Social Security benefit amounts keep changing - 3 different letters plus My SS Account disappeared

The EXACT same thing happened to me!!! Got 3 different letters with 3 different amounts. When I finally got through to someone they said something about my record having a "computation error" that needed to be fixed manually. It took FOUR MONTHS to get it straightened out!!!! During that time I got paid different amounts each month and they even skipped one month entirely!!! The SSA system is completely BROKEN. I ended up having to go to my local office and sit there for 5 hours to get someone to actually look at my file properly.

sounds like ur dealing with the family maximum benefit limit. when u have multiple people collecting on one record (u, wife, disabled daughter) theres a max total that can be paid. thats prob why ur getting less than expected.

What you're experiencing is likely due to several overlapping issues. First, there's the family maximum benefit (FMB) calculation which applies when multiple beneficiaries collect on one record. Second, there appears to be a computation discrepancy in your file - this happens when earnings records need manual review. Third, there's clearly a systems issue with your My Social Security account. The most concerning part is the "CANNOT issue benefits" language, which typically appears when there's a payment hold code on your record. This could be for various reasons - potential overpayment investigation, earnings record review, or verification of information. Here's what I recommend: 1. Request a detailed benefit calculation explanation (SSA-1090-SM) 2. Submit a request for reconsideration if the amount is incorrect 3. Ask specifically about any hold codes on your record 4. Get a written explanation of how the family maximum applies to your situation The representative who told you to "just ignore" the notice isn't giving you proper guidance. This needs to be addressed directly.

I had a similar nightmare situation but with my SSDI benefits. Every time I called I got different answers about my payment amounts. Try calling your local Congressman's office - I did this and they have someone who specializes in helping constituents with Social Security problems. They contacted SSA on my behalf and suddenly things started getting fixed within a week! It's like magic how fast the SSA responds when a congressional office inquires.

Based on what you've described, you're dealing with what's called a "manual computation" situation combined with a family maximum benefit calculation. When multiple beneficiaries are involved on one record (you, your wife, and your daughter with disabilities), the system sometimes cannot automatically calculate the correct benefits. The disappearance of your benefit information from your online account is consistent with a record that's undergoing manual review and adjustment. During this period, the system often removes the beneficiary's information from online access to prevent displaying incorrect data. The multiple letters with different amounts are being generated as different SSA employees work on your record and make adjustments. The "CANNOT issue benefits" notice typically appears when there's a hold on your record while these calculations are being finalized. You need to speak with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist at your local office, not just a Service Representative. Ask specifically for an appointment with a Technical Expert who can review your computation history and explain the family maximum calculation as it applies to your specific situation. I also recommend requesting a PEBES (Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) by completing form SSA-7004, which will provide a complete breakdown of your benefit calculation based on your earnings history.

I've been trying to reach someone at SSA about my retirement benefits for THREE WEEKS! Keep getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. I finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) after my neighbor recommended it. They got me connected to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual hours-long wait. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For complicated situations like yours where you need to talk to someone who actually knows what they're doing, it's worth it to avoid the frustration of trying to get through on your own. I was able to get my whole situation resolved in one call once I finally got through to the right person.

To follow up on my previous comment, I want to clarify what's likely happening with your specific situation: 1. When a spouse files at FRA, they're entitled to either their own retirement benefit or up to 50% of their spouse's benefit, whichever is higher (not both). 2. With a disabled child also receiving benefits, the family maximum benefit (FMB) calculation comes into play. The FMB is typically 150-180% of the primary worker's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). 3. When multiple beneficiaries cause the total to exceed the family maximum, proportional reductions are applied to the benefits (excluding the primary worker). 4. The manual computation required in these cases often causes exactly the issues you're seeing - multiple letters with different amounts as the calculation is refined, and temporary holds on payments until the final calculation is approved. The good news is that once resolved, you should receive any underpayments in a lump sum. Request a detailed explanation of your family maximum calculation and how it affects each beneficiary on the record. This should be provided in writing so you can verify the mathematics.

One more thing to watch out for!!! When I was dealing with my mess, I found out they had WRONG EARNINGS in my record for THREE DIFFERENT YEARS!!! That was causing part of the computation problems. Make sure you get a copy of your earnings record and check EVERY SINGLE YEAR against your W-2s or tax returns!!! I found that they were missing over $28,000 in earnings from 2015 that affected my benefit amount!!!

Have you checked if your benefit is being reduced because of WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) or GPO (Government Pension Offset)? If you ever worked for government with a pension that didn't pay into SS, that could explain the lower amount. My husband's SS was WAY less than expected because of his teacher's pension.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I filed for my retirement benefits last month and my online account also disappeared completely - I can only see my mom's representative payee information now. I've been getting different amounts quoted every time I call, and the representatives keep telling me contradictory information. What's really frustrating is that I've been checking my projected benefit amount on the SSA website for years to plan my retirement, and now suddenly I can't access any of that information. It's like my entire work history just vanished from their system. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here - especially requesting that SSA-1090-SM form for a detailed benefit calculation and possibly contacting my congressman's office. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic information about our own benefits that we've been paying into for decades. Has anyone else had their entire online account access disappear like this? I'm wondering if this is a widespread system issue or if it only happens during these manual computation situations.

This sounds incredibly stressful and unfortunately all too common with SSA's system issues. Based on what you've described, it really does sound like you're caught in a manual computation situation where multiple factors are complicating your benefit calculation. A few additional thoughts that might help: 1. Document everything - keep copies of all three letters you received, note the dates and amounts from each phone call, and screenshot anything you can still see in your online account. 2. When you do get through to someone (whether through Claimyr or your congressman's office), ask them to place detailed notes in your file about what's being done to resolve the computation issue. This helps ensure the next person who looks at your case understands the history. 3. The fact that your daughter receives disability benefits on your record is definitely a complicating factor for the family maximum calculation, but as others have noted, that alone doesn't explain the "CANNOT issue benefits" notice. 4. If you haven't already, consider filing a written complaint with SSA describing the conflicting information you've received. Sometimes putting it in writing helps get attention from supervisors who can actually fix these systemic issues. The disappearing online account seems to be a "feature" of their system during manual reviews - frustrating but apparently normal. Hang in there, and definitely pursue multiple avenues (congressional office, SSA-1090-SM form, etc.) to get this resolved. You shouldn't have to live with this uncertainty about your benefits.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with SSA! Reading through all these responses, it's clear you're not alone - this seems to be happening to more and more people lately. The combination of family maximum calculations, manual computations, and their broken computer systems is creating perfect storms for beneficiaries. A few things that might help while you're fighting this battle: 1. If you have any old SSA statements or benefit estimates you printed out over the years, dig them up. They can be helpful evidence of what you were originally told to expect. 2. When you do get through to someone (definitely try that Claimyr service - worth every penny to avoid the phone hell), ask them to check for any "diary" entries on your account. These are internal notes about pending actions that might explain the delays. 3. Consider requesting a supervisor or "second pair of eyes" review if the Technical Expert route doesn't work. Sometimes a fresh person looking at the file catches errors that others missed. 4. If you're comfortable sharing your state/region, some local disability advocacy organizations also help with Social Security issues beyond just disability cases. They often have contacts inside SSA who can expedite reviews. The fact that they told you to "ignore" an official notice is absolutely unacceptable. That representative was clearly trying to get you off the phone rather than actually help. Keep pushing - you've earned these benefits and deserve accurate, consistent information about them. Hoping you get this resolved soon!

I went through something very similar when I applied for my benefits last year. The key thing that finally got my situation resolved was requesting a face-to-face appointment at my local SSA office and bringing ALL the documentation with me - the conflicting letters, my earnings statements, everything. What I learned is that when you have a disabled child receiving benefits on your record AND you're dealing with spousal benefits, it creates what they call a "complex family situation" that their automated systems can't handle properly. That's why you're getting the manual computation and all the conflicting information. The "CANNOT issue benefits" notice in my case turned out to be a temporary hold while they sorted out the family maximum calculation. It took about 6 weeks total, but I did get all the back pay once it was resolved. Two specific things that helped me: 1) I asked them to print out what's called a "BENDEX" screen which shows all the benefit calculations step by step, and 2) I requested they put a "priority flag" on my case since I was getting conflicting information from multiple representatives. Don't let them brush you off - you have the right to understand how your benefits are calculated, especially when there are multiple people on the record. The family maximum rules are complex but they should be able to explain exactly how it applies to your situation. Hang in there - it will get sorted out, but you may need to be more persistent than you should have to be.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusing situation! As someone new to Social Security benefits, reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about how complex the system can be. From what everyone is explaining, it sounds like you're caught in a perfect storm of issues - the family maximum benefit calculations because of your daughter's disability benefits, plus what seems to be a manual computation problem in SSA's system. The disappearing online account seems to be their way of preventing you from seeing incorrect information while they sort things out, though I can imagine how frustrating that must be when you've been using it for planning. I'd definitely recommend trying multiple approaches at once: the congressional office contact that Brandon suggested sounds promising, requesting those specific forms (SSA-1090-SM and BENDEX screen) that others mentioned, and maybe using that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone who knows what they're doing. The fact that you got three different letters with different amounts and a representative told you to "ignore" an official notice shows there are serious communication issues on their end. You shouldn't have to be a detective to figure out your own benefits! I hope you get this sorted out soon. It's clear from all these responses that you're not alone in dealing with SSA's system problems, and that persistence does eventually pay off. Hang in there!

I'm really sorry to hear about this frustrating situation! Based on everyone's helpful responses, it sounds like you have a solid plan of action now. I wanted to add one more suggestion that might help speed things along. When you do get through to SSA (whether through Claimyr or your congressional office), ask them specifically about getting a "manual computation specialist" assigned to your case rather than just a regular Technical Expert. These are SSA employees who specifically handle complex family benefit situations like yours where multiple beneficiaries and family maximum calculations are involved. Also, if you haven't already, consider keeping a detailed log of every interaction - date, time, representative name (if they give it), what they told you, and any reference numbers they provide. This documentation can be incredibly valuable when you finally get someone who can actually help, as they can see the full history of conflicting information you've received. The fact that your online account disappeared while showing your daughter's representative payee information suggests your records are definitely being manually reviewed. While frustrating, this is actually a good sign that they're actively working on resolving the computation issues. Wishing you the best of luck getting this sorted out quickly! Your persistence will pay off, and you should absolutely receive any back pay owed once they get the calculations correct.