This is a complex situation with concurrent benefits, and it sounds like you're being very proactive! A few thoughts that might help: 1. For the immediate rental agreement issue - consider if you can structure it so the rent amount works with the reduced SSI payment initially, then adjust once DAC payments begin. Some landlords are understanding about benefit timing. 2. During your 9/3 appointment about fair share expenses, make sure to document everything your son will be paying for (rent, utilities, food, etc.). The more expenses he can legitimately claim as his fair share, the less the ISM reduction will impact his SSI. 3. Since DAC is retroactive to 6/1/25, there should be a catch-up payment once it's processed. You might want to ask SSA about the timeline for DAC processing during your 9/3 call. 4. Keep detailed records of all expenses and the rental agreement for the fair share calculation. This will be crucial for maintaining his SSI eligibility. 5. Consider consulting with a disability benefits attorney if things get too complex - many offer free consultations for SSI/SSDI cases. You're doing great advocating for your son! The fact that you're planning ahead for when his father retires shows excellent long-term thinking about preserving his Medicaid eligibility.

A bit of planning advice: Since your husband isn't filing until 2027, make sure you keep detailed records of your application for your own benefits now, and then set a reminder to apply for the spousal benefit when he files. Many people forget this second step and miss out on increased benefits for months or even years. The SSA doesn't retroactively pay these benefits beyond 6 months in most cases.

Just wanted to add another important point - when you do apply for your own benefits this summer, make sure to tell SSA that you plan to apply for spousal benefits later when your husband files. They should make a note in your file about this. Also, if your husband is still working when he reaches FRA in 2027, he might want to consider the "file and suspend" strategy... oh wait, that ended in 2016. Never mind that part! But definitely mention the future spousal benefit application when you file your initial claim.

Congratulations on getting your application submitted successfully! That's such a relief when you've been worried about making a mistake. I'm going through a similar situation myself - turning 70 next year and want to make sure I maximize my benefits too. Your post and all these responses have been incredibly helpful. I didn't realize there were two separate date questions (begin vs entitlement), so I'll definitely watch for those when I apply. The tip about calling to verify afterward is smart - better safe than sorry with something this important. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated!

As someone who recently went through this process myself, I can confirm that the online application does clearly separate the application date from your chosen benefit start date. The key is to take your time on each screen and read carefully - there will be a section specifically asking "When do you want your retirement benefits to begin?" where you can select January 2025. Don't let the October application date worry you at all - that's just administrative. I'd also recommend taking screenshots of the confirmation page showing your January 2025 start date for your records. One additional tip: after you submit, you should receive an email confirmation within 24-48 hours. If you don't get that confirmation email, definitely follow up to make sure your application went through properly. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with something this important!

Based on everything you've shared, here's a step-by-step plan that combines the best advice from this thread: 1. Call SSA using Claimyr (to avoid the wait) and request BOTH the formal written denial explanation AND the specific calculation worksheets mentioned (PEBES/SSNBF and spousal benefit worksheet) 2. Return to your Senator's office with copies of all your documentation AND the information you receive from step 1, requesting a senior caseworker who specializes in federal benefits 3. Simultaneously contact your House Representative to open a second Congressional inquiry with the specific questions you want answered 4. Contact your local AARP chapter for additional advocacy support 5. If all else fails within 30 days, consider contacting the SSA Inspector General's office The key is to pursue multiple avenues simultaneously while gathering the specific documentation needed for a formal appeal. Remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease in these situations!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago, and what finally broke the logjam was getting a referral to a Social Security disability attorney who also handles retirement benefit disputes. I know it sounds expensive, but many of them work on contingency for these cases - they only get paid if they recover additional benefits for you. The attorney I worked with had direct contacts within SSA and knew exactly which forms to file and which specific regulations to cite. Within 3 weeks of hiring them, I had my spousal benefit corrected and received a lump sum payment for the months I should have been receiving it. If you're interested, I can share the name of the firm I used (they handle cases nationwide). Sometimes having professional representation is what it takes to get SSA to take your case seriously instead of just giving you the runaround. Also, document EVERYTHING from here forward - dates, times, names of representatives you speak with, reference numbers. This documentation becomes crucial if you do end up needing to pursue formal appeals or legal action.

One more thing to understand: The "top-off" spousal benefit (getting the difference between your benefit and half of your spouse's) requires that your spouse is already receiving their retirement benefit. If your spouse is only receiving SSDI but hasn't converted to retirement benefits yet, that might cause confusion in the application process. Just something to check if the representative seems confused about your eligibility when you call back.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Applied for spousal benefits two weeks ago, went through the whole SSI screening even though I clearly stated we have too much in assets to qualify. The rep said I'd get a letter about scheduling my spousal benefit appointment, but so far I've only received the predictable SSI denial letter. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to be more proactive about following up rather than waiting around. It's frustrating that this seems to be such a common issue - you'd think they could streamline the process better so people don't fall through the cracks between different benefit programs.