SSI backpay amount won't be corrected after adding housing expenses - is this right?

something similar happened with my daughter. SSA makes weird rules about backdating changes that confuse even their own employees. did the rep actually enter the expenses into the system or just tell u they would? get it in writing!

The explanation you received doesn't sound right. For SSI, living arrangements and household expenses affect the benefit calculation from the beginning. If those expenses were part of your situation during the retroactive period, they should be factored into the backpay calculation as well. What likely happened is the representative applied what's called a "prospective" adjustment rather than a "retrospective" one. SSI rules allow for corrections of past underpayments when information was incorrectly recorded or calculated. I suggest requesting a formal reconsideration of the decision regarding the retroactive payments. Make sure to specify that these housing expenses existed during the entire period and should have been included in the original calculation. You have 60 days from receiving the notice to file for reconsideration.

they always try to shortchange disabled kids!!!! been through this twice with my grandsons. the first rep probably didnt know what they were doing and the second one is too lazy to fix it. FIGHT THIS!!!

I work with SSI applications regularly, and the explanation you received doesn't align with SSI policy. The "he didn't have income to pay his share" argument is nonsensical - SSI calculations don't require the recipient to have been paying expenses previously. The correct approach is filing for a reconsideration, specifically citing that the housing expenses existed during the entire period covered by the retroactive benefits. Be prepared to provide documentation showing you were paying these expenses during that time (tax records, insurance statements, etc.). One suggestion - try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to bypass the long hold times when calling SSA about this. I've had clients use their service to get through to SSA representatives quickly instead of waiting hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Especially for complicated issues like yours, getting to speak with a knowledgeable representative is crucial.

wait im confused about something. are u saying u want SSI to pay u MORE money for the past months? I thought SSI was just a flat rate for everyone so how would adding house expenses change anything?

The same exact thing happened with my son! They wouldn't fix the back pay either. I gave up trying to fight it because it was too stressful. Maybe I should have pushed harder but dealing with SS was already taking so much of my time and energy. If you do appeal, please update us on what happens!

The representative's explanation doesn't match SSI policy guidelines. When SSI calculates benefits, they look at living arrangements and household expenses to determine if someone is paying their fair share. If adding the property taxes and homeowner's insurance means your nephew qualifies for a higher monthly benefit going forward, those same expenses should be factored into the retroactive payment calculation. File a reconsideration request (Form SSA-561) and clearly explain that these expenses existed during the entire period in question. You might also want to request a detailed explanation of how they calculated the original benefit amount. On a practical note, if the reconsideration doesn't work, consider if the amount in question is worth pursuing further through the appeals process. Sometimes the energy spent fighting the system exceeds the benefit of the correction.

did they tell u how much the new monthly payment will be vs the old one? if its a big difference that back pay could add up to alot!

My cousin works for social security and says they make these kind of mistakes all the time lol. She says most people dont notice or bother to appeal so they just get away with it. Definitely appeal!!!

As someone new to navigating SSI, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that living arrangements and household expenses could affect benefit amounts so significantly. The fact that adding property taxes and homeowner's insurance bumped the monthly benefit up by $250 shows how important it is to get these calculations right from the start. Roger, I really hope you're able to get this corrected through the reconsideration process. $1,750 in backpay is definitely worth fighting for, especially when you were paying those expenses all along. The representative's explanation about your nephew not having income to pay his share makes no sense - that's not how SSI calculations work at all. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical information that families dealing with disability benefits need to know.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed explanations everyone has provided. This situation highlights something I think many of us don't realize - that SSI calculations are much more complex than just a simple flat payment. Roger, based on what the experienced members here are saying, it definitely sounds like you have grounds for an appeal. The fact that you were paying those property taxes and homeowner's insurance expenses throughout the entire retroactive period should mean they factor into the backpay calculation, not just future payments. I'm curious though - when you first applied, did the initial claims rep specifically ask about all household expenses, or did they just focus on certain types? I'm wondering if there's a way to better prepare for these conversations to avoid similar issues in the future. The idea of getting everything documented upfront seems really important. Good luck with your reconsideration request! I'll be following to see how it turns out.