Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - make sure you bring documentation showing continuous care and support during those 7 years of custody. Things like medical records listing you as guardians, school enrollment forms with your address, insurance cards if she was on your plan, etc. While the adoption decree legally establishes the relationship, SSA sometimes wants to see that pattern of dependency was already established. Also, if your husband has any other children receiving benefits on his record (biological or adopted), that will affect the family maximum calculation. But if this great-niece will be his only dependent child, she should get the full 50% rate. The whole process is definitely overwhelming, but you're doing great by preparing ahead of time!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is timing - you'll want to apply within a reasonable time after the adoption is finalized, ideally within 30 days. While there's no strict deadline, SSA can be particular about delays. Also, make sure you get a certified copy of the adoption decree, not just a regular copy. The court clerk can provide this. If your husband's SSDI started before age 62, the family maximum formula is actually more generous than for regular retirement benefits - it's typically around 85% of his PIA rather than the lower percentages that apply to retirement. This could mean your great-niece gets a higher benefit amount. One last tip: when you call to schedule the appointment, ask specifically what documents they want you to bring. Different offices sometimes have slightly different requirements, and it's better to confirm upfront than make multiple trips!

Based on your latest responses, I think you've got a good plan forming. To summarize the best approach: 1. Use Claimyr to get through to SSA quickly (worth it to avoid hours of hold time) 2. Ask specifically for a Title II Claims Specialist about direct deposit reclamation 3. Request the DD-RTN form process as mentioned by the former SSA employee 4. Keep detailed records of all communications 5. Follow up with the facility administrator since they're now the official payee This combined approach gives you the best chance of resolving this efficiently. Please let us know how it goes - your experience might help others in similar situations.

I just went through something similar with my mom's benefits last year! The key thing that worked for me was being persistent about getting to the right department. Regular customer service reps often don't handle these specialized situations. One tip that might help - when you call, immediately say "I need to speak with someone about returning an incorrect Social Security payment made after a representative payee change." This usually gets you transferred faster than explaining the whole situation to the first person. Also, if the facility is now the official payee, they actually have more authority to resolve this than you do. They can request that SSA process the return directly since it was deposited to the wrong account after the payee change was already in their system. The facility administrator should be pushing harder on this - it's literally their job now! Keep us posted on how the DD-RTN process works out. Your situation could really help others who get stuck in this same bureaucratic mess.

Just FYI - make sure he brings TWO forms of ID when he goes to apply after he gets out. My relative forgot his second ID and they made him come back which was a whole other ordeal with transportation and taking more time off work.

One thing that might help prepare for his eventual application is to start gathering the necessary documents now while you have time to track them down. You'll need certified copies of his wife's death certificate, their marriage certificate, and his birth certificate at minimum. Getting these documents can take weeks or months depending on which states/counties they were issued in, and it's much easier to do this legwork now rather than scrambling after his release when he's dealing with other reentry challenges. Some states have online ordering systems for vital records, while others require mail-in applications. Also consider getting multiple certified copies since Social Security often wants to keep the originals for their files.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! To summarize what I'm understanding: 1. Income counts when it's paid, not earned, so my December work paid in January counts for 2025 2. I need to check with my employer about how they'll report it on my W-2 3. I still need to be careful about the monthly limit of $1,860 for the rest of 2024 This is such a relief - I was so worried about going over the annual limit and losing benefits. I'll talk to my payroll department tomorrow to confirm how they handle end-of-year pay periods. Really appreciate all the knowledge here!

Great to see you got such thorough answers! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - keep detailed records of when you worked those December hours vs when you received payment. If there's ever any confusion with SSA down the line, having documentation showing the work dates and pay dates can save you a lot of headaches. I learned this the hard way when I had to prove timing of my earnings a few years back. Also, don't forget to factor in any overtime rates when calculating if you'll stay under that monthly limit in December!

btw has anyone noticed how the COLA this year is a joke?? 3.2% when groceries go up like 20%??? not related to your question sorry just mad about it lol

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of information I've been struggling to find elsewhere! @Sean Matthews - your situation sounds very similar to mine. I'm 61 and facing the same decision. From what I'm reading here, it seems like the key is getting your specific numbers calculated rather than relying on general rules. One thing I learned from my research is that there's also something called "restricted application" that used to be available, but it was phased out for people born after 1954. So that strategy isn't available to us unfortunately. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the difficulty reaching SSA by phone. Has anyone tried visiting a local SSA office in person? I'm wondering if that might be more effective than calling, even though it means taking time off work. The survivor benefit information from @Ali Anderson is really valuable too - I hadn't considered how that might change the equation. It makes me think we really need professional help to model out all these different scenarios.