Calculating DAC and DCIC benefits when retiring early with disabled adult child on SSI

The family maximum definitely applies in your situation. When a wage earner has dependents drawing benefits (like a DAC and DCIC), the total family benefits are capped. The calculation is a bit complex, but typically: - Your husband would get his full age-63 benefit ($2,497) - Your son would get 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount, which is the FRA amount of $3,330), so about $1,665 - You would also get 50% of your husband's PIA as DCIC, so another $1,665 However, since that total ($2,497 + $1,665 + $1,665 = $5,827) exceeds your family maximum, your benefits would be reduced proportionally. Your husband's benefit stays the same, but yours and your son's would be reduced to fit under the cap. I suggest calling SSA directly to get the exact calculation for your situation.

When my husband retired early our situation was similar except our daughter was already on DAC benefits. Just a heads up that when they did our calculations, they didn't use the survivor maximum but calculated a different family maximum based on the PIA. It was less than what showed on the survivor section. They don't clearly explain this anywhere!

Just to clarify a couple points: 1. The family maximum for retirement/disability benefits is different from the survivor family maximum. The one on the statement ($5,746) is specifically for survivor situations, so it doesn't apply directly to your situation. 2. For retirement benefits, the family maximum is calculated using a formula based on the worker's PIA. It's typically between 150-180% of the worker's PIA. 3. Your husband's benefit won't be reduced, but both your DCIC and your son's DAC benefits will be proportionally reduced to fit under the family maximum. 4. When your son transitions from SSI to DAC, be aware that DAC benefits are higher but have different rules. He'll also qualify for Medicare after 24 months on DAC. 5. The DCIC benefit for you continues only until your child turns 16, unless you're also disabled. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your local SSA office to get the exact numbers for your situation.

Just FYI, the SSA calculates the family maximum for RETIREMENT benefits using a 4-tier formula thats diffrnt from survivor benefits. Its approximately: - 150% of first $1,308 of PIA - 272% of PIA from $1,308 to $1,889 - 134% of PIA from $1,889 to $2,466 - 175% of PIA over $2,466 Not sure why they make it SO COMPLICATED!! But for ur husbands PIA of $3,330 the family max would be around $5,100 (my rough calculation). That means after his reduced benefit of $2,497, only about $2,603 would be left for you and ur son to split proportionally. GOOD LUCK getting through to SSA to confirm this!!!

I went through this exact situation last year. Here's some important info no one mentioned yet: 1. Your son will get substantially MORE on DAC than on SSI. Current federal SSI is $943/month, while DAC benefits could be $1,200+ even after the family maximum reduction. 2. For DCIC benefits, you qualify indefinitely while caring for a disabled adult child (no age limit as someone suggested). You must be providing personal care and living with them. 3. The SSA will calculate the family maximum at application time. They use a complex formula based on your husband's PIA ($3,330), not the reduced benefit amount. 4. The family maximum for retirement is typically around 150-180% of the worker's PIA, so roughly $5,000-$6,000 in your case. 5. Your husband's early retirement benefit isn't reduced by the family maximum. Only the dependent benefits (yours and your son's) are proportionally reduced. Have you been able to reach SSA to get exact numbers? I tried for weeks and finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a representative in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

dont forget when your son switches from SSI to DAC he'll lose medicaid after a while unless your state has a program for DAC recipients to keep medicaid. my daughter had to get a special waiver to keep her medicaid when she switched to DAC so check on that

One more thing - when we went through this, they counted my income too when deciding if our daughter could get SSI in addition to her DAC. Make sure they don't count your hubby's retirement as income for SSI purposes after your son switches to DAC. The rules are sooooo confusing!

I rememebr going through this EXACT nightmare last year!! The most frustrating thing was that NOBODY at SS seemed to be able to tell me the exact amount we'd get until we actually filed. They kept saying "it depends" and "we calculate it at filing" which was useless for planning!!! Our family max ended up being about 175% of my husbands PIA, if that helps. AND make sure when your son transitions to DAC that you immediately start the Medicare process, they messed that up for us and it took months to fix!!

One additional consideration: If your husband has significant health issues that may impact his life expectancy, there's another strategy to consider. If he has a qualifying medical condition with a poor prognosis, he might consider applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) instead of early retirement. If approved for SSDI: 1. He would receive his full FRA benefit amount ($3,330) with no reduction for early filing 2. Your son would still convert to DAC 3. You would still be eligible for DCIC 4. The family maximum would apply, but the starting benefit amounts would be higher The approval process for SSDI can be lengthy, but given the significant difference between his age-63 benefit ($2,497) and his full FRA benefit ($3,330), it might be worth exploring if his health condition is severe enough to qualify.

I went through a very similar situation with my spouse retiring early at 63 with our disabled adult daughter. Here are some key things I learned that might help: 1. **Get exact calculations in writing**: When you finally reach SSA, ask them to provide the calculations in writing or at least take detailed notes. The representative we spoke with was able to give us precise monthly amounts for all three benefits after the family maximum reduction. 2. **Timing matters for SSI transition**: Make sure to coordinate the timing of your husband's retirement filing with SSA so your son's transition from SSI to DAC is seamless. There can be gaps in coverage if not handled properly. 3. **State-specific Medicaid programs**: Since others mentioned Medicaid concerns, check if your state has a "Medicaid Buy-In" program for disabled individuals receiving DAC. Some states allow DAC recipients to keep Medicaid coverage by paying a small premium. 4. **Consider the 5-month waiting period**: If your husband does decide to explore SSDI as Isabella suggested, remember there's typically a 5-month waiting period before benefits begin, so factor that into your financial planning. 5. **DCIC benefit verification**: Double-check that you'll qualify for DCIC - you need to be providing personal care services and living in the same household as your disabled adult child. The definition of "care" can be specific. The whole process is incredibly complex, but once you get through the initial calculations and transitions, it does get easier to manage. Hang in there!

I'm going through a similar situation right now and found this thread incredibly helpful! My husband is 62 and considering early retirement due to health issues, and we have a 29-year-old disabled son currently on SSI. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our local disability advocate: make sure to request a "protective filing date" when you first contact SSA about transitioning from SSI to DAC. This can help ensure your son doesn't lose any benefits during the transition period, even if the paperwork takes time to process. Also, I discovered that some states have "1619(b)" Medicaid continuation programs that allow disabled individuals to keep their Medicaid even when their income (including DAC benefits) would normally make them ineligible. It's worth asking your state Medicaid office about this specifically. The whole system is so confusing, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped me understand what questions to ask when I finally get through to someone at SSA. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge!

I'm currently navigating a very similar situation and wanted to share a few additional resources that have been helpful: 1. **SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS)**: While dense and technical, POMS sections DI 10215.001 through DI 10215.025 contain the actual formulas and procedures SSA uses for family maximum calculations. It's publicly available online and can help you understand the exact methodology they use. 2. **Local Area Agency on Aging**: Many have benefits counselors who are familiar with Social Security disability transitions and can help you model different scenarios before you file. They often have software tools that aren't available to the public. 3. **SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) program**: If you have a local SOAR-trained counselor, they specialize in helping people navigate SSI to SSDI/DAC transitions and understand the Medicaid implications. One thing I learned that surprised me: the family maximum calculation can actually work in your favor in some cases. Because it's based on your husband's full PIA ($3,330) rather than his reduced benefit ($2,497), there may be more available for dependent benefits than you initially calculated. Also, make sure to ask about "deemed filing" rules - there are some situations where filing strategies can be optimized, though the options have been limited since 2016. The learning curve is steep, but once you get through the initial transition, having the higher DAC benefit (compared to SSI) and your DCIC benefits should provide much better financial stability for your family.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my husband is 64 and considering early retirement, and we have a 25-year-old disabled son on SSI. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I wanted to add that our disability attorney mentioned: if your son has been on SSI for a while, make sure SSA has his complete medical records when transitioning to DAC. Sometimes they need updated disability determinations, and having everything ready can speed up the process. Also, regarding the Medicare eligibility someone mentioned - your son will qualify for Medicare 24 months after his DAC benefits begin, but if he's been on SSI due to disability, he might already be eligible for Medicare. It's worth checking his current status. For what it's worth, our attorney estimated that even with the family maximum reductions, most families see a significant increase in total household benefits when switching from SSI to DAC+DCIC. The current SSI federal rate is only $943/month, so even a reduced DAC benefit is usually much higher. Has anyone had experience with the actual application process? I'm wondering how long it typically takes from filing to receiving the first DAC payment, and whether there are any common delays to watch out for.

I've been following this discussion closely as I'm in a very similar situation - my spouse is considering early retirement at 63 and we have a disabled adult child currently on SSI. One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR). They have a directory of attorneys who specialize specifically in Social Security disability and family benefit cases. Many offer free consultations for complex situations like DAC transitions and family maximum calculations. Also, I wanted to mention something about the DCIC (Disabled Child in Care) benefits that might be helpful: the SSA defines "in care" quite specifically. You need to be performing personal services for your adult disabled child, and they consider factors like whether you help with activities of daily living, medical care coordination, financial management, etc. It's not just about living in the same household - there has to be active caregiving involved. One more tip I learned from our local disability services coordinator: keep detailed records of all your caregiving activities and medical appointments you coordinate for your son. If SSA ever questions your DCIC eligibility, having documentation can be really helpful. The complexity of this system is honestly overwhelming, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that we can navigate it successfully. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and practical advice!

I'm new to this community but going through almost the exact same situation! My husband is 62 and we're planning for his early retirement next year due to health issues. We also have a disabled adult son (age 24) currently on SSI who would transition to DAC benefits. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these details like the protective filing date, the difference between retirement and survivor family maximums, or the specific "in care" requirements for DCIC benefits. One question I haven't seen addressed: Does anyone know if there are any advantages to filing at the very beginning of the month versus later in the month? I've heard conflicting information about whether Social Security benefits are prorated or if you get the full month's benefit regardless of when you file during that month. Also, has anyone dealt with coordinating this transition while the disabled adult child is also receiving state disability benefits or services? I'm worried about how the change from SSI to DAC might affect his other support programs. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find anywhere else!

I'm also navigating this exact situation and wanted to share something that might be helpful - when I finally got through to SSA (after many attempts), the representative told me that they can do a "benefit estimate" over the phone before you actually file. This gives you the projected amounts for all three benefits (your husband's retirement, your son's DAC, and your DCIC) after the family maximum reduction is applied. The key is to ask specifically for a "family benefit estimate with disabled adult child and child-in-care benefits" - apparently using that exact terminology helps them pull up the right calculation tools in their system. Also, regarding the Medicare transition for your son - I learned that if he's currently receiving Medicaid through SSI, there's usually a seamless transition to Medicare once he's been on DAC for 24 months, and in many cases he can have both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibility) which provides better coverage than either alone. One more thing - make sure to ask about retroactive benefits when you file. Depending on timing, your son might be eligible for some retroactive DAC payments, which can help bridge any financial gaps during the transition period. The whole process is definitely overwhelming, but getting that phone estimate beforehand really helped me feel more confident about the decision. Good luck!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My husband is 63 and we're planning his retirement filing next month. Our 26-year-old disabled son has been on SSI for 4 years. After reading everyone's experiences here, I called SSA yesterday using Melody's exact terminology - "family benefit estimate with disabled adult child and child-in-care benefits" - and finally got someone who knew exactly what I was asking for! They were able to give me specific dollar amounts for all three benefits after the family maximum reduction. For anyone still trying to get through to SSA, I called at 8:02 AM (right after they opened) on a Wednesday and only waited about 12 minutes. The representative said Wednesday mornings are typically their least busy time. One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned yet: if your disabled adult child has any earnings from work (even minimal amounts from supported employment), make sure to report this when getting your benefit estimates. It doesn't necessarily disqualify them from DAC benefits, but it can affect the calculations. Also wanted to confirm what others said about the financial improvement - even with the family maximum reductions, our projected total household benefits will be about $800 more per month than what our son currently gets from SSI alone. That's a significant improvement for our family's financial stability. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this discussion gave me the confidence and knowledge to finally move forward with the process!