Update: I managed to get through to SSA this morning! The agent confirmed what everyone here said - tax dependency has nothing to do with Social Security child benefits. Just wanted to thank everyone for their help and confirm the information was correct. Now I just need to gather her documents and schedule an appointment to apply.

Glad you got confirmation! One last tip - schedule the appointment for AFTER you've submitted your own retirement application. Her benefits are dependent on yours being processed first. You can actually apply for both at the same time, but make sure your retirement application is mentioned first when you schedule the appointment.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to make any progress with this? If you're still having trouble, don't forget that Congressional offices can sometimes help with Social Security issues. Your local Representative or Senator's office might be able to cut through some red tape if you contact their constituent services.

One more thing I forgot to mention - be sure to ask about retroactive benefits when you do get this sorted out. You might be entitled to back payments from the time of her death if you were eligible but unable to apply due to these documentation issues.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet is that if your child qualifies for SSI, they'll likely automatically qualify for Medicaid in most states, which can be even more valuable than the monthly payment. Medicaid can cover therapies and services that private insurance often denies or limits, like extensive ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized equipment. Even if the SSI payment ends up being small due to your income, the Medicaid access alone makes it worth applying.

Based on the detailed situation you've described, I would DEFINITELY apply. Here's why: 1. Multiple jobs don't necessarily disqualify you - SSA has specific exclusions and calculations for families of disabled children 2. Severe autism requiring constant supervision meets their medical criteria 3. Therapy expenses may be deductible as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) 4. Even if you're denied initially (which happens to most people), the appeals process often results in approval Pro tip: Request a detailed explanation in writing for any denial. This will help you address specific issues in your appeal.

To add to my earlier comment, once you know your exact AIME, you can do the calculation yourself using both formulas. For 2025, with 18 years of substantial earnings, your WEP reduction factor would be 50% instead of the full 90%. So if your AIME is $3,000, for example: Regular formula: (90% × $1,275) + (32% × $1,725) = $1,147.50 + $552 = $1,699.50 WEP formula: (50% × $1,275) + (32% × $1,725) = $637.50 + $552 = $1,189.50 WEP reduction = $510 per month This is just an example - your actual AIME will determine your specific amounts.

btw if u can get 2 more years of SS covered work somehow before u retire, ull hit 20 yrs of substantial earnings and get a better wep calculation. might be worth looking into part time work that pays into SS?

My mom had this exact thing happen last year. She ended up paying the quarterly bill AND having it taken out of her SS check. What a mess! She's still waiting for them to sort it out and give her money back. Make sure whatever you do, you keep ALL your paperwork and notes from any phone calls!!!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to try contacting both Medicare and Social Security to confirm exactly what I should do. Based on your advice, it sounds like I should probably just pay for December to be safe, then let the automatic deductions take over in January. I'll definitely keep detailed records of everything. I appreciate all your help with navigating this confusing transition!

My cousin tried to apply for her ex-husband's SS and they told her she couldn't because she remarried when she was 58... have you remarried? That's a dealbreaker for ex-spouse benefits from what I heard.

Make sure you understand what "top off" actually means - it's NOT adding two benefits together. Here's how it works: 1. SSA calculates your current SSDI benefit (let's say $1,200/month) 2. They calculate what you'd get as an ex-spouse (50% of his PIA, reduced for your age - maybe $1,500/month) 3. You get the HIGHER of these two amounts ($1,500) 4. The "increase" is $300 in this example If your SSDI is already higher than what you'd get as an ex-spouse, you'll see NO CHANGE in your benefit amount. That's why some people apply and get nothing extra. Also, if your ex hasn't applied yet but you've been divorced 2+ years, you can still apply when he turns 62 regardless of whether he's filed for benefits himself.

My mom got so confused about all this she just stopped working completely at 62. Probably left money on the table tbh

I want to thank everyone for all the helpful responses! I understand now that my stock trading profits and CD interest won't count against the earnings limit (unless I somehow became a professional trader, which I'm definitely not with my tiny account). I'm going to look into the tax implications and also check if survivor benefits might be higher than my own retirement benefits. This community has been so helpful - I would have struggled to get clear answers otherwise!

@SSA_Helper You request a Benefit Verification Block the same way - by calling 1-800-772-1213. But fair warning: this one can create more practical problems in your day-to-day life. Many legitimate financial processes require benefit verification, so you might find yourself having to make more trips to the SSA office to get verification letters in person. I generally only recommend this extra step for people who've already experienced identity theft or have strong reason to believe they're at high risk.

This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea there were so many different layers of protection available. I think I'll start with just the Electronic Access Block since I already have my credit frozen. Really appreciate everyone's advice here!

btw make SURE you actually dont qualify for your own benefits. my wife thought she didnt have enough credits but when she finally applied they found some missing work history and she qualified for her own benefit which was more than the spousal!

Another important point: If you apply for spousal benefits now and your husband passes away later, you can switch to survivor benefits. The reduction in your survivor benefit would be based on your age at the time you apply for survivor benefits, not when you applied for spousal benefits. If you can manage financially, waiting until your full retirement age to claim spousal benefits would give you the full 50% of his PIA. However, there's always the time value of money to consider - getting some benefits for 4 years versus waiting for the full amount. I suggest creating a simple spreadsheet to calculate your lifetime expected benefits under different claiming scenarios. This can help you make a more informed decision based on your specific financial situation.

my hushands been gone 12 years and i still get confused by ss rules somtimes...good your planning ahead. when i started widows benefits they just kept paying me on my regular day. Don't think it ever changed

To provide a definitive answer: Your payment date will remain tied to YOUR birth date (the 13th = third Wednesday of each month) even after you switch from retirement to survivor benefits. This is because the payment schedule is based on the beneficiary's date of birth, not the type of benefit received or the record it's based on. The only exceptions are: 1. If you were receiving benefits before May 1997 (not applicable in your case) 2. If you receive both SSI and Social Security benefits 3. If you receive benefits as a representative payee for someone else in addition to your own benefits Since none of these exceptions apply to your situation, your payment date will remain on the third Wednesday of each month when you switch to survivor benefits at your FRA.