This is extremely helpful - I had no idea about the representative payee responsibilities. I'll definitely keep detailed records if we're approved. We'd probably use some for her current expenses and save the rest for college. Thank you!

As someone who works with families navigating Social Security benefits, I want to emphasize how important it is to gather ALL the documentation before your appointment. In addition to what others have mentioned, you'll also want to bring any school records showing your daughter lived with her grandfather, any medical records that list him as guardian, and if possible, any financial records showing he supported her (like tax returns where she was claimed as a dependent). The key thing SSA looks for is proof that the grandparent was actually providing support and the child was dependent on them. Also, don't be discouraged if your first application gets denied - this happens frequently with grandchild survivor benefits because the criteria can be complex. If that happens, you have 60 days to appeal and it's often worth getting help from a Social Security attorney who specializes in survivor benefits. Good luck with the process!

One more thing to be aware of - if your father was receiving Social Security and your mother is still living, she may be eligible for survivor benefits if her own benefit amount is less than his. She should contact SSA about this once everything has settled down a bit.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through with your father. The community has given you excellent advice already. Just to add one more practical tip - when you do call SSA to report his passing, have his Social Security number, date of birth, and death certificate information ready. They'll ask for these details. Also, keep a record of when you called, who you spoke with, and any confirmation numbers they give you. This documentation can be helpful if any issues come up later. Sending you and your family strength during this difficult time.

One final point about the monthly test versus annual test: After your first year on benefits, Social Security will automatically switch you to the annual test. You don't need to contact them for this change. So in 2025, they'll use the monthly test, and in 2026, they'll automatically use the annual test. For 2025, as long as you stay under $1,840 in January, you should be fine. For the rest of 2025, if you've fully retired, you won't have any earnings to worry about anyway. But if you do any part-time work later in 2025, you'll need to stay under the monthly limit for any month you work.

I'm dealing with a similar situation as a newcomer to Social Security benefits! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. One thing I want to add that might help other newcomers: I called my former HR department to get a written breakdown of which hours were worked in which month, since my final paycheck also spanned two months. They were actually really helpful and provided a detailed breakdown that I can keep for my records. It might be worth reaching out to your HR department too, Natasha, just to have that documentation from the employer side as well as your own records. This whole earnings test thing is way more complicated than I expected when I first applied for benefits!

wait i'm confused...if i'm getting ssi now and my husband retires next year do i get a higher benefit? or do i have to pick one or the other?? we've been married 23 years

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusion! This is actually one of the most common misunderstandings about Social Security benefits. What you're experiencing is called "dual entitlement" - you can't receive both your own benefit AND the full spousal benefit stacked on top of each other. Here's what's happening: SSA takes the higher of either (1) your own retirement benefit OR (2) 50% of your ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount. If 50% of his PIA is higher than your own benefit, you get your own benefit PLUS just enough spousal benefit to bring you up to that 50% level. So if your own benefit is $1,288 and 50% of his PIA is $1,500, you'd only get $212 more per month ($1,500 total), not $1,500 on top of your $1,288. The good news is your calculation is probably correct - it's just that the "50% spousal benefit" isn't what most people think it means. Definitely call to verify they used the right ex-spouse's record though, just to be sure!

Just wanted to add one important point that might help with your planning - even though you can claim ex-spouse benefits at 62, you might want to consider waiting a bit longer if possible. The reduction isn't just a small amount - it's permanent and significant. At 62, you'd get about 32.5-35% of your ex's full benefit amount, but if you wait until your Full Retirement Age (likely 67), you'd get the full 50%. That's a substantial difference that will last for the rest of your life. I know it's tough to wait when you need the income, but even waiting a few extra years could make a big financial difference. You might want to run the numbers to see if you can make it work with other income sources until you're closer to your FRA.

The SSA website has a retirement estimator tool that can give you ballpark figures, but since you don't have enough work credits for your own benefits, it won't be as helpful for your situation. For ex-spouse benefits, you'll need to estimate based on your ex-husband's earnings record, which you obviously don't have access to. Here's what I'd suggest: Contact SSA and ask for a benefit estimate based on your ex-spouse's record. They can provide this information since you're eligible as a divorced spouse. You can also use rough estimates - if you know approximately what your ex earned during his working years, the average Social Security benefit is around $1,900/month in 2024. So at your FRA, you'd get about $950/month (50% of his benefit), but at 62 you'd only get around $630-665/month (the reduced amount). Also consider that if you do find part-time work now, you could potentially earn enough credits to qualify for a small benefit on your own record, which might supplement the ex-spouse benefit. Even earning $7,000/year would get you 4 credits annually. Something to think about as you weigh your options!