Social Security denial because of savings? Dad has 300k but was told he doesn't qualify despite 30+ years working

Your father should absolutely qualify for Social Security retirement benefits regardless of his savings. There is NO asset limit for regular Social Security retirement benefits. You are correct - the only Social Security program with asset limits is SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which is a needs-based program. Your father paid into the system for 30+ years, so he definitely has enough work credits (you only need 40 quarters or 10 years). There are three possibilities here: 1. Your father misunderstood what was said 2. The SSA representative confused SSI with retirement benefits 3. There's some other issue completely unrelated to his assets that's causing problems Do you have a copy of any denial letter? That would explain the actual reason. I'd recommend calling SSA directly and asking for clarification.

Sounds like the SSA rep got confused between regular Social Security retirement and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). My mom had something similar happen - she went in asking about retirement benefits and the worker kept talking about SSI instead. Totally different programs!

I called my dad to ask more questions. He said the person specifically told him that because he has "too much money in the bank," he can't get benefits until he spends some of it. This still sounds like they were talking about SSI, not retirement benefits, right?

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!!! The SSA offices are SO understaffed that they rush through appointments and confuse programs constantly. Your dad 100% QUALIFIES for his earned retirement benefits regardless of any savings!! I went through this NIGHTMARE with my aunt last year. Had to make 7 CALLS and finally got a supervisor who fixed everything. The regular retirement benefit has NOTHING to do with assets - he EARNED those benefits through his 30+ years of payroll taxes!! The SSA rep was DEFINITELY mixing up SSI (which does have asset limits) with regular Social Security retirement (which DOES NOT). Your dad should apply again immediately and specifically state he wants his RETIREMENT benefits, not SSI.

my grandpa had the same problem turned out the ssa person was talking about ssi when my grandpa wanted regular ss...get back in there and make sure they know the difference!!!

I went through something similar with the Social Security office last year. Spent weeks trying to get through on the phone but kept getting disconnected or put on endless holds. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me so much frustration! I was able to get clarification on my benefits situation right away instead of waiting for weeks for an appointment. Might be worth trying if you're having trouble getting through.

Wait, I'm confused now. Does having savings affect ANY Social Security benefits? My husband and I have about $200k saved for retirement (we're both 62) and we were planning to start collecting next year. Should we be worried???

There's a critical distinction here that needs clarification: 1. Social Security retirement benefits (RSDI - Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) have NO asset limitations. Eligibility is based on work credits and earnings history. 2. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) DOES have strict asset limits (currently $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples) because it's a needs-based program. Given your father's age (86), another possibility is that he may have delayed applying for benefits for many years. If so, he can only receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits if he's past Full Retirement Age. So while he qualifies for ongoing benefits regardless of assets, there may be limitations on how far back they can pay. I would recommend: 1. Call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 2. Specifically ask about retirement benefits (not SSI) 3. Request a detailed explanation in writing of any denial 4. Ask to speak with a supervisor if the representative mentions asset limits for retirement benefits Your father absolutely should qualify based on his work history, regardless of his savings.

Wait a minute... if your dad is 86, he should have been eligible for Social Security retirement since he was 62. Has he never received ANY Social Security payments all these years? That seems really unusual if he worked 30+ years.

UPDATE: Mystery solved! I just spoke with my dad again, and he clarified that this wasn't about regular Social Security retirement benefits (which he HAS been receiving for years). The issue was about him potentially qualifying for additional SSI benefits ON TOP OF his regular Social Security. The SSA rep was correct that his assets disqualify him from SSI. Sorry for the confusion everyone - my dad didn't explain the situation clearly to me initially, and I jumped to conclusions. Thanks for all your helpful responses!

thats always how it goes lol! glad u figured it out tho!!!

Thanks for updating us! This makes much more sense. Yes, SSI does have strict asset limits, so the SSA representative was correct about that program. This is a common area of confusion for many people. If your father's only income is his Social Security retirement benefit and it's on the lower end, it can sometimes be worth looking into SSI as a supplement. But with $300k in savings, he definitely wouldn't qualify until those assets were spent down substantially. Glad you got this sorted out!