Will my disabled adult child (DAC) benefit increase when my spouse dies? SS conversion confusion

I went thru this with my brother who has autism. Yes the DAC benefit will increase when ur wife passes away. It changes from 50% of her benefit to 75% of her benefit. But u DO need to notify SSA about her death!! They don't know automatically and the benefit doesnt change unless u tell them. bring the death certificate to SSA office.

You're dealing with what's called a Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefit conversion from a parent-worker benefit to a parent-survivor benefit. Here's what happens: - Your son currently receives 50% of your wife's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) as a dependent benefit - After your wife passes, he becomes eligible for 75% of her PIA as a survivor benefit - This IS NOT automatic - you must notify SSA of your wife's passing - You'll need to provide a death certificate and complete an application for survivor benefits - There should be no gap in benefits if you report promptly (within 30 days) The benefit conversion usually takes 30-60 days to process after reporting. I recommend contacting SSA the same month she passes to ensure continuous payments. I'm sorry you're facing this difficult time.

The real answer depends on if anyones ELSE is getting benefits on her record right now. There's something called the family maximum that might limit how much your son can get even after she passes. If it's just him getting benefits then yeah it goes up to 75% but if you or other kids are also on her record it might be different becuase of the family max.

So sorry about your wife. My daughter has been on DAC benefits for years and we had to update things when my husband died. Make sure you bring ORIGINAL documents, not copies. They wouldn't accept the copies I brought and I had to come back. Such a waste of time when I was already grieving!

I had SUCH a nightmare trying to get through to anyone at SSA after my mom died last year to report it and handle my sister's DAC benefits. Spent literally DAYS on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at SSA in under 20 minutes. Saved me hours of frustration! You just go to claimyr.com and they connect your call to SSA. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I was skeptical but it actually worked when nothing else did. Just a tip for when you need to make that call to report the death - those first days after are hard enough without phone frustrations.

Actually, the rules for DACs can be complicated. The amount your son will receive depends on several factors: 1. If he's receiving a DAC benefit on his mother's record (50% of her PIA), it will convert to a survivor DAC benefit (75% of her PIA) when she passes away. 2. However, this assumes your son isn't receiving any other benefits. If he's receiving SSI, there could be an offset. 3. You mentioned you're also retired. If your own benefit is significantly higher than 75% of your wife's benefit, SSA might examine whether your son should receive a DAC benefit on YOUR record instead, as this could potentially be more beneficial long-term. 4. There's also what's called the RIB/LIM guarantee for DACs, which can be complex but sometimes results in a higher payment than the standard 75%. I recommend scheduling a formal appointment with a Technical Expert at SSA (not just a Claims Representative) to go through these calculations. This is too important to leave to chance or general advice.

I went through this exact situation last year. Few important things I learned: 1. There's usually a one-time death payment of $255 you can apply for 2. The conversion from 50% to 75% is correct but takes time to process 3. SSA won't backdate payments to death date automatically - you need to specifically request this 4. If your son receives Medicare through his DAC benefit, nothing changes with that coverage 5. Make sure ALL your son's information is updated in the system (address, direct deposit, etc) when you report the death Don't wait until after she passes - gather all documents now (birth certificates, marriage certificate, your son's medical records proving disability, etc). Being prepared helps tremendously.

oh also some funeral homes will report the death to social security for u! ask them if they do this service when the time comes. but u still need to go to SSA yourself for the benefits stuff.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis. This is such a difficult time for your family. I wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do go to SSA to report the death and handle the benefit conversion, consider bringing a trusted family member or friend with you if possible. Processing grief while dealing with bureaucracy is incredibly hard, and having someone there for emotional support and to help you remember all the questions you want to ask can be really valuable. Also, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to write down the key information they give you - it's easy to forget details when you're under stress. Take care of yourself during this time.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult time with your wife's diagnosis. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize something important that others have touched on but bears repeating: the transition from a DAC dependent benefit (50%) to a DAC survivor benefit (75%) is NOT automatic, despite what one SSA employee told you. You absolutely must report your wife's death and apply for the survivor benefit conversion. The good news is that if you report within the required timeframe, the increased benefit should be retroactive to the month following her death. I'd also suggest asking SSA for a written estimate of what your son's new benefit amount will be - this can help you plan financially. Given the conflicting information you've already received from SSA staff, getting everything in writing will protect you. My thoughts are with your family during this challenging time.

I'm so sorry about your wife's diagnosis. This must be an incredibly difficult time for your family. I went through something similar with my disabled brother when our father passed away. Here are a few additional things I learned that might help: 1. When you go to SSA, ask them to put a "death alert" on your wife's record immediately - this prevents any overpayments that could complicate things later. 2. If your son has a representative payee arrangement, make sure that information is current and clearly documented during the transition. 3. Consider asking SSA to mail you a letter confirming the new benefit amount and effective date after the conversion is processed - this gives you a paper trail. 4. Some SSA offices have dedicated staff who specialize in survivor benefits. If the first person you speak with seems unsure, ask to speak with someone who handles survivor benefit conversions regularly. The increase from 50% to 75% should make a meaningful difference in your son's monthly income, which I'm sure will help with his ongoing care needs. Take care of yourself during this process - you're doing everything right by planning ahead.

I'm so deeply sorry about your wife's diagnosis and what your family is going through right now. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the helpful responses here and wanted to add my support and one small piece of information I learned when my aunt went through something similar. When you do go to the SSA office to report your wife's passing and handle the benefit conversion, make sure to ask them about any potential changes to your son's Medicare coverage or premiums. While most people mentioned that Medicare coverage itself shouldn't change, sometimes there can be adjustments to Part B premiums or other costs that might affect your overall budget planning. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the importance of timing - from what I understand, you generally have up to 2 years to apply for survivor benefits, but the sooner you apply after her passing, the less likely there are to be any complications or delays in processing. Your preparation and research now shows what a caring father you are. Wishing you and your family strength during this incredibly difficult time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis and what your family is facing. As someone new to this community, I've been deeply moved by all the thoughtful and detailed responses you've received here. I wanted to add one small but potentially important detail that I don't think has been mentioned yet: when you do visit the SSA office to handle the benefit conversion, consider asking them to flag your son's file for priority processing given that he's a vulnerable adult with ongoing care needs. While I can't guarantee this will speed things up, some offices have procedures to expedite cases involving disabled beneficiaries to minimize any potential gaps in support. Also, since you mentioned your son has Down syndrome, you might want to confirm with SSA that all his current medical documentation supporting his disability determination is still current in their system. Sometimes during benefit transitions like this, it's a good opportunity to make sure everything is properly documented to avoid any future reviews or complications. The fact that you're planning ahead during such a difficult time shows incredible strength and love for your son. From everything I've read in these responses, it sounds like you have a solid understanding of what needs to be done. Wishing you and your family peace during this challenging time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis - my heart goes out to your family during this incredibly difficult time. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the incredibly helpful responses here and wanted to share something that might be useful. When my neighbor went through a similar situation with her disabled son, she discovered that some SSA offices offer "appointment packages" specifically for survivor benefit cases where they handle multiple related tasks in one visit - reporting the death, applying for survivor benefits, updating representative payee information, and addressing any Medicare-related questions all at once. This can save you from having to make multiple trips during an already overwhelming time. Also, I'd suggest bringing a small notebook or phone to record any case numbers, reference numbers, or confirmation numbers they give you during the process. Having those numbers can be really helpful if you need to follow up or if there are any processing delays. The care and preparation you're showing for your son during this heartbreaking situation is truly admirable. From everything shared here, it sounds like you have a clear path forward and a supportive community to help guide you through this process.

I'm so deeply sorry about your wife's diagnosis and what you're going through as a family. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all these incredibly detailed and helpful responses, and I'm amazed by the knowledge and compassion everyone has shared. I wanted to add one small thing that might be helpful - when you do schedule your appointment with SSA, consider asking if they can provide you with a written checklist of everything you'll need to bring. Different offices sometimes have slightly different requirements, and having that checklist directly from them could save you from having to make a second trip if you're missing something. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the importance of getting everything in writing. You might want to ask SSA if they can email or mail you a summary of the conversation after your appointment, including the expected timeline for processing and the new benefit amount. Some offices do this automatically, but others will only provide it if you specifically request it. Your dedication to ensuring your son's care continues seamlessly during this transition shows what an incredible father you are. Sending you and your family strength and peace during this difficult journey.