Survivor benefits claim stuck in limbo for 6+ months - Birmingham processing center nightmare

I'm so sorry for your loss and for the frustration you're experiencing. Unfortunately, this kind of bureaucratic runaround with survivor benefits is all too common, especially when claims get stuck at regional processing centers. Based on my experience, here are a few things that might help: 1. Request to speak with a Technical Expert or a Claims Specialist specifically (not just any representative) 2. Ask them to do a "critical case" flag on your application due to the excessive delay 3. Contact your Congressional Representative's office - they have caseworkers who specialize in helping constituents with federal agency issues including SSA 4. Get the name, direct number and extension of someone at your local office who can be your point person The good news is that benefits will be paid retroactively to your filing date once approved. The Montgomery processing center has been particularly backed up recently with survivor claims, but this timeline is excessive even by their standards.

The EXACT SAME THING happened with my sister's claim last year!!! She waited 8 MONTHS with no updates, constant runaround, and literally every rep told her something different. Her claim was supposedly at the Birmingham center too. It's completely BROKEN. So frustrating. The only thing that finally worked was she got her state senator's office involved and magically her claim was "found" and processed within 2 weeks. The system is deliberately making it hard hoping people will give up!!! Don't let them win! Call your representatives office TOMORROW. They have staff who deal with SSA all the time.

have you tried going in person to your local office? sometimes they help better face to face than on phone. my cousins claim got stuck too but when she went in they found it right away. worth a try maybe??

I had a similar nightmare scenario with my survivor benefits claim after my wife passed. After 5 months of getting nowhere with regular SSA channels, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes instead of the hours-long wait times I was experiencing. Using their service, I finally reached someone competent who could see my entire file history and discovered my claim had been sitting untouched for months due to being incorrectly flagged. She expedited it on the spot, and I had my benefits within 2 weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Definitely a game-changer when you need to reach SSA quickly and actually get help from someone who can see what's happening with your specific case.

Friendly reminder that survivor benefits can get really complicated beyond the basic stuff. Make sure ur getting everything ur entitled to. My neighbors kid got survivors benefits AND the mother got "mother's benefits" which is different. Also don't forget the one-time death payment of $255 if u haven't gotten that yet. Social security website explains it but reps on phone often forget to mention all options.

Processing center delays have been a significant issue since the post-pandemic backlog, but your situation is excessive even by those standards. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Request a "status conference" with your local office's District Manager (not just any representative). Only they have the authority to escalate priority cases to the processing centers. 2. Use precise language when calling: "I need to file a critical case flag due to dire need circumstances and excessive processing delays beyond normal timeframes." 3. Document everything: dates, names of representatives, what was promised, reference numbers. 4. File a formal inquiry through SSA's Office of the Inspector General for case mishandling if you're approaching the 6-month mark. The inconsistency you're experiencing is because regular representatives cannot actually see detailed processing center information - they're essentially guessing or repeating what they've been told by others. Your retroactive benefits will eventually be paid, but in the meantime, check if you qualify for emergency assistance through your state's programs.

my aunt waited like 5 months for survivors after my uncle passed so this happens alot i think. ssA is super slow with everything nowadays 😞

IMPORTANT: After you submit a congressional inquiry, CALL THEM EVERY WEEK for a status update!!! Don't just wait! That was my sister's mistake - she just waited after submitting the inquiry. You have to stay on them or they forget about you. Be the squeaky wheel like that one rep told you. Social Security WANTS you to give up!!! Also, DEMAND to speak to supervisors when you call SSA directly. Regular reps have zero power to help with processing center issues.

I just want to add one more important piece of advice: when your benefits are finally approved, double-check the retroactive payment carefully. Processing center delays often result in calculation errors for the back payments. Make sure they've properly calculated benefits from your initial filing date in September, not just from when they finally process the claim. Also, verify that both your widow's benefits and your daughter's benefits are calculated correctly. Many people don't realize that a surviving spouse caring for a minor child under 16 is entitled to benefits equal to 75% of the deceased worker's PIA, while the child is entitled to 75% as well (subject to family maximum limits). Likewise, ensure you've received the $255 lump sum death payment. It's small but often overlooked during problematic claims processing.

I want to thank everyone for the helpful advice. I called my Congressional Representative this morning and spoke with a caseworker who was incredibly helpful. She took all my information and said she'd submit an official inquiry to SSA today. She also gave me her direct number for follow-up. I'm also going to try that Claimyr service to reach someone at SSA directly so I can request the "critical case" flag and ask to speak with a Technical Expert or District Manager. I'll keep you all posted on what happens. It helps to know I'm not alone in this frustrating process.