Can we get combined estimates for retirement, DAC and CIC Social Security benefits in one appointment?

Make ONE in-person appointment for your family situation. Bring ALL documentation: your work history, proof of marriage, daughter's medical records and SSI approval letters, and her disability determination paperwork. Request to speak with a Technical Expert who specializes in family benefits if possible. They can calculate your retirement benefit, your daughter's potential DAC benefit, and your wife's CIC benefit all together during the same appointment. The complexity comes from how the family maximum formula works - all these benefits need to be considered together, not separately.

When I called SSA about my son's DAC benefits last year, they kept transferring me to different departments and nobody could give me a straight answer about benefit amounts!! So frustrating. Eventually I HAD to go in person and even then they couldn't tell me exact numbers until we actually filed. The system is absolutely maddening. And they told me different things each time I called!!!

u need to bring birth certificates for everyone + marriage certificate + all the disability paperwork from when your daughter was first approved. my brother is on DAC benefits and they wanted EVERYTHING even though they should already have it in their system. bring extra copies.

I went through this exact situation with my son two years ago. Here's what you need to know: 1. Schedule ONE appointment for all family members 2. Definitely go IN PERSON - this is too complex for phone 3. Ask specifically for a Technical Expert who handles DAC claims 4. Bring ALL documentation including: - Your work history and ID - Marriage certificate - Daughter's birth certificate - ALL disability documentation from her initial determination - Recent medical records showing continuing disability - Her SSI award letters The benefits calculation is complex because of the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) which caps the total amount your family can receive. Your retirement won't be reduced, but your wife's CIC and daughter's DAC might be reduced under the family maximum. Your daughter will likely receive more on DAC than SSI and will get Medicare after 24 months on DAC. The transition can take 2-3 months, so plan accordingly. Also, understand that your daughter will lose Medicaid when switching to DAC unless your state has a Medicaid buy-in program.

My husband and I tried calling SS for weeks to get an appointment about our disabled son's benefits. Impossible to reach anyone! Our calls kept dropping after 2+ hours on hold. We finally used Claimyr.com to get through to a rep immediately. They have this service where they wait on hold with SSA for you and call you when a rep gets on the line. Saved us days of frustration! There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Best money I ever spent because we finally got our appointment scheduled.

i think ur wife might not qualify for CIC if ur daughter is 29, even if disabled. i thought those benefits were only for young children?? someone should double-check that...

One important thing to consider: When your daughter transitions from SSI to DAC, her benefit amount will likely increase, but she may lose SSI-related Medicaid. Depending on your state, she might have to wait 2 years for Medicare to kick in after starting DAC. Some states have Medicaid buy-in programs for people with disabilities that can help during this gap. Ask the SSA representative specifically about this transition and what it means for her healthcare coverage.

when my dad retired last year his benefit was like $2100 and my disabled sister got almost $1300 as DAC which was way better than her SSI. but we had to wait almost 3 months for everything to process and the backpay was confusing.

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. The transition to DAC is mandatory when a parent retires if it would result in a higher benefit. It's not optional. 2. The Family Maximum is approximately 150-180% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), but varies based on your earnings history. So if your retirement benefit is $2000, the family maximum might be around $3000-$3600 total for all family members combined. 3. Your daughter's Medicaid options depend entirely on your state. Some states have 1619(b) provisions or Medicaid buy-in programs that allow people with disabilities to maintain Medicaid after losing SSI. This is CRUCIAL to research before making any changes. 4. Your retirement benefit won't be reduced - family maximum reductions only affect auxiliary benefits (your wife and daughter). I strongly recommend contacting your state's Disability Rights organization or a benefits counselor before your SSA appointment. They can help you understand the Medicaid implications specific to your state.

The SSA reps WILL NOT give you accurate information by phone - I wasted months trying that route. They kept giving me different answers every time I called. Some said my son would get 50% of my benefit, others said 75%, one even said he'd get nothing! And then they gave me completely wrong info about Medicaid. GO IN PERSON and INSIST on speaking with someone who knows about DAC benefits specifically!

Regarding your last question - I'd recommend just getting estimates first rather than applying during the initial appointment. The transition from SSI to DAC requires careful planning, especially regarding Medicaid. Once you have the benefit estimates, you can consult with a benefits planner about the best timing. You might want to coordinate with your state's Medicaid office before finalizing anything. Also, if you're only 65, remember that filing now means taking a reduced retirement benefit before your Full Retirement Age (FRA). This reduction also affects your daughter's DAC benefit. Sometimes it makes financial sense to wait until your FRA to maximize both benefits, but it depends on your specific situation.

don't forget about the ASSET LIMITS - my sister had to spend down savings when she went on SSI but when she switched to DAC those limits went away and she could finally save money without losing benefits. that was a huge positive for us.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my disabled son, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered: 1. **Timing is crucial** - Since you're filing at 65 (before your FRA), your reduced retirement benefit will also reduce your daughter's DAC benefit. Consider whether waiting until your FRA might result in higher overall family benefits. 2. **Medicaid gap planning** - This is the biggest concern. In many states, there's a gap between losing SSI-related Medicaid and qualifying for Medicare (24 months after DAC starts). Contact your state's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor to understand your options. 3. **Income reporting changes** - Your daughter will need to stop reporting income to SSI once DAC begins, but there can be overpayment issues if not timed correctly. 4. **Representative payee considerations** - If you're currently your daughter's SSI representative payee, you'll need to establish this role for DAC benefits too. My recommendation: Get the estimates first, then consult with a certified benefits planner (CDFA or similar) before making any applications. The math can be complex, and the Medicaid implications vary significantly by state. Don't rush into this without understanding all the consequences.

I work as a benefits counselor and want to add some important details about the appointment process and documentation: **For the SSA appointment:** - Call and specifically request a "complex family benefits consultation" when scheduling - Ask if your local office has a Disability Program Specialist available - Bring TWO sets of all documents (they often keep copies) - Include your daughter's most recent Function Report (SSA-3373) if available **Critical timing consideration:** Since your daughter is already 29 and has been on SSI since 18, make sure SSA has current medical evidence that her disability began before age 22. Sometimes they need updated documentation to establish the "childhood disability" requirement for DAC eligibility. **Regarding estimates vs. application:** I always recommend getting estimates first, especially in your situation. Once you apply, certain decisions become harder to reverse. The estimates will help you model different scenarios (filing now vs. waiting until FRA). **Medicare/Medicaid bridge:** Look into your state's "Medicare Savings Programs" (QMB, SLMB, QI) which can help with Medicare costs during the transition. Some states also have "Working Disabled" Medicaid programs that might apply. The family maximum calculation is complex, but generally your daughter's DAC benefit will be higher than her current SSI, and the asset limits disappearing is a huge advantage for her long-term financial security.