I've been working in disability law for over 15 years and want to emphasize something that could be crucial for your son's case. When you apply for DAC benefits, make sure to specifically request that SSA conduct what's called a "Title II disability determination" rather than relying solely on his existing SSI disability finding. While both programs use similar criteria, Title II sometimes has slightly different medical review processes, and having a fresh determination on his record can actually strengthen his case for ongoing benefits. Also, I'd strongly recommend documenting not just his current medical needs, but also his work history (or lack thereof) and any vocational rehabilitation attempts. This creates a complete picture of why he requires DAC benefits and can be helpful if there are ever any future reviews of his disability status. One practical tip: when the DAC benefits begin, your son will eventually become eligible for Medicare after the 24-month waiting period. Start planning now for how to coordinate Medicare with his continued Medicaid coverage - this is called "dual eligibility" and can actually provide better overall healthcare coverage than Medicaid alone. The financial improvement from $943 to $1800 monthly is significant, but the long-term security of having Title II benefits rather than means-tested SSI could be even more valuable for your son's future independence. You're making an excellent decision for him!

I'm a retired SSA field office manager and want to address a few operational details that could help your transition go more smoothly. First, when you call SSA, ask to speak with a "Technical Expert" or "Claims Specialist" rather than a general service representative - they're much more knowledgeable about DAC benefit calculations and family maximum rules. Also, be aware that SSA's computer systems sometimes automatically deny DAC applications if there's an active SSI case, even when the person is clearly eligible. If this happens, don't panic - it's a system glitch that can be corrected, but you'll need to be persistent about getting it reviewed by someone who understands the override procedures. One thing that might help: when you apply, bring a copy of your husband's Social Security statement showing his exact PIA amount. This helps the claims rep calculate the correct DAC benefit amount (50% of his PIA) and family maximum from the start, reducing the chance of errors. The transition from $943 SSI to approximately $1800 DAC is definitely worth pursuing, especially since your son can maintain Medicaid through the Section 1634(c) protections everyone has mentioned. Just be prepared for potentially 3-6 months of back-and-forth with various offices to get everything coordinated properly. The end result will be much better financial security for your son!

I've been putting this off for months but finally set up my 2FA last week after reading through this thread! I wanted to add one more tip that really helped me: if you wear reading glasses, make sure you have them handy during setup. The QR code scanning requires you to hold your phone at just the right distance from your computer screen, and I was struggling until I put my glasses on. Also, the 6-digit codes in the authenticator app are pretty small, so having good vision or magnification helps when you're entering them quickly. For anyone still hesitant - I'm 67 and if I can figure this out, anyone can! The Google Authenticator app is definitely the way to go. It took me about 12 minutes total, and most of that was just me being extra careful and double-checking each step. One thing I noticed that others haven't mentioned: the codes change every 30 seconds, but you actually have a decent window to enter them. Don't panic if you're typing slowly - I was worried I'd run out of time, but even with my slow typing, I never had a code expire on me while entering it. Really grateful for this community sharing all these real-world experiences. The official SSA instructions made this sound way more complicated than it actually is!

As someone who just went through this process recently, I can't emphasize enough how much reading through all these experiences helped me! I was absolutely dreading the 2FA setup after getting those confusing emails from SSA, but seeing so many real people share their step-by-step experiences made it feel much more manageable. I ended up using Google Authenticator like most folks here recommended. The whole thing took about 15 minutes, and the hardest part was honestly just getting over my initial anxiety about it. The QR code scanning worked on the first try, and entering those 6-digit codes is actually pretty quick once you get the hang of it. One small tip I'd add: I found it helpful to practice opening the authenticator app and finding the SSA code before my first real login attempt. That way I wasn't fumbling around trying to figure out which code belonged to which service when I was already in the middle of logging in. For anyone still putting this off - I totally get the hesitation, but the peace of mind knowing my account is more secure is definitely worth the initial setup hassle. Plus, once it's done, you don't have to think about it again unless you get a new phone. The community support in this thread really shows how we can help each other navigate these government tech changes!

I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with Social Security issues for my disabled brother for years. Reading through this thread has been really eye-opening - I had no idea about Adult Disabled Child benefits either! Just wanted to add one thing I learned the hard way: when you call SSA, try to call early in the morning (right when they open at 7 AM) or later in the afternoon after 3 PM. The middle of the day and Mondays are absolutely brutal for wait times. I've had much better luck getting through and speaking with knowledgeable representatives during those off-peak hours. Also, keep detailed notes of who you speak with (get their name and badge number if possible) and what they tell you. I've had different reps give conflicting information on the same case, so having that documentation helps when you need to reference previous conversations. The potential increase for your daughter sounds really promising based on the numbers you shared. It's great to see so many people here sharing their positive experiences - it gives me hope for navigating this system! Thanks to everyone for the detailed information and tips.

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information about Adult Disabled Child benefits! I'm in a somewhat similar situation with my disabled nephew (he's 29 and has been on SSDI since he was 26), and honestly had never heard of ADC benefits until reading through this thread. What strikes me most is how many people seem to be unaware of this potential benefit - including myself until just now. It makes me wonder how many families might be missing out on additional support simply because they don't know to ask about it. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about calling SSA (especially the timing advice from Dylan Wright) and the professional perspective from Ava Hernandez about the application not putting current benefits at risk. That concern about jeopardizing existing SSDI seems to be a common worry based on the responses here. For the original poster, it really sounds like your daughter has a strong case for ADC benefits given that her disability began before 22 and she meets the other criteria. The potential increase from $1,230 to around $1,500 would be substantial. I'm definitely planning to look into this for my nephew as well - his current SSDI is only $1,050 and my sister's retirement benefit is significantly higher. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems more manageable!

I've been considering this feature too, especially after hearing about so many data breaches lately. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening! It sounds like the consensus is that it's definitely worth doing for security, but you need to be strategic about timing. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about calling early in the morning and keeping the direct callback number handy. One question I haven't seen addressed: if you're married and both spouses want to use this feature, do you each need to call separately to unlock your own accounts? Or can one spouse handle both during a single call for something like a joint mortgage application? Also, has anyone used this in conjunction with identity monitoring services, and if so, did you find they complement each other well or is there any overlap/conflict? Thanks for all the detailed real-world experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to actually expect!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I've been on the fence about using the Block Electronic Access feature, but reading everyone's real experiences has convinced me it's worth doing. The key takeaways I'm getting are: plan ahead (especially not during tax season!), call early morning to avoid hold times, and definitely keep that direct callback number somewhere safe. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had experience with this feature affecting employment background checks that verify Social Security numbers? I'm in a field where I occasionally need security clearance renewals, and I want to make sure I understand all the potential scenarios where I might need temporary access. Also, for those who mentioned using services like Claimyr to get through to SSA faster, have you found that to be consistently reliable, or is it hit-or-miss? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - both the success stories and the horror stories! It really helps to know what to expect and how to prepare.

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Started collecting at 62 earlier this year while continuing some freelance work. The earnings limit rules are absolutely maddening - it's like they designed the system to be as confusing as possible. Based on what I've learned from this community and my own research, you're unfortunately going to be over the $22,320 limit since all your January-December earnings count. But here are a few things that might help: 1) Call SSA immediately to report your expected annual earnings. I know their phone system is a nightmare, but it's better than getting hit with surprise benefit suspensions later. 2) Make sure you're tracking EVERY business expense from your 1099 work. It's your net self-employment income that counts toward the limit, not gross receipts. Home office deduction, equipment, software, mileage - all of it can help reduce what counts. 3) Look into that monthly earnings test for your first year. If you have any months where you earned under $1,860 and didn't perform "substantial services," you might be able to get full benefits for those months even if your annual total is over. For taxes, I ended up hiring a CPA my first year and it was worth every penny. The interaction between 1099 income, Social Security taxation, and quarterly payments gets complex fast. Remember, any withheld benefits aren't lost forever - you'll get credit for them in higher monthly payments once you reach FRA. Small comfort when dealing with cash flow, but at least it's not money down the drain! This first year is definitely the hardest. You've got this!

I just went through this exact situation last year when I started benefits at 62! The earnings limit confusion is real - SSA's explanations are absolutely terrible. Unfortunately, ALL your 2024 earnings count toward the $22,320 limit, including everything from January before your benefits started. Based on your numbers ($18,500 + $10,000), you'll be about $6,180 over, which means they'll likely withhold around $3,090 from your 2025 payments ($1 withheld for every $2 over the limit). Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: Call SSA NOW to report your expected annual earnings! Their phone system is awful, but it's so much better than getting surprised with suspended payments later. I waited too long and they completely withheld my benefits for two months with zero warning. Since you're 1099, make absolutely sure you're deducting every legitimate business expense - home office, equipment, software, mileage, everything. It's your NET self-employment income that counts toward the limit, not gross receipts. This could significantly help your situation. Also look into the monthly earnings test for your first year of retirement. If you have any months where you earned under $1,860 AND didn't perform substantial services, you can get full benefits for those months even with your annual total being over. Definitely hire a tax professional your first year - the intersection of 1099 income, Social Security taxation, and quarterly payments gets complex fast. Best money I ever spent. Remember, any withheld benefits aren't lost forever - you'll get credit through higher monthly payments once you reach FRA. Think of it as forced savings with terrible customer service! The first year is definitely the hardest, but you'll figure it out.