Timing for Advance Notice form for 17-year-old foster child's Social Security survivor benefits at 18

Yes, she can absolutely start this process now, and in fact, she should. The Advance Notice form is specifically designed to be submitted before age 18 to ensure a smooth transition. Three months before is the typical recommendation, but four months is fine too. The confusion you encountered is unfortunately common - some SSA reps mistakenly think certain actions can't be taken until the child turns 18, but that's incorrect for this specific form. The whole point of an "advance" notice is to get the paperwork moving before the birthday. Make sure you have: 1. The Advance Notice form completed by the school 2. A letter stating her intention to become her own payee at 18 3. Documentation of continued full-time school attendance Submit everything together, then follow up about 30 days before her birthday to ensure it's being processed.

just my 2 cents but be careful. when my daughter aged out last year, we started 3 months early like ur doing but the paperwork got lost twice!! ended up taking almost 6 months after her bday to get everything fixed. so def dont wait. the earlier u start the better

Have you asked for her backpayment record? My foster daughter went through something similar and when she finally got her money at 18, they tried to say she only had 3 months of backpay when it was actually 2 years worth. Get a complete statement of backpay entitlement BEFORE she turns 18! They kept telling us different amounts every time we called.

I had to help my younger sister through this exact process last year. Here's what worked for us: 1. Yes, 4 months ahead is perfectly fine - actually BETTER than waiting. Submit now. 2. Call SSA and specifically request a "protective filing date" for her application to become her own payee. This means even if processing is delayed, benefits will be paid from the date you filed. 3. Take a copy of EVERYTHING to your local SSA office if possible. I know appointments are hard to get, but try. We ultimately had to use an expedited critical need appointment. 4. Specifically request a complete benefits calculation statement showing all backpay owed. For situations like this where calls are difficult, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - they basically help you skip the wait time. This saved us weeks of trying to get through on the phone.

PLEASE DON'T WAIT!!! The system is SO BACKED UP right now!! My nephew just went through this and even though we started 3 months early, it still took 2 extra months after his 18th birthday to get any money. You're smart to start now. And make COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! They lost our paperwork TWICE. And every person tells you something different. It's maddening.

There's some confusion about timing in this thread that needs clarification. According to SSA's Operations Manual (POMS section RS 00203.035), the Advance Notice process should ideally start 3 months before a child turns 18, but can be initiated up to 6 months prior. So 4 months is actually perfect timing. The most common breakdown in this process occurs when: 1. The form gets submitted but isn't properly associated with the child's record 2. The school certification portion isn't completed correctly 3. The transition to self-payee status isn't clearly documented I recommend submitting everything via certified mail with return receipt to create a paper trail. Also, request a written receipt for any documents submitted in person. For the back benefits: technically, if DHS was the payee and didn't claim all benefits owed, they may have liability here. However, it's far easier to address this at age 18 when she becomes her own payee. At that time, she should immediately request a complete benefits statement and file for any missing payments.

i don't get why the foster system is so bad at this stuff. my cousin lost like $10k in backpay bcuz her foster agency never filed for it and nobody told her she could til she was like 22. make sure ur kid knows exactly how much she is owed don't trust anyone else to track it also they can totally do this stuff now not sure why they said to wait til 18 that makes no sense

One more critical point: When she turns 18, she should immediately file Form SSA-11 (Request to Be Selected as Payee) for herself, along with Form SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant) explaining why she should be her own payee. Include documentation of her ability to manage funds (bank account, etc.) Since she'll legally be an adult at that point, there shouldn't be any issue with her becoming her own payee, but it does require formal application. If you wait until she turns 18 to start this process, it could delay access to her benefits by months. Also, regarding the school certification - make sure they certify enrollment through her expected graduation date. If they only certify current enrollment, you'll hit another hurdle later.

Let me add a bit more detail based on our experience: 1. You'll need Form SSA-1372 (Student's Statement Regarding School Attendance) - this is the form that allows benefits to continue past 18 until 19 and 2 months while in school 2. Get a benefits verification letter ASAP showing what her payment amount should be - this will be crucial when she starts receiving payments to ensure the amount is correct 3. If she has significant back benefits, these might be paid in installments rather than a lump sum. SSA often releases large backpay amounts in up to 3 installments 6 months apart. Be prepared for this possibility. Also, one practical tip - when my sister finally became her own payee, we immediately set up direct deposit for her benefits. This eliminated a lot of potential issues with mailed checks.

Regarding your latest question about lump sum vs. installments: Typically, if back benefits exceed 3 times the monthly benefit amount, SSA will pay in installments. However, there are exceptions for immediate needs. Once she's 18 and her own payee, she can submit Form SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) explaining why she needs the full amount immediately (housing security, transportation for school/work, essential items after leaving foster care, etc.). Include supporting documentation if possible. Some offices are more flexible than others, but a well-documented immediate need can often result in a full payment, especially for someone transitioning out of foster care who needs to establish independent living.