Will my stepchild's Social Security DAC benefits change when I claim my retirement?

No, your stepchild's DAC benefits will NOT switch to your record when you claim your own retirement benefits. DAC benefits are permanently based on the parent's record that established eligibility (in this case, your deceased husband). These are two completely separate entitlements. Your stepchild will continue receiving DAC survivor benefits based on your husband's work record regardless of when you file for your own retirement. The only thing that would affect their benefits would be if they started working above SGA (substantial gainful activity) levels or got married (in most cases). Hope this helps ease your mind!

I agree with the previous response. Your stepchild's DAC benefits are based on your deceased husband's record and will remain that way. However, I'd suggest you look into whether you might be eligible for widow's benefits now, before your own retirement. Since you're over 60, you could potentially claim widow's benefits while letting your own retirement benefit grow until your FRA or even age 70 for maximum amount.

when my sis claimed her retiremnt they didnt change her disabled sons benefits at all. he still gets the same amount from my BIL's record even tho hes been gone 12 years now

The SYSTEM is designed to CONFUSE us!!! I spent 3 WEEKS trying to get a straight answer from SS about my disabled daughter's benefits when I retired. Every person told me something different! Finally got someone who actually knew the rules. You have to keep calling until you get someone competent, which feels IMPOSSIBLE these days.

I had this exact concern when I was approaching retirement age. My stepson receives DAC benefits from his late father (my husband). When I contacted Social Security, I discovered they will always pay the higher amount between the two potential benefits, but they don't automatically switch. In practice, the deceased parent's benefit is almost always higher since DAC benefits are 75% of the deceased worker's benefit amount. One thing to be aware of though - if your stepchild ever works above SGA limits ($1,550/month in 2025 for non-blind individuals), that could jeopardize their DAC benefits regardless of which record it's based on. The rules are complex but that threshold is critical for maintaining eligibility.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to someone at Social Security? It saved me hours of frustration when I needed answers about my daughter's DAC benefits. Their system connects you with an SSA representative without the endless hold times. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows exactly how it works. I was able to get clear answers about my complicated benefit questions in one call instead of multiple attempts. Given your situation with multiple benefit types involved, speaking directly with SSA might give you the most accurate information.

my neighbor's kid gets DAC and when she turned 63 and took early retirement nothing changed with her son's payment. dont worry about it!

i think u should wait till 70 to get UR retirment anyway... bigger checks!!!!

When I claimed my SS at 66, my disabled son's benefits stayed exactly the same. They're completely separate. But I got really confused because there's DAC benefits and then there's also SSI which has different rules entirely and I kept mixing them up when talking to the representatives. Make sure you're clear about which benefit type your stepchild receives when you speak with them. The terminology gets so confusing sometimes!

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I filed for my retirement benefits at 66. My stepson receives DAC benefits from his deceased father's record, and I was terrified that my filing would somehow mess up his payments. I called SSA multiple times and got different answers each time, which made me even more anxious. The good news is that absolutely nothing changed with his DAC benefits when I claimed my own retirement. His monthly payment stayed exactly the same and continued to be based on his father's earnings record. The SSA representative who finally gave me the correct information explained that DAC benefits are "locked in" to the original parent's record and won't switch or be affected by a stepparent's retirement filing. One tip: when you do call SSA, be very specific that you're asking about DAC survivor benefits, not regular disability benefits. I found that being precise with the terminology helped me get more accurate answers. Good luck with your planning!

I'm new to navigating Social Security benefits and this discussion has been incredibly helpful! My spouse passed away last year and I'm trying to understand all the different benefit options available. Reading through everyone's experiences here has clarified so much about how DAC benefits work. One question I have - several people mentioned widow's benefits as an option to consider before retirement age. Are there income limits or other restrictions on widow's benefits that might affect eligibility? I'm still working full-time and want to make sure I understand all my options before making any decisions. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA phone system!

I'm sorry for your loss and understand your concern about planning ahead for your family's financial security. From my experience working with families in similar situations, your stepchild's DAC benefits will absolutely remain on your deceased husband's record when you file for your own retirement benefits. These are completely separate entitlements that don't interact with each other. What's particularly important to understand is that DAC benefits are survivor benefits, not dependent benefits. Once established on a deceased parent's record, they stay there permanently unless the beneficiary loses eligibility due to marriage, earnings above SGA, or medical improvement that removes their disability status. I'd also echo the suggestion about looking into widow's benefits. At 63, you could potentially file for reduced widow's benefits now (if you haven't already) while allowing your own retirement benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70. This strategy often maximizes lifetime benefits, but it depends on your specific earnings history and current financial needs. Consider speaking with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning to run the numbers for your particular situation.

I'm a newcomer to this community and found this discussion incredibly informative as I'm facing a similar situation. My husband passed away two years ago, and we have a disabled adult son who receives DAC benefits based on his father's record. I've been so anxious about how my eventual retirement filing might affect his benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here has been tremendously reassuring. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's real-world experiences have been - in every case shared here, the DAC benefits remained unchanged when the surviving spouse filed for retirement. It's also eye-opening to learn about the distinction between DAC survivor benefits versus regular disability benefits, and how important it is to use the correct terminology when speaking with SSA representatives. I'm particularly grateful for the suggestions about widow's benefits and working with a Social Security specialist. Like many of you, I've struggled with the SSA phone system and gotten conflicting information, so having these community insights and professional resources to explore gives me a much clearer path forward. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it's made navigating this complex system feel much less overwhelming.