How will my adult disabled son's benefits change when my husband claims Social Security at 62?

Thank you for this information. Does this deeming apply even though our son lives in a supported living apartment now (though we help him financially)? I'm worried about the exact calculations - is there a specific amount my husband can earn before it starts affecting our son's SSI?

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about! Did your brother keep his Medicaid after your dad retired? That's actually my biggest concern.

Thank you for mentioning the Disabled Adult Child benefits - I had no idea that might be an option. We do provide over 50% of his support even though he's in the apartment. I'll definitely ask about this at SSA.

This is excellent advice. If your son's disability began before age 22 (which sounds like the case with autism diagnosed early), he may qualify for DAC benefits on your husband's record. These benefits can be higher than SSI, have no resource limits, and come with Medicare after 24 months. He could potentially keep Medicaid as secondary insurance through various state programs.

I had the same experience trying to get through to SSA about my brother's benefits. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at SSA instead of waiting for hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Made a huge difference in actually getting answers about how retirement would impact his disability benefits. Worth it to avoid the frustration of calling SSA directly.

Thank you so much for mentioning the BPQY - I've never heard of this! Will definitely request this form. Did your son end up switching from SSI to the Disabled Adult Child benefit when you retired? Did he keep his medical coverage?

The BPQY report is USELESS!! When I got one for my daughter it had WRONG information about her work history and benefits! Took MONTHS to correct and meanwhile her benefits were messed up. Just be careful trusting anything they give you!

Overpayments can happen during benefit transitions. That's why it's crucial to report the change in your husband's status promptly. Keep documentation of all communications with SSA, including the names of representatives you speak with, dates, and reference numbers for calls. This documentation can be vital if there's ever an overpayment dispute.

That's a really important point. My husband's FRA is 67, so that's a significant difference. We need to weigh the 5 years of payments he'd get by filing early against the lifetime higher payments for both him and potentially our son. This is giving us a lot to think about.

This is incredibly helpful advice, thank you! I had no idea about needing to report the intent to file BEFORE my husband actually files - that could save us from a lot of headaches. The protective filing date sounds important too. Where would I find a SOAR-certified benefits counselor? Is there a directory or website where I can search for one in my area? I want to make sure we're working with someone who really knows these disability benefit transitions inside and out.

You can find SOAR-certified counselors through the SOAR TA Center website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a provider directory where you can search by state. Also try contacting your state's Protection & Advocacy organization or call 211 for local disability resources. Many community mental health centers also have certified benefits counselors on staff. The National Disability Rights Network website has a good state-by-state directory too. Make sure whoever you work with has specific experience with SSI-to-DAC transitions, not just general benefits counseling.

You can find SOAR-certified benefits counselors through the SOAR Technical Assistance Center website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a provider directory you can search by state. Also try contacting your state's Protection & Advocacy organization or Centers for Independent Living, as they often have staff trained in benefits counseling. One more tip from my experience helping families - when you do meet with SSA, bring a written list of specific questions including your son's current benefit amounts, living situation, and work history. This helps ensure you cover everything and get consistent answers. Good luck!

You can find SOAR-certified counselors through the SAMHSA SOAR website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a provider directory where you can search by state and county. Also check with your state's Developmental Disabilities Administration or Department of Human Services - they often maintain lists of certified benefits counselors. Many Area Agencies on Aging also have staff trained in SOAR methodology. When you call, specifically ask for someone who has experience with SSI-to-DAC transitions, as this is a specialized area that not all benefits counselors handle regularly. The National Disability Rights Network website also has a directory of protection and advocacy agencies by state - these organizations often provide benefits counseling services or can refer you to qualified local advocates.

You can find SOAR-certified counselors through the SAMHSA SOAR website (samhsa.gov/soar) - they have a provider directory where you can search by state and county. Also check with your state's Department of Human Services or Developmental Disabilities office, as they often maintain lists of certified benefits counselors. Another resource is the National Disability Rights Network (ndrn.org) - they can connect you with your state's Protection & Advocacy agency, which often provides free benefits counseling for families in your situation. Don't forget to also contact your son's current case manager or social worker if he has one through his supported living program - they often have connections to benefits specialists and may even be able to attend SSA meetings with you as an advocate.

You can find SOAR-certified benefits counselors through the SOAR TA Center website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a provider directory where you can search by state and county. Also check with your state's ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) - they often have lists of certified benefits counselors in your area. Many community mental health centers and independent living centers also have SOAR-trained staff. The certification is specifically for helping people with disabilities navigate SSI/SSDI applications and benefit changes, so they're exactly who you want for this situation!

You can find SOAR-certified counselors through the SOAR Technical Assistance Center website - they have a provider directory where you can search by state and region. Also check with your state's Department of Health and Human Services or Developmental Disabilities office, as they often maintain lists of certified benefits counselors. Another resource is the National Disability Rights Network (ndrn.org) - they can connect you with your state's Protection and Advocacy agency, which often provides free benefits counseling services. I'd also recommend contacting your local Independent Living Center - they frequently have staff trained in benefits planning and can either help directly or refer you to qualified specialists in your area. The key is finding someone who's specifically experienced with SSI-to-DAC transitions, as this requires knowledge of both programs and how they interact.

You can find SOAR-certified benefits counselors through the SOAR Technical Assistance Center website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a provider directory where you can search by state and county. You can also contact your state's Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) - just search for "[your state] ADRC" online and they can connect you with local certified counselors. Another good resource is the National Association of Benefits and Work Incentive Counselors (NABWIC) website, which has a "find a counselor" tool. These counselors are specifically trained in how Social Security retirement benefits impact disabled family members. I'd recommend calling a few to see who has the most experience with parent retirement/disabled adult child transitions. Some work for free through state programs, while others charge fees, so ask about costs upfront. The investment is usually worth it to avoid costly mistakes!

You can find SOAR-certified counselors through the SOAR TA Center website (soarworks.samhsa.gov) - they have a provider locator tool. Also check with your state's Disability Determination Services office or your local Independent Living Center, as they often have staff trained in benefits counseling. Many Area Agencies on Aging also employ SOAR-certified counselors specifically for these complex benefit transitions. When you call, specifically ask if they have experience with SSI-to-DAC transitions, as this is a specialized area even within disability benefits counseling.

You can find SOAR-certified benefits counselors through the SAMHSA SOAR website (soarworks.prainc.com) - they have a "Find Help in Your State" tool that lists certified counselors by location. Many Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs also have staff trained in these transitions. You can search for WIPA programs through the Social Security Administration's "Choose Work" website. Another good resource is your state's Protection & Advocacy organization - they often have benefits specialists who can help navigate these complex transitions. The National Disability Rights Network website has links to each state's P&A office. Since you're dealing with autism specifically, I'd also recommend reaching out to your local Autism Society chapter - they often maintain lists of local benefits counselors who have experience with autism-related benefit issues and may know which local SSA offices are more knowledgeable about DAC transitions.

This is such valuable information - thank you for providing those specific resources! I just looked up the SOAR website and found several certified counselors in my state. I'm also going to call 211 tomorrow to see what local options they have. Your point about bringing written questions and documenting everything is so important - I've already started a notebook to keep track of all the information I'm gathering from this thread. It's reassuring to know that being proactive about this research will help us avoid some of the pitfalls other families have experienced. I feel much more prepared now to have productive conversations with both the benefits counselors and SSA representatives.