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have u tried going on the website mySocialSecurity to make appointment? they say u can do that now. I made mine that way last month but u might need to create account first
I tried creating a mySocialSecurity account last year but had trouble with the identity verification part. It kept saying my credit file information didn't match. I should probably try again because if I could schedule online that would be so much easier than these endless phone calls.
After reading through the comments, I want to emphasize something important about your specific situation. Since you mentioned your son recently started receiving benefits on his father's record as a disabled adult child (DAC), you may be in a special category. If you're providing care for a disabled adult child who receives Social Security benefits, you might qualify for what's called a "mother's or father's benefit" even though your child is an adult. This is different from your divorced spouse benefit and they can sometimes be payable simultaneously, subject to family maximum rules. When you finally get your appointment, make sure they calculate BOTH: 1. Your divorced spouse benefit (potentially up to 50% of your ex's PIA) 2. Your potential caregiver benefit for your disabled son Bringing documentation of your caregiving responsibilities will be crucial. The technical term SSA uses for this is "in-care" requirement for mother's/father's benefits. Many representatives don't fully understand these complex rules where divorce, disability, and caregiving intersect.
This is incredibly helpful - I had no idea I might qualify for a separate benefit as his caregiver! He does have significant disabilities and requires daily support. I'll definitely bring documentation of his care needs. Would medical records be enough, or do I need something specific showing I'm his caregiver?
Medical records are good, but also bring any legal guardianship papers if you have them, documentation of living arrangements, and perhaps a letter from his doctor specifying his care needs and your role. The more documentation you have about your caregiving responsibilities, the stronger your case will be. SSA needs to see that you're providing ongoing care and supervision, not just occasional help.
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Just wanted to wish you good luck with your kidney surgery. That's scary stuff on top of dealing with SSDI bureaucracy. Hope everything goes well!
Thank you, I appreciate that. It's definitely been stressful dealing with both health issues and the disability application process at the same time.
To address your question about updating the Adult Function Report - it would be helpful to provide an update after your surgery. You can submit a letter from your doctor describing any additional limitations resulting from the kidney removal. Generally, SSA evaluates disability based on how your conditions limit your ability to work. While spine issues typically cause exertional limitations (lifting, standing, walking), the kidney cancer and surgery may cause non-exertional limitations (need for frequent breaks, absences for treatment, fatigue). The combination of these different types of limitations often presents a stronger case than either condition alone. When you speak with the examiner after surgery, ask if you should submit an updated Function Report or if a medical source statement from your doctor would be sufficient.
Exactly right. And to add some context - SSA uses what's called the "combined effects" doctrine when evaluating disability claims. They look at how ALL your medical conditions interact to impact your ability to work. Sometimes people get denied when looking at each condition individually, but approved when considering the combined impact. The examiner seems to be properly applying this approach.
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Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much. One last question - does anyone know if I need to do anything special when my husband's SSDI converts to retirement benefits next year? Will that change affect potential survivor benefits in any way?
No action needed when SSDI converts to retirement - it happens automatically and the payment amount stays exactly the same. There's no impact on future survivor benefits. The only thing I'd recommend is that both of you create My Social Security accounts online if you haven't already, so you can see your benefit amounts and estimates. Makes planning much easier.
THIS IS WHY I HATE THE SSA!!! Why is everything so confusing!? Why can't they just make it simple! My uncle lost out on thousands because no one told him he had to APPLY for survivor benefits when my aunt died! They should automatically give you the higher amount!
It is frustrating! When I was helping my sister with survivor benefits, we couldn't get clear answers until we finally got through to an actual SSA representative. After three days of trying, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person at SSA who can look at your specific situation.
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dont social security beneifts only get taxed if you make over a certain amount? i forget what it is but i think most people dont even pay tax on ss
You're right! Social Security benefits are only taxable if your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your Social Security benefits) exceeds $25,000 for individuals or $32,000 for married filing jointly. At most, 85% of benefits become taxable, never 100%. But as another commenter pointed out, if these are benefits for a child/dependent that the original poster is receiving as a representative payee, they aren't taxable to the representative payee at all.
Update: I found the form and checked box 5 like someone suggested. Turns out these payments aren't even my taxable income since I'm just the representative payee for my nephew! I feel silly now but glad I asked. Thanks everyone for your help!
You're not silly at all! This is a very common misunderstanding. The SSA doesn't do a great job explaining the tax implications of being a representative payee. I'm glad you got it sorted out before filing your taxes incorrectly!
Riya Sharma
To add a bit more technical detail: The 2025 COLA (3.2%) will be applied to everyone receiving Social Security benefits as of December 2024. The timing of when someone started receiving benefits doesn't affect COLA eligibility. For the earnings question, the rules depend on your husband's age. Since you mentioned he's 67 and at his Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test doesn't apply to him anyway. SSA will reconcile his actual earnings when tax information is processed, but this won't affect his benefit amount. The letter you received is standard for new beneficiaries. You'll receive a separate COLA notice in December that will explain the inflation adjustment being applied to his benefits starting January 2025.
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Genevieve Cavalier
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! Yes, he is past his FRA so it sounds like we don't need to worry about either issue. It's surprising how little explanation comes with these notices - they just assume everyone understands all the Social Security rules already.
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Lola Perez
wait does anyone know if the 3.2% gets added to wats in the letter already or is it calculated some other way?? so confused
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Ethan Scott
•The 3.2% COLA will be applied to your current benefit amount (before any deductions like Medicare premiums). So if your current benefit is $2,000, the COLA would add $64 (2000 × 0.032 = 64), making your new gross benefit $2,064 starting in January. The COLA notice in December will show the exact calculation for your specific situation.
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