Social Security disability on deceased husband's record at 56 - can I get benefit amount before decision?

you can try calling but they probably wont tell you. i tried getting an estimate before my hearing and the lady just said they cant give numbers until its approved.

You're applying for Disabled Widow's Benefits (DWB), which has different rules than regular SSDI. Since you're well past 50 (the minimum age for DWB), that's good. The benefit amount would be 71.5% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) because you're taking it before your Full Retirement Age. You can request an estimate by asking specifically for what your Disabled Widow's Benefit would be based on your deceased spouse's record. They should be able to provide this if you're clear about what you're asking for. Bring your husband's Social Security number when you call or visit. Also, make sure to gather strong medical evidence for your disability claim. The approval rates for DWB aren't great on first application.

When I applied for disability, I was SO FRUSTRATED trying to get anyone on the phone at SSA! I would wait for HOURS and either get disconnected or told to call back later. I ended up trying Claimyr (claimyr.com) after seeing someone mention it online. It's a service that waits on hold with Social Security and calls you when an agent is on the line. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The rep I got was actually helpful and gave me a rough estimate range of what my benefits would be if approved. She said they usually can't give exact amounts but could give me a ballpark figure. Might be worth trying!

you should check your my social security account online if you have one. sometimes it shows estimates there for different scenarios. not sure if it works for widow disability tho

I went through something similar when applying for disability on my husband's record after he passed. Here's what worked for me: 1. Go to your local SSA office in person (make an appointment first) 2. Bring your ID, your Social Security card, your marriage certificate, your husband's death certificate, and his SSN 3. Ask to speak with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist, not just the front desk person 4. Specifically request a "Disabled Widow's Benefit estimate based on my deceased spouse's record" They can generate this for you. They might say it's just an estimate and could change, but you can get actual numbers this way. The phone representatives often don't have access to the same calculation tools as the in-office experts. Also, when your son turns 18, make sure he applies for student benefits if he'll be in high school or college - he can receive them until 19 if still in secondary education.

My sister went thru this and they coudlnt tell her nothing till after approval. The disability process took like 2 YEARS for her!!!! So annoying! But she got backpay for all that time. Hope urs is faster

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU IN THE DARK!! I've been fighting with SSA for THREE YEARS trying to get my benefits sorted out after my husband died. They sent me FIVE different benefit amounts in letters, each one different! When I call, no one can explain ANYTHING! One rep says one thing, another says something completely different. It's MADDENING! And don't even get me started on their website - total garbage that never shows accurate information. I've given up trying to get straight answers from them and just take whatever they eventually decide to deposit in my account.

One additional thing to be aware of - since you're applying for disability on your deceased husband's record, your benefit amount will be affected by whether he had started receiving Social Security benefits before his passing. If he had already filed for retirement or disability, your amount would be based on what he was receiving (including any reductions). If he hadn't filed yet, your benefit would be based on his Primary Insurance Amount at his full retirement age. This is something many widow applicants don't realize and it can make a significant difference in payment amounts. When you speak with SSA, be sure to clarify which calculation they're using.

my aunt just went thru this! if u get denied don't give up, she got denied first time then got a lawyer and won her case. her disability on her dead husbands record is like $2200/month i think