One more consideration that might help with your planning - if you're concerned about the Medicare IRMAA surcharges, you could potentially use a 1031 like-kind exchange to defer some of the capital gains if you're buying another property. While this is more commonly used for investment properties, there are some scenarios where it might apply to primary residences if you're moving to a new home. However, this gets pretty complex with the primary residence exclusion rules, so you'd definitely need to work with a tax professional who specializes in real estate transactions. Another option some people use is an installment sale if you're selling to a buyer who's willing to structure it that way - this spreads the capital gains over multiple years rather than recognizing it all at once. Both strategies have pros and cons, but they're worth exploring if minimizing that income spike is a priority for your Social Security and Medicare planning.

I went through a very similar situation about 3 years ago when I sold my family home after 28 years. Had about $180k in capital gains after the exclusion. Can confirm what others have said - it absolutely did NOT affect my Social Security benefits calculation or the earnings test since I wasn't working anymore. BUT the Medicare IRMAA hit was real - paid an extra $2,400 total over those two years in higher premiums. The good news is my premiums did go back to normal once the lookback period passed. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually appeal the IRMAA if your income drops significantly after the house sale year using that SSA-44 form someone mentioned. I didn't find out about that until it was too late! Also definitely keep every receipt for home improvements - I found documentation for about $35k in improvements over the years that reduced my taxable gain. The key is having good records going back decades.

Mary, I went through something very similar when we adopted our grandson two years ago! Your situation sounds almost identical - my husband was already collecting SS and I was still working full-time. The good news is that all the information people have shared here is spot-on. Just wanted to add one thing that really helped us: when you go for your appointment, bring a small notebook to write down everything they tell you. The SSA worker gave us so much information that day, and I was worried I'd forget important details later. Also, don't be discouraged if they seem to ask the same questions multiple times - they're just being thorough. The whole process took about 9 weeks for us, but once those monthly payments started coming in, it was such a relief! The amount was right around 48% of my husband's benefit, which really helped with all the extra expenses that come with suddenly having a child in the house again. You're doing such a wonderful thing for your granddaughter, and this financial support will make the transition so much easier for your whole family.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works with families navigating adoption and benefits - you've gotten some excellent advice here! One additional tip that might help: if your local SSA office offers online appointment scheduling, definitely use that instead of calling. I've found it's much more reliable and you can see available time slots without the phone hassles. Also, when you do get your first payment, don't panic if the amount seems different than expected - sometimes there are small adjustments for processing fees or other factors that get worked out in subsequent months. The Representative Payee responsibilities aren't too burdensome - basically just keeping receipts for major expenses like clothing, medical costs, school supplies, etc. Congratulations on your growing family - what you're doing for your granddaughter is truly special, and having this financial support will definitely help ease some of the practical concerns so you can focus on the joy of officially making her part of your family!

I've been through a similar situation! Got three small deposits ($8, $15, and $11) over a week last year while my disability application was pending. Turns out they were interest payments on delayed benefits, just like others have mentioned here. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every deposit with dates and amounts, plus screenshots of my bank statements. When I finally got through to SSA (took about 20 tries over two weeks), the representative was able to explain everything clearly with those details in front of me. One tip: try calling SSA right when they open at 8 AM local time. I had much better luck getting through early in the morning. Also, if you do reach someone, ask them to put notes in your file about what these deposits are for - it'll help if you need to call again later. The good news is that everyone I know who got these interest payments ended up getting their full approval within a month or two afterward. Fingers crossed for you!

I had a very similar experience about 6 months ago! I received two small deposits from SSA ($19 and $8) about a week apart while my spouse's survivor benefits application was still processing. Like you, I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone and there was no explanation in my online account. It turned out to be exactly what others have said - interest on delayed benefits. About 3 weeks after those deposits, we received the official approval letter and then the full retroactive payment hit our account. One thing that helped me was going to my local SSA office in person. I know it's not always convenient, but the staff there could actually look up my account immediately and explain what the deposits were for. They also gave me a printed statement showing the interest calculation, which was helpful for my records. If you can't make it to an office, definitely try the early morning calling strategy others mentioned. But honestly, based on your timeline and the amounts, this sounds like really good news - these interest payments usually come right before final approval!

I'm currently going through my second CDR (first one was about 4 years ago) and wanted to share some perspective for anyone feeling anxious about the process. My first CDR took about 5 months total and resulted in continued benefits with no issues. This time around, I'm about 3 months in and just had my consultative exam last week. One thing I learned from my first experience is to treat the CE seriously - dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be honest about your limitations during the exam. The doctor asked me to do various movements and activities, and I made sure to explain when something caused pain or difficulty rather than just pushing through it. Also, I'd recommend requesting a copy of the CE report afterward (you can do this through your local SSA office). During my first CDR, I found an error in the report and was able to submit a correction, which I think helped my case. For anyone just starting the process - try not to panic. The vast majority of CDRs result in continued benefits, especially if your condition hasn't significantly improved. Focus on being thorough and accurate in your paperwork, and remember that they're looking at whether you can maintain substantial gainful activity, not whether you have some good days mixed in with the bad ones. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely stressful, but most of us get through it just fine!

I'm currently about 8 weeks into my CDR process and wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread. Got my initial notice in late January, completed all the disability report forms about 3 weeks ago, and now I'm in the waiting phase to see if they'll schedule a consultative exam. One thing I've found really helpful is keeping a detailed symptom log while going through this process - not just for the forms, but also to have concrete examples ready if they call with follow-up questions or if I need to appeal. I track things like how many hours I can concentrate, what household tasks I can/can't complete, sleep quality, and pain levels on a 1-10 scale. My local SSA field office told me that my state's DDS is currently running about 4-5 months for CDR decisions, which seems pretty consistent with what others have shared here. They also mentioned that if they need a CE, they typically schedule it around month 3-4 of the process. For anyone just starting - definitely echo what others have said about being thorough on those forms. I probably spent 2-3 hours on each section really thinking through how to accurately describe my functional limitations. The waiting is nerve-wracking, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped manage my anxiety about it. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines and advice!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Harper. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to handle all these administrative tasks while grieving adds so much stress. From my experience working with SSA cases, here are the key immediate steps: 1. **Verify death reporting**: Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the funeral home reported your mother's death. This is critical - don't assume it was done. 2. **Apply for the $255 death benefit**: You have up to 2 years to apply, but it's best to do it soon. Your father as the surviving spouse is eligible for this. 3. **Monitor for overpayments**: Any Social Security payment dated after your mother's death must be returned to SSA. Don't spend these if they appear. 4. **Survivor benefits application**: Even though your father's benefit is higher, he should still formally apply for survivor benefits. This creates an official record in SSA's system. Since your father's current benefit ($2,250) is higher than your mother's ($1,750), he'll continue receiving his own amount - there won't be an increase. One often-overlooked item: if your mother had any Medicare premiums deducted from her Social Security, those arrangements will need to be updated for your father's account. The SSA phone lines can be extremely busy. Try calling right when they open at 7 AM local time for the shortest wait times. Take care of yourself during this process - you're handling a lot right now.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss, Harper. Losing a parent unexpectedly is devastating, and you're showing incredible strength by taking care of all these details for your father. I wanted to share something that might help streamline this process - when you call SSA (definitely do this to verify the death was reported), ask them to walk you through everything in one call rather than making multiple calls later. Specifically ask about: - Confirming the death report - The $255 lump-sum death benefit application - Survivor benefits application (even though your dad's benefit is higher) - Any Medicare premium adjustments needed - Whether there were any pending benefit adjustments for your mother Also, when you call, have your father available to give verbal consent for you to handle his SSA matters. This can save you from having to make separate calls or visits later. One practical tip that helped me when I went through this - keep a simple log of every call you make (date, time, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers). SSA representatives sometimes give different information, and having a record helps if you need to follow up. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Take care of yourself too during this difficult time.