DAC benefits denied for my disabled son - told 'insufficient information' after SSA agent said no medical records needed

Unfortunately, what you experienced is increasingly common with SSA. The representative was incorrect about not needing medical documentation for DAC benefits. While they do sometimes use the existing SSI determination, it's not automatic, especially for long-term cases. The DAC program (formerly called CDB - Childhood Disability Benefits) requires proof that: 1. Your daughter became disabled before age 22 2. She remains disabled according to SSA's definition 3. You (the parent) are receiving Social Security retirement or disability OR are deceased The vague denial letter is typical bureaucratic language when required documentation wasn't submitted. During reconsideration, specifically state that you were advised no medical records were needed, and include: - Your daughter's complete medical history documentation - Evidence showing disability onset before age 22 - Any ongoing treatment records Request a face-to-face interview for the reconsideration if possible.

I went through almost IDENTICAL situation last year with my brother!!! The phone rep told us we didn't need to submit any medical evidence because "the system already knows he's disabled from SSI" (his exact words). Guess what? DENIED for "insufficient information" too. Our reconsideration was approved though after we submitted: - All medical records from before he turned 22 - Letter from his long-term psychiatrist - School records showing special education services - Statement from me about his condition before 22 The MOST FRUSTRATING part was calling SSA to get clarification. I spent HOURS trying to reach someone. When I finally found Claimyr.com (https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU), I got through to SSA in 20 minutes instead of waiting for days. The agent I spoke with was helpful and specifically told me what was missing from our application. Don't give up! DAC benefits are so much better than SSI because of the Medicare coverage and higher payment amounts.

just wondering has your daughter been working at all during these years? reason i ask is i heard somewhere that if they have significant work history then they might not qualify for DAC even if they were on SSI. something about substantial gainful activity

SSA is a NIGHTMARE to deal with!!! My son was denied THREE TIMES for his DAC benefits even though he's been disabled since birth!! The whole system is designed to make you give up. Don't trust what ANY rep tells you over the phone - half of them don't know their own rules and the other half just want to get you off the line. The "insufficient information" excuse is their go-to when they're too lazy to actually review the case properly. I GUARANTEE they never even looked at your daughter's SSI file even though it's in their system. When you do reconsideration DEMAND a different examiner review the case and specifically state you were given incorrect information by SSA staff. If they deny again, get a disability attorney for the ALJ hearing level - they take cases on contingency.

I process disability claims for a living (not for SSA). Here's what likely happened: The DAC program requires evidence that disability began before age 22. While your daughter has been on SSI for many years, the SSI file may not contain sufficient documentation about her condition prior to age 22, especially if she began receiving SSI at age 19. The rep who told you no medical records were needed was incorrect. There's no new policy allowing automatic approval based solely on SSI receipt. The "Continuity of Care" policy they might have been referencing only applies in very specific circumstances. For your reconsideration, focus on these three elements: 1. Medical evidence from before she turned 22 that clearly establishes disability 2. Continuous medical evidence showing ongoing disability (no significant gaps) 3. Current medical documentation confirming she remains disabled The good news: once approved, DAC benefits are significantly better than SSI - higher payment amounts, no asset limits, and Medicare coverage after 24 months.

my cousins kid got denied for same reason but turned out they sent the paperwork to wrong address so ssa never got it maybe check if they had right mailing info for you

Random question but did your daughter get the letter or did you? My son is on SSI too and I'm his representative payee but sometimes they still send HIM stuff instead of me which makes no sense since he cant manage his own affairs!!

When you submit the reconsideration, include a cover letter that clearly states: 1. You were specifically instructed by an SSA representative on [date] that medical records were not needed due to the long-term SSI status 2. You followed all instructions provided but were not told to submit medical documentation 3. You're now providing comprehensive medical history including: - Records establishing disability before age 22 - Continuous treatment records - Current medical status I'd also recommend trying to reach a supervisor at your local office to discuss the situation. The best way I've found to reach someone quickly at SSA is through Claimyr (claimyr.com). They've got a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. This saved me days of frustration when dealing with my mother's benefits issues. The DAC benefit approval should be straightforward since your daughter has been on SSI so long, but you do need to provide the right documentation.

Quick update on my brother's situation that I mentioned earlier - we finally got approved after reconsideration and the monthly payment is $1,675 compared to the $943 he was getting on SSI. Plus, no more stressing about the $2,000 asset limit! The Medicare will kick in soon too. Definitely worth fighting for!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone who works with disability advocacy, I can tell you that the agent absolutely gave you incorrect information. There is no "new guidance" that allows DAC approvals based solely on existing SSI determinations without medical documentation. The DAC program has very specific requirements - they need to establish that your daughter became disabled before age 22, which requires medical evidence from that time period. Even though she's been on SSI for over 20 years, the SSI file may not contain sufficient documentation about her condition prior to age 22. For your reconsideration, I'd recommend: 1. Gather all medical records from before she turned 22 (diagnosis, treatment notes, hospitalizations, etc.) 2. Include a detailed statement about the misinformation you received from the SSA representative 3. Document the exact date and what was told to you about not needing medical records 4. Consider requesting a face-to-face interview during reconsideration The good news is that DAC benefits are significantly better than SSI - higher payments, no asset limits, and Medicare eligibility. Don't give up! Many cases like yours are approved on reconsideration once the proper documentation is submitted.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My 38-year-old son has been on SSI since he was 20, and when I applied for his DAC benefits last month, I was also told by the phone representative that they could use his existing SSI determination and wouldn't need additional medical records. Reading your post is like looking in a mirror - I have a terrible feeling we're going to get the same "insufficient information" denial. I'm already starting to gather his medical records from before age 22 just in case, based on all the helpful advice in these comments. It's incredibly frustrating that SSA representatives are giving out incorrect information that leads to automatic denials. There should be better training or clearer guidelines for staff handling these cases. The emotional toll of thinking everything is fine, then getting blindsided by a denial, is really difficult for families already dealing with so much. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping me prepare for what might be coming. I really hope your reconsideration goes smoothly with all the medical documentation. Please keep us updated on how it turns out!

I'm going through something very similar with my disabled adult daughter right now. She's been on SSI since she was 18 (now 35), and when I called to apply for DAC benefits after starting my retirement, the representative told me the exact same thing - that they could use her existing SSI determination and wouldn't need any medical records. Reading through all these comments has been both helpful and alarming. It sounds like this is a widespread problem with SSA staff giving out incorrect information about DAC applications. I haven't received my decision yet, but based on everyone's experiences here, I'm now expecting a denial and am already starting to gather medical records from before she turned 22. What really bothers me is how many families are going through this same frustrating process. The misinformation from SSA representatives seems to be consistent across different offices and time periods. It makes me wonder if there's some internal confusion about policies or if staff just aren't properly trained on DAC requirements. For those who have been through successful reconsiderations, approximately how long did the process take? I want to set realistic expectations for myself and my daughter. The financial difference between SSI and DAC benefits would be life-changing for us, so I'm prepared to fight through the bureaucracy, but it would help to know the typical timeline. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - this community support is invaluable when dealing with such a complex and frustrating system.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I'm currently going through the exact same situation with my 28-year-old daughter. She's been on SSI since age 21, and when I applied for her DAC benefits two months ago, the SSA representative gave me the identical line about "new guidance" allowing them to use existing SSI determinations without additional medical records. After reading all these experiences, I'm now dreading the decision letter that's probably coming soon. It's clear this is a systemic issue with SSA staff providing incorrect information about DAC requirements. What I find most concerning is how consistent this misinformation seems to be across different offices and timeframes. It makes me wonder if there's some internal memo or training that's causing widespread confusion among representatives. I've already started gathering my daughter's medical records from before she turned 22, thanks to all the detailed advice shared here. The documentation requirements outlined by @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons are incredibly helpful for someone just learning about this process. One question for those who've been through successful reconsiderations: Did any of you file complaints about receiving incorrect information from SSA representatives? It seems like there should be some accountability for staff giving guidance that leads to automatic denials and delays in benefits that families desperately need. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to save me months of confusion and frustration when I inevitably have to go through the reconsideration process.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share that I'm currently facing the exact same situation with my 31-year-old son. He's been receiving SSI since he was 19 due to autism and intellectual disability, and when I recently applied for DAC benefits after starting my retirement, I was told by the SSA representative that they had "new procedures" allowing them to rely on existing SSI determinations without requiring additional medical documentation. Reading through all these experiences has been both eye-opening and deeply concerning. It's clear that multiple families are receiving identical misinformation from SSA staff, leading to predictable denials and unnecessary delays in benefits. This seems to indicate a serious training or communication problem within the agency. What strikes me most is how the representatives seem so confident when providing this incorrect information. The agent I spoke with was very specific about these being "updated guidelines" and assured me that submitting medical records would actually slow down the process unnecessarily. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, particularly from @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons, I'm now proactively gathering my son's medical records from before he turned 22. I'm hoping that being prepared with the proper documentation might help avoid the denial-reconsideration cycle that so many of you have had to endure. The potential benefit increase that @Keisha Robinson mentioned for her brother is significant - going from SSI to DAC would be transformative for my son's quality of life. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's frustrating that we have to rely on community knowledge to navigate what should be straightforward guidance from SSA, but I'm grateful for this resource. Has anyone considered organizing a group complaint about this pattern of misinformation? It might help prevent other families from experiencing these same delays and frustrations.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience as someone currently going through this exact situation. My 26-year-old daughter has been on SSI since she was 18 due to cerebral palsy, and when I applied for her DAC benefits last month after starting my Social Security retirement, I received the same misleading information from the SSA representative. The agent told me they had "streamlined procedures" for long-term SSI recipients and that submitting medical records would actually delay the process. She was so convincing that I actually thanked her for making it simple! After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm now expecting a denial and have already started gathering medical documentation from before my daughter turned 22. It's incredibly frustrating to realize that so many families are getting identical misinformation from different SSA offices. What really concerns me is the lost time and emotional stress this causes. Families like ours are often already dealing with significant financial strain, and these delays in accessing better benefits can be devastating. I'm definitely interested in the group complaint idea that @Lucas Bey mentioned. This pattern of misinformation seems too widespread and consistent to be coincidental - there's clearly a systemic training issue that needs to be addressed. Thank you to everyone who shared detailed documentation requirements, especially @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons. Your professional insights are helping many of us prepare properly despite the incorrect guidance from SSA staff. Has anyone found it helpful to document the specific names and dates when representatives gave incorrect information? I'm wondering if that detail might be useful for both individual appeals and any potential group complaint.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with a nearly identical situation. My 29-year-old son has been on SSI since he was 20 due to Down syndrome, and when I applied for his DAC benefits after starting my retirement last month, I was given the exact same line about "new policies" that allow them to use existing SSI determinations without additional medical records. Reading through all these experiences has been both validating and deeply troubling. The consistency of this misinformation across different SSA offices is shocking - it's clear this isn't isolated incidents but a widespread training or communication failure within the agency. What really gets to me is how these representatives sound so authoritative when giving completely wrong information. The agent I spoke with even said I was "lucky" to apply now because of these supposed streamlined procedures! I'm definitely interested in joining the group complaint effort that several people have mentioned. This pattern needs to be addressed at a systemic level to prevent more families from experiencing these unnecessary delays and stress. Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge, especially the professional insights from @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons. I've already started gathering my son's medical records from before age 22 based on your guidance. It's unfortunate we have to essentially ignore official SSA advice and rely on community wisdom, but I'm grateful this resource exists. The potential benefit increase would be transformative for my son - the difference between SSI limitations and DAC benefits with no asset caps and eventual Medicare could give him so much more independence and security. I'll keep fighting through this broken system to get him what he deserves.

I'm new to this community and unfortunately experiencing the exact same frustrating situation with my 33-year-old daughter. She's been on SSI since age 19 due to severe anxiety and developmental delays, and when I applied for her DAC benefits after starting my retirement two months ago, I received identical misinformation from the SSA representative. The agent told me they had "updated procedures" for long-term SSI recipients and that providing medical records would actually slow down the process. She seemed so knowledgeable and confident that I felt relieved the application would be straightforward! After reading through all these experiences, I'm now dreading the denial letter that's probably coming soon. The consistency of this misinformation across different offices and timeframes is absolutely appalling - it's clear this is a systematic failure in SSA training or internal communications. I'm already gathering my daughter's medical records from before she turned 22 based on the excellent guidance from @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons. It's deeply frustrating that we have to ignore official SSA advice and rely on community knowledge to understand what's actually required. Count me in for any group complaint effort - this pattern of misinformation is causing unnecessary stress and delays for families who are already dealing with significant challenges. The potential impact of DAC benefits would be tremendous for my daughter's financial security and independence. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. This community support is invaluable when navigating such a broken system. I'll keep everyone updated on how my case progresses and hope we can help prevent other families from going through this same ordeal.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately going through the exact same situation with my 25-year-old son who has been on SSI since age 18 due to autism spectrum disorder. When I applied for DAC benefits last month after starting my retirement, the SSA representative gave me the identical line about "new guidance" allowing them to use existing SSI determinations without medical records. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and alarming - it's clear this misinformation is systematic across SSA offices. What really bothers me is how authoritative these representatives sound when giving completely wrong information that leads to predictable denials and delays. I'm already proactively gathering my son's medical records from before he turned 22 based on the excellent advice from @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons. It's frustrating that we have to ignore official SSA guidance and rely on community knowledge, but I'm grateful this resource exists. Count me in for the group complaint effort that several people have mentioned. This pattern needs to be addressed systematically to prevent other families from experiencing these unnecessary delays in accessing benefits that could be life-changing. The potential increase from SSI to DAC benefits would be transformative for my son's independence and quality of life. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community support is invaluable when navigating such a broken system.

I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with the exact same situation with my 30-year-old daughter. She's been on SSI since age 20 due to intellectual disability, and when I applied for her DAC benefits after starting my retirement six weeks ago, I received identical misinformation from the SSA representative about "streamlined procedures" for long-term SSI recipients. The agent was so confident when telling me that medical records weren't needed and would actually delay the process. After reading all these experiences, I'm now expecting a denial and have already started gathering medical documentation from before my daughter turned 22. What's most concerning is how systematic this misinformation appears to be - multiple families receiving word-for-word identical incorrect guidance from different SSA offices over an extended timeframe. This clearly indicates a serious training or policy communication failure within the agency. I'm definitely interested in joining the group complaint effort that's been discussed. With so many families experiencing this exact pattern, we have compelling evidence of a widespread problem that needs to be addressed at the administrative level to prevent future families from enduring these unnecessary delays and stress. Thank you to @Natasha Kuznetsova and @Leo Simmons for the professional insights about actual documentation requirements. It's unfortunate we have to rely on community knowledge rather than official SSA guidance, but this information is invaluable for preparing proper appeals. The potential transformation from SSI to DAC benefits would be life-changing for my daughter - the financial increase, removal of asset limitations, and eventual Medicare eligibility could provide so much more security and independence. I'll keep fighting through this broken system and will update everyone on my case progression.