To clarify a technical point about your situation: The maximum Federal SSI payment in 2025 is $943 (assuming this is correct from your post). So with the $20 general income exclusion, your son's total benefits would be $963 ($20 survivor benefits + $943 SSI). If he's approved for VA DIC as the child of a veteran with service-connected disability, that additional benefit (currently around $400-500 monthly for dependent children) would NOT reduce his SSI, as it's specifically excluded as income for SSI purposes under the law. So potentially, he could receive approximately $1,400+ monthly combined from all benefits. Make sure SSA correctly categorizes his VA benefit when it starts.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've scheduled a meeting with the VA benefits counselor next week and I'm going to bring printouts of the SSA determination letter. I'll definitely specify that we're applying for DIC benefits and make sure SSA understands these are VA service-connected benefits when we report them. I'm also going to look into both the ABLE account and the Childhood Disability Benefit options. I had no idea there were so many different programs with different rules! It's a relief to hear from others who've successfully navigated this and been able to receive both benefits. Managing my son's care alone has been overwhelming since my husband passed, so this financial support will make a huge difference.

I think there's some confusion in this thread. The benefit is real, but there are specific requirements. Your child can get benefits on your record when you start collecting retirement, but: 1. The child must be unmarried 2. Under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school) 3. The benefit is up to 50% of your PIA 4. There's a family maximum benefit that might reduce the amount Also, just to clarify something I saw earlier - these payments continue even if the child is working. Their earnings don't affect eligibility like they would for SSI.

Ok I just got off the phone with SSA after waiting FOREVER and I want to share what I learned since we're in similar situations: 1. Yes, our teen children CAN get benefits when we claim retirement 2. It's NOT automatic - we need to apply for them specifically 3. They recommended applying for the child's benefits at the same time as your own 4. You'll need the child's birth certificate, SS card, and YOUR marriage certificate if your name on the birth certificate is different than your current name 5. Benefits can continue until 19 if still in high school 6. The money goes to YOU as representative payee until they turn 18 Hope this helps someone! The agent I spoke with actually seemed surprised I knew to ask about this benefit!

Update: I called SSA again (had to try three times to get through) and finally spoke with someone helpful! You were all right - there is NO time limit for applying for survivor benefits. The 2-year limit only applies to the one-time $255 death payment. The rep told me that based on my husband's earnings, my survivor benefit would be about $2,450/month at my full retirement age of 67, or about $1,750 if I take it now at 63. My own benefit at FRA would be around $1,900. She recommended I take the reduced survivor benefit now and then switch to my own benefit at 70 when it would be about $2,350. Thank you all so much for your help! I was so worried I'd lost everything due to that misleading recording!

FYI - Since you're still working, remember the 2025 earnings limit is $22,320 if you're under full retirement age. They'll deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above that. So if you make $30,000, they'll deduct $3,840 from your annual benefit ($30,000-$22,320 = $7,680 ÷ 2 = $3,840). Make sure to factor this into your planning if you're continuing to work.

Something nobody mentioned - what about Medicare? Doesn't that start at 65 regardless of when you take SS? Make sure you're not confusing the two dates.

I want to thank everybody for their opinions, they were helpful. I've decided to wait the two months. Should my wife survive me, it is more important to me that she get the absolute most benefit. We do not need the money now, so I think it better to wait.

To give you the most precise answer: In the year you reach FRA, the earnings test changes in the month you reach FRA. For January through March 2025, you'll be subject to the standard test (approximately $2,000/month or $25,000/year in 2025), with $1 withheld for every $2 above the limit. However, this uses a MONTHLY test in your first year claiming benefits. So if your monthly income exceeds the limit in February and March, you might not receive benefits for those months. But starting in April (your FRA month), you'll receive your full benefit regardless of earnings. And as someone else mentioned, any benefits withheld aren't permanently lost - SSA recalculates your benefit when you reach FRA to account for months benefits were withheld.

Just curious why not just wait the extra 2 months til April? Seems like it would be easier than dealing with all this withholding stuff.