final payment. I work as a benefits counselor and unfortunately see this type of delay more frequently than we should. Here's my recommendation for getting this resolved: 1) Call the SSA main line (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM and specifically ask to speak with someone about a "delayed underpayment claim for deceased beneficiary." This exact phrasing seems to route you to representatives with more authority to actually investigate payment delays. 2) When you get through, ask them to verify that your SSA-1724 form actually made it to the regional Payment Center that processes these claims - sometimes forms get stuck at the local office level and never get forwarded. 3) If calling doesn't produce results within 2 weeks, file a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov under their "payment processing delays" category. This often triggers a higher-level review. 4) Consider contacting your Congressional representative's office for a Social Security case inquiry - they have staff who specialize in cutting through bureaucratic delays like this. Keep detailed records of every interaction going forward. After 18+ months, you deserve specific answers about what's causing the delay and a concrete timeline for resolution, not vague "it's pending" responses. Don't give up - this payment is legally owed and there's no time limit on claiming it.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress this delay is causing during an already difficult time. Your 18+ month wait is absolutely unacceptable - I went through something similar when my grandmother passed in 2022 and it took over a year to resolve. What finally worked was being very persistent with phone calls and using specific language that seems to get better results. I'd recommend calling 1-800-772-1213 right at 8am (they're less busy then) and specifically saying you need help with a "delayed underpayment for deceased beneficiary" - that exact phrasing seems to route you to someone with more authority. Also ask them to confirm your SSA-1724 actually made it to the regional Payment Center, because sometimes forms get stuck at the local office level. If phone calls don't work within a couple weeks, you can file a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or contact your Congressional representative's office - both can help cut through bureaucratic delays. Keep detailed records of every conversation including dates, names, and what they tell you. Don't give up - this payment is legally owed to your mother's estate and there's no time limit on claiming it. The system is frustrating but it can be resolved with persistence!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who recently went through the SSA application process for ex-spouse benefits with a similar situation. Like many others here, I had a lengthy separation period before my divorce was finalized - we separated after about 7.5 years of marriage, but legal complications meant the divorce took another 3 years to complete, giving me 10.5 years total. What really struck me reading through all these responses is how consistent everyone's experiences have been with SSA only caring about the legal marriage start and end dates. When I applied last year, the process was exactly as described here - they asked for my marriage certificate and final divorce decree, calculated the duration between those two dates, and that was it. No questions about separation, living arrangements, or anything else. One thing I'd add that might be helpful: if you're planning to apply online, make sure you have digital copies of your documents ready to upload. The online system will prompt you for these during the application process. And definitely take the advice about specifically mentioning you want to be considered for ex-spouse benefits - the system doesn't always automatically check all your options. Your situation sounds completely straightforward based on everything shared here. The separation period anxiety is so real, but clearly it's a non-issue for SSA!

I'm so grateful for this detailed discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences has completely put my mind at ease about my situation. It's clear from all the responses that SSA takes a very straightforward approach - they simply calculate from the marriage certificate date to the final divorce decree date, period. No investigation into separation periods or living arrangements. What I find most reassuring is how many people have had nearly identical situations (separated around 7-8 years, divorce finalized 2-4 years later due to legal complications) and every single person confirmed that SSA only cared about those two legal dates. The consistency across all these experiences really shows this is routine for them. I'm definitely going to follow the excellent advice shared here: get certified copies of both documents ready, apply up to 4 months before turning 62, and most importantly - specifically request consideration for ex-spouse benefits rather than assuming they'll check automatically. That last tip alone could save me months of delays! It's such a relief to know that what felt like a complicated situation is actually very common and straightforward from SSA's perspective. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences - it makes all the difference to hear from people who have successfully navigated this exact process!