I've been following this thread, and I wanted to circle back - did you manage to file the appeal yet? Remember that if you request the continuation of benefits during appeal (by checking that box on the SSA-561 form), they should continue her Medicaid during the appeal process. This buys you time to explore the state-specific programs others have mentioned. Don't wait on this - the 10-day window for continued benefits during appeal is crucial.

I'm so glad to hear you got the appeal filed and have the Medicaid appointment scheduled! That's exactly the right approach. When you meet with the Medicaid office tomorrow, also ask about Missouri's "MO HealthNet for the Disabled" program - Missouri does participate in several disability-specific Medicaid programs that aren't tied to SSI eligibility. One more thing to consider while you're exploring options: if your daughter's medications are name-brand, ask her doctors about patient assistance programs directly from the pharmaceutical companies. Many offer free or deeply discounted medications for families in situations like yours. It's not a permanent solution, but it can help bridge the gap while you get the Medicaid sorted out. You're doing an amazing job advocating for her - I know it feels overwhelming, but you're taking all the right steps!

One week later: Any update on your situation? Were you able to get through to someone who properly understood the GPO rules for retroactive survivor benefits?

Congratulations on getting your retroactive benefits! This is such a great example of why persistence pays off with SSA. For anyone else dealing with GPO and survivor benefits, I'd recommend documenting everything - dates of pension changes, application dates, and reference numbers from calls. It really helps when you have to explain your situation to multiple representatives. The fact that you got nearly $2,000 in back payments shows how much money people might be leaving on the table if they don't push back on incorrect initial denials.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though your husband makes 50% less than you, his spousal benefit might not actually be higher than his own benefit depending on his work history. The spousal benefit is up to 50% of YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (what you'd get at full retirement age), but if he's been working steadily even at lower wages, his own benefit could still be substantial. I'd recommend both of you create accounts on ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits. That way you can compare his projected benefit at 65 versus what 50% of your PIA would be (reduced to about 45.8% since he'd be claiming early). This will help you figure out if the spousal benefit would even make a difference in your situation. Also, since there's a 5-year gap between when he wants to retire and when you plan to file, you might want to consider whether he can afford to wait a couple extra years to avoid the permanent reduction from claiming early.

One strategy you might want to consider is having your husband delay claiming until his Full Retirement Age (67) if financially feasible. While I understand he wants to retire at 65 due to the physical demands of his job, he could potentially: 1. Retire from his current job at 65 but delay Social Security until 67 2. Bridge the gap with savings, part-time work, or other retirement accounts 3. Claim his full benefit at 67 (no reduction) 4. When you file at your FRA, he'd then get the higher of his full benefit or the full 50% spousal benefit This avoids the permanent 13.3% reduction on his own benefit AND the reduction on any potential spousal benefit. Over a 20+ year retirement, that could add up to significant money. I know it's not always possible to wait, but if you can swing it financially, those two extra years could really pay off in the long run. You might want to run the numbers both ways to see if the extra income from waiting would be worth it.

One additional tip: you can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already. It will show you your benefit payment dates and amounts, and you can see exactly when your next payment is scheduled. It's very helpful for keeping track of everything.

This is such a common concern for new Social Security recipients! I went through the exact same panic when I started getting my benefits. The payment schedule really is confusing at first, but once you get used to it, it becomes predictable. Just to add to what others have said - if your payment date falls on a federal holiday, they'll usually send it the business day before. So sometimes your payment might come a day or two earlier than expected, which is always a nice surprise! Also, direct deposit typically hits your account early in the morning on your payment date, so don't worry if you don't see it right at midnight. Banks process these deposits at different times throughout the day.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm planning to submit my application online this weekend, aiming for benefits to start in September. I've created a checklist of documents to have ready based on your suggestions. I feel much more confident about the process now. Will update if I run into any issues!

Just want to add that you should also check if you're eligible for any spousal benefits or survivor benefits - sometimes people don't realize they might qualify for higher payments based on their spouse's work record instead of their own. The online application will walk you through these options, but it's worth understanding beforehand. Also, if you have any gaps in your work history or periods where you might have worked under different names, have documentation ready to explain those. The SSA can be very thorough about verifying your entire work record. Good luck with your application this weekend!