As someone completely new to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible wealth of practical advice in this thread! @Hannah White, your situation sounds incredibly frustrating, but you've really struck gold finding this community - the collective wisdom here is remarkable. I wanted to add one more potential resource that helped a family member of mine: many local libraries have "digital navigator" programs where staff can help people with exactly these kinds of government website and authentication issues. They're often more familiar with workarounds than you'd expect, and it's a free service that many people don't know about. Also, regarding the Congressional representative route that so many people have mentioned - I can confirm this really works! I helped my grandmother use this service for a Medicare issue last year, and what had been months of frustration was resolved in just a few days. The fact that you've persisted through 7+ hours of documented hold time shows incredible determination. Between all the strategies shared here - the Congressional office, specific phone menu paths, field office visits, mail verification, and even that three-way call option - you now have such a comprehensive toolkit to work with. Really hoping one of these community-tested approaches breaks through for you soon. This thread is going to be a lifesaver for anyone else facing similar SSA challenges!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the amazing support and practical solutions everyone has shared here! @Hannah White, I can only imagine how frustrating your situation must be - spending 7+ hours on hold and being stuck in that authentication catch-22 is absolutely maddening. What really stands out to me reading through this thread is how many alternative pathways exist that most people would never think to try. The Congressional representative option that @Ruby Garcia and others mentioned seems like an absolute game-changer - I had no idea this was even available for federal agency issues! It's incredible how this community knowledge fills in gaps that official websites never address. I'm also struck by all the specific technical advice about phone menu navigation and timing strategies. Having those exact steps laid out makes the whole process feel so much more manageable than just randomly calling and hoping for the best. Given all the excellent strategies shared here, I'd suggest maybe trying a few approaches in parallel - for example, you could reach out to your Congressional representative's office while also starting the mail verification process as a backup. That way you're not waiting for one method to fail before trying the next. Your persistence through this bureaucratic nightmare is truly admirable, and with this incredible toolkit of community-tested solutions, I'm optimistic you'll break through soon. Thank you for starting such a valuable discussion - this thread is going to help so many people facing similar challenges!

I went through something very similar when I was 63! The confusion around what counts as "earned income" for Social Security purposes is really common. Everyone here is absolutely right - annuity payments are considered unearned income and won't affect your Social Security benefits at all. The earnings limit only applies to wages from employment or net self-employment income. Since you're just 2 months away from your FRA, you're almost home free anyway! At that point, the earnings test disappears completely and you can have unlimited income from any source without any benefit reductions. One thing I'd suggest is keeping good records of your annuity payments for tax purposes, even though they don't count toward the earnings limit. As someone else mentioned, they could affect the taxability of your Social Security benefits depending on your total income. But that's a separate issue from the earnings test you were worried about. Hang in there - you're so close to FRA and then all these worries will be behind you!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who works in retirement planning - everyone here is absolutely correct that annuity payments do NOT count toward the Social Security earnings limit. The confusion is totally understandable because the SSA's terminology around "earned" vs "unearned" income isn't always crystal clear. The earnings test specifically targets income from active work - W-2 wages, 1099-NEC payments, or net self-employment earnings. Your annuity is considered "unearned income" along with things like pensions, IRA distributions, investment dividends, rental income, etc. None of these affect your Social Security benefits under the earnings test. Since you're only 2 months from FRA, you're practically in the clear anyway! At that point, you could literally win the lottery and it wouldn't impact your SS benefits. The earnings test completely disappears at full retirement age. One small tip: when you do call SSA (whether through regular channels or that Claimyr service someone mentioned), have your annuity contract handy. Sometimes it helps to clarify exactly what type of annuity you have (immediate vs deferred, etc.) just to be thorough, though the answer will be the same regardless. Congratulations on being so close to FRA - you've made it through the trickiest part of the earnings test rules!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say thank you for asking such an important and well-thought-out question! I'm 57 and my wife is 55, so we're a few years away from these decisions but already starting to plan our Social Security strategy. What's been absolutely incredible about this discussion is seeing so many consistent real-world experiences from people like Josef, Charity, and Carmen who actually received those enhanced survivor benefits. Before reading this thread, I was getting mixed information from various sources, but having multiple people confirm they received the FULL amount their spouse was getting at death (not just the FRA amount) really validates this approach. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips that emerged - the Claimyr service for reaching SSA, setting up my Social Security accounts early, the importance of annual earnings record checks, and understanding timelines like the 30-day reporting requirement. These are exactly the operational details you need but don't always think to research ahead of time. Your strategy of delaying to 70 while considering both your immediate needs and your wife's long-term financial security seems very sound based on all the evidence shared here. It's encouraging to see someone planning so thoughtfully for both scenarios. This discussion has given me much more confidence about our own future planning - thank you for starting such a valuable conversation!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive discussion! I'm 59 and my husband is 62, so we're right in the middle of trying to figure out our Social Security timing strategy. What gives me the most confidence is seeing all the consistent real-world experiences from Josef, Charity, Carmen, and others who actually went through the survivor benefit process and confirmed they received the full enhanced amounts from delayed claiming. Before finding this thread, I was getting so much conflicting advice from friends and online articles, but having multiple people with firsthand experience validate that this strategy actually works as intended is incredibly reassuring. I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips that came up naturally throughout this conversation - the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA (since their phone lines are impossible), setting up our my Social Security accounts to track benefits, and those important timelines like the 30-day reporting requirement. These are exactly the kinds of operational details you need to know but don't always think to research upfront. Your approach of optimizing for both your immediate retirement security AND your wife's long-term survivor benefits shows such thoughtful planning. It's clear this strategy benefits both of you, which makes the decision to wait until 70 even more compelling. Thank you for asking this question - it's helped so many of us newcomers feel more confident about our own Social Security planning decisions!

I work for a disability advocacy organization and see these situations frequently. One critical point I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also inquire about the "month of entitlement" for your CIC benefits. Since your ex-spouse took early retirement at 58, your CIC benefits should begin the same month your son's DAC benefits became effective, assuming you were providing care at that time. However, there's often confusion about the "application month" versus "entitlement month." Make sure to emphasize when you call SSA that you've been continuously providing care since before your son's DAC benefits began. This distinction could affect your backpay significantly. Also, I'd strongly recommend getting any verbal promises or information from SSA representatives in writing. Ask them to send you a letter confirming your eligibility determination and benefit amount before your first payment. This prevents disputes later and gives you documentation if you need to appeal any decisions. One more thing - if you encounter resistance from SSA staff who seem unfamiliar with CIC benefits for disabled adult children, you can reference Program Operations Manual System (POMS) section RS 00203.001, which specifically covers mother's and father's benefits. Sometimes citing the specific regulation helps representatives understand what you're requesting. You've clearly been an exceptional caregiver, and the system should work for you, not against you. Keep advocating for yourself - you've earned these benefits through 15 years of dedication.

Based on my experience working with families in similar situations, the typical timeline from application to first payment is usually 4-6 weeks for CIC benefits when the underlying DAC benefits are already established. Since your son is already receiving DAC benefits, SSA doesn't need to make a new disability determination - they just need to verify your caregiving relationship and process your auxiliary benefit claim. However, this timeline can vary significantly depending on your local office's workload and whether any complications arise. In my experience, the cases that process most smoothly are ones where the applicant comes prepared with all documentation and can clearly articulate their ongoing caregiving role. A few additional timeline considerations: - If you establish a protective filing date by phone first, your benefits will be backdated to that date even if the formal application takes several weeks to complete - The first payment often includes the lump sum backpay, which can be substantial if you're entitled to several months of retroactive benefits - If there are any questions about your caregiving documentation, they may request additional evidence, which can add 2-4 weeks to the process For financial planning during the transition, I'd recommend assuming it could take up to 8 weeks just to be safe, especially if you're planning to reduce work hours during the application process. The backpay should help bridge any income gap once it arrives. One final suggestion - consider reaching out to your local Area Agency on Aging or disability resource center. Many have benefits counselors who can provide free assistance with SSA applications and might even accompany you to appointments. Having an advocate familiar with the system can really streamline the process.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive and reassuring discussion! I'm currently helping my 24-year-old cousin who receives DAC benefits, and we just faced this exact same panic when she received a settlement from a medical malpractice case. Like so many others here, we initially got terrifying advice from a local benefits counselor who insisted she'd need to "spend down" the settlement money immediately or lose her DAC benefits. We were scrambling to figure out how to quickly use $18,000 "appropriately" when I found this thread and realized we'd been given completely wrong information. It's such a relief to understand that DAC benefits fall under Title II (SSDI) and have absolutely NO asset limits! My cousin can keep her settlement without any impact on her monthly payments. The widespread confusion between SSI rules (with the $2,000 limit) and DAC/SSDI rules is honestly shocking, especially when it's coming from people who are supposed to be helping families navigate these systems. What really stands out reading through all these experiences is how universal this problem seems to be - almost everyone here has a story about getting incorrect advice from SSA employees, benefit counselors, or other professionals who mix up these program rules. It's frightening how confidently wrong information gets delivered by people in official positions. The practical suggestions throughout this discussion have been invaluable - especially about ABLE accounts and the Claimyr service. I'm definitely going to help my cousin set up an ABLE account for extra protection with state benefits, and I'll be recommending this community to other families dealing with similar confusion. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where real families can share accurate information and help each other avoid unnecessary financial panic. This thread is truly a lifesaver!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my 22-year-old sister who receives DAC benefits, and we recently went through the same panic when she received a car accident settlement. A caseworker at our local SSA office told us she'd have to report it and might lose benefits if it exceeded certain limits. We were terrified and started looking into ways to quickly spend the money before I found this thread and learned that was completely wrong advice! It's such a relief to understand that DAC benefits are Title II (SSDI) with NO asset limits whatsoever. My sister can keep her settlement without any impact on her monthly payments. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like this confusion between SSI and DAC/SSDI rules is incredibly common - even among SSA employees themselves! What strikes me most is how many families here have similar stories about getting incorrect information from official sources. It's honestly scary how confidently wrong advice can be given by people who should know these distinctions. The ABLE account suggestions throughout this thread are really helpful too. Even though it's not required for DAC benefits, it sounds like great additional protection for any state benefits. I'm definitely going to help my sister set one up. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences so openly - this community is clearly providing the accurate guidance that official channels often fail to deliver. I'll be recommending this resource to other families dealing with similar confusion!