Update: I called SSA this morning and finally got through after trying for 3 days! The rep confirmed what many of you said - they look at net earnings for self-employment. She also explained that they'll take the adjustment from future benefits next year after I file my taxes. I'm going to track my hours and income more carefully going forward, and I might talk to my accountant about restructuring. Thanks everyone for your help!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can request a waiver if the overpayment creates a financial hardship. I had to do this when I got hit with a $2,800 overpayment notice. You file Form SSA-632 and provide financial documentation showing that repaying would cause undue hardship. Also, keep detailed records of when you work vs. when you don't work each month. If you have months where you truly don't work at all in your consulting business, you can get full benefits for those months under the monthly earnings test that @Luca Bianchi mentioned. This saved me about $1,200 last year during the three months I took off due to a family emergency. The key is being proactive - don't wait for the overpayment notice. Report your estimated annual earnings to SSA early in the year so they can adjust your monthly payments accordingly.

I went through something similar with my son who became disabled at 19. The key thing that helped us was getting everything in writing from SSA. When you do talk to them (whether through that Claimyr service someone mentioned or directly), ask them to send you a written summary of what benefits your daughter will be eligible for as a survivor. Also, since her father has other dependents, you might want to consider consulting with a disability attorney who specializes in Social Security cases. Many will do a free consultation and can help you understand exactly how the family maximum will affect her benefits. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with your child's financial security. One more tip - start keeping detailed records of all her medical appointments and treatments now. If they do a continuing disability review after her father passes, having everything organized will make the process much smoother during what will already be a difficult time.

I work as a benefits counselor and see these situations frequently. Your daughter's benefits will definitely increase when her father passes away - she'll move from auxiliary benefits (50% of his PIA) to survivor benefits (75% of his PIA). The fact that you weren't married to her father doesn't matter since paternity was legally established. However, with his current wife and two minor children also eligible for survivor benefits, the family maximum will likely apply. Each survivor would normally get 75%, but if that total exceeds the family maximum (usually 150-180% of his benefit), everyone's benefit gets reduced proportionally. I'd strongly recommend getting a benefit estimate in writing from SSA before any changes occur. Also, make sure your daughter's disability onset date is clearly documented as before age 22 - this is crucial for maintaining her eligibility as a disabled adult child throughout these transitions.

u might try county records office where u got married they can give u copy of marriage license. also check old tax returns that's how my aunt found my uncles ssn

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in a very similar situation when my ex-husband passed. We'd been divorced for years and I had no idea where any of his paperwork was. The SSA office was actually really helpful once I got there. They were able to locate his record using just his full name, date of birth, and our marriage date. I brought my driver's license, our marriage certificate, and his death certificate. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got called back (the wait was longer than the actual appointment!). Don't stress too much about having his exact SSN - they have ways to work around that. Good luck with your application!

We didn't need the agreement notarized - just signed by both parties with the date. As for taxes, my accountant had me report it as rental income, but there were offsetting expenses (utilities, home repairs, etc.) so it didn't affect our tax situation much. Your mom should probably consult with a tax professional about her specific situation, though.

Good luck with your appointment! I went through something similar with my dad's SSI when he moved in with us after his stroke. One thing that really helped was bringing a calculator to the meeting to show exactly how we split expenses. We calculated total monthly costs (property tax ÷ 12, average utilities, groceries, etc.) and divided by the number of adults in the household. Having those numbers ready made the conversation go much smoother. Also, don't let them intimidate you - you have the right to ask questions and get clear explanations of their decisions. The caseworker we dealt with was actually pretty helpful once we showed we were serious about following the rules properly.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my neighbor who's 79 and has mild dementia. Based on everything shared here, I'm planning to: 1. Download the SSA-1696 form and the CMS-10106 (Medicare) form 2. Make sure to specifically check box 7 and write "1099-SSA forms" for tax document access 3. Bring multiple copies of everything including POA documents 4. Set up online access while we're at the office 5. Ask about expiration dates and renewal requirements One question I have - for someone with mild cognitive decline, do I need any medical documentation to support the SSA-1696 application, or is that only required for representative payee status? I want to make sure I'm fully prepared before making the 2-hour drive to our nearest SSA office. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when navigating these complex government processes!

As someone who went through this exact process with my aunt last year, I want to add a few practical tips that saved me headaches: 1. **Call ahead to schedule** - Don't just show up! Many SSA offices require appointments for representative paperwork. Ask specifically for a "representative appointment" not just a general visit. 2. **Bring a folder with dividers** - You'll be juggling multiple forms and documents. Having everything organized made the process much smoother. 3. **Take photos of completed forms** - Before you hand anything over, take pictures with your phone. I had to reconstruct forms twice because of "processing delays." 4. **Get a receipt/confirmation number** - Make sure they give you some kind of tracking number or receipt showing you submitted the SSA-1696. This was crucial when following up weeks later. 5. **Ask for the agent's name and direct number** - Some agents are more helpful than others. If you get someone knowledgeable, get their contact info for follow-up questions. The whole process took about 6 weeks from submission to being able to actually use my representative status, so don't expect immediate results. But once it's active, it makes everything so much easier! Your friend is lucky to have someone willing to navigate this bureaucracy for her.