How long is my protective filing date valid for my children's Social Security benefits?

Your protective filing date (PFD) should extend to your eligible dependents as long as they file within 6 months of your disability determination notice. This is really important because it determines the start date for any auxiliary benefits. Make sure when you do connect with SSA, you specifically mention that you want to preserve the July 2024 protective filing date for your children's applications. Do you have documentation showing your attempts to file for them? That could help if there's any dispute about the timeline.

the pfd stays good for a whle dont worry too much. my kids got retro pay all the way back to when i first applied even tho they didnt get added til like 4 months after my approval. SSA is just super slow with everything tbh

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT NIGHTMARE!!! The SSA is completely BROKEN when it comes to processing dependent claims. They kept missing appointments with me too and I almost lost my mind. My protective filing date was March 2023 and my kids didn't get processed until November 2023 - but they DID get full backpay to my PFD date. The trick is to keep calling and documenting EVERYTHING. Don't let them tell you it's too late!!!

To answer your specific question, the protective filing date for auxiliary benefits (your children) is valid for 6 months from your approval/award notice date. The most important thing is that you've made attempts to file for them, which it sounds like you have. Here's what I recommend: 1. If possible, go to your local SSA office in person with your children's birth certificates, social security cards, and your award letter 2. If phone appointments keep failing, ask for a supervisor and explain the situation 3. Request written confirmation that your July 2024 PFD will be preserved for your children's claims This is a common issue that many disability beneficiaries face with dependent claims.

Have you tried the My Social Security online portal? Sometimes you can start the process for dependents there, and it at least creates a record that you were trying to file for them even if you can't complete the whole thing online.

After going through a similar nightmare trying to reach SSA about my children's benefits, I finally tried using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at SSA on the first try. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. It was honestly such a relief after weeks of busy signals and dropped calls. I was able to get everything sorted out with my kids' claims and make sure they used my original protective filing date so we got all the back benefits we were entitled to.

hey just wondering how old are your kids? i think theres different rules depending on age like if theyre under 16 or if theyre in school but over 16 or something

Quick update based on other comments: While the 6-month window is standard, I've seen cases where SSA has honored the original PFD even beyond that timeframe when the delay was clearly on their end (like missed phone appointments initiated by them). The key is documentation. Every time they miss a call, immediately call the main number and have them note in your file that THEY missed the appointment, not you. This creates a record showing you've been actively trying to complete the process.

One more thing that worked for me - I contacted my congressional representative's office. They have caseworkers who deal with federal agencies like SSA all the time. Within a week of reaching out to them, I miraculously got a call from someone at SSA who actually knew what they were doing! Worth a try if you keep hitting roadblocks.

btw make sure when they do finally call you have ALL your kids docs ready - birth certificates, ssn cards, school info if theyre older, custody papers if theres any complicated family situation. they get super annoyed if you dont have everything and might make you start over with another appt

I went through something very similar and want to add that you should also request a "receipt" or confirmation number every time you interact with SSA about your children's benefits. When I was dealing with missed appointments, I started asking the person on the phone to give me a confirmation number for our conversation and have them note in my file that I was calling about dependent benefits tied to my July 2024 protective filing date. This created a clear paper trail that helped when I eventually got everything sorted out. Also, if you have to keep rescheduling phone appointments, try asking if they can schedule you for the earliest slot of the day - I found those were less likely to get bumped or missed. The whole process is frustrating but don't give up - your kids are entitled to those benefits and the backpay from your original filing date!