One important clarification about dependent grandchildren: SSA has specific requirements about the status of the natural parents. Generally, for a grandchild to qualify: - Both parents must be deceased or disabled, OR - You must have legal adoption, OR - You must have legal guardianship AND prove the child was dependent on you Since you have legal guardianship, you'll need to address the status of the biological parents. For the unknown father, SSA will likely require some documentation stating he's not in the picture (your guardianship papers may cover this). For the mother, having court documents showing she's legally barred from contact will help your case. When you apply, bring: 1. Your grandson's birth certificate 2. Legal guardianship papers 3. Court orders regarding the biological mother 4. Any documentation about the unknown father 5. Proof of living arrangements (school records, medical records, etc.) 6. Proof of financial support (tax returns, expense records) Applying at your local SSA office in person is usually more effective for complex cases like this.

I work as a benefits advocate and see these cases regularly. Your grandson should absolutely qualify based on what you've described. The key factors working in your favor are: 1. You've had legal guardianship since birth (well before your husband's disability) 2. You've provided 100% financial support 3. The biological parents are effectively out of the picture legally A few practical tips from my experience: - When you apply, emphasize the TIMELINE - that your grandson was living with and dependent on you BEFORE your husband became disabled in 2022 - Bring bank statements or receipts showing you paid for his expenses (medical, school, clothing, etc.) - If you have any old tax returns where you claimed him as a dependent, those are gold - Consider bringing a letter from his school or doctor confirming your role as his guardians The process can take a few months, but with your documentation it should go smoothly. And yes, you should get some retroactive benefits - likely 6 months back from your application date, possibly more depending on when SSA determines he became eligible. Don't let the horror stories discourage you. Well-documented cases like yours get approved more often than not.

I'm brand new to this community and just created an account specifically because of this thread! I've been searching everywhere for my husband's PIA for the past month to help with our retirement planning, and I was starting to think I was just terrible at navigating websites. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it's clear that SSA's website is just fundamentally broken for this basic need. The collective advice here is incredible - I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday afternoon calling strategy from @Caleb Stark and request the complete earnings and benefit computation record that @Amina Bah suggested. It's absolutely mind-boggling that in 2025 we need to become experts at gaming phone systems and knowing secret phrases just to access our own information! But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually share practical solutions. Thank you all for documenting your real experiences - you've just saved me weeks of frustration and given me a clear action plan!

I'm completely new to this community but had to join after stumbling across this thread while desperately searching for the same PIA information! I've been going in circles on the MySocialSecurity website for my own retirement planning and was starting to feel like I was losing my mind. It's such a relief to discover that literally everyone here has faced this exact same frustration - the website truly is useless for displaying this critical information. Reading through all the shared experiences and solutions has been incredibly valuable. I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday afternoon calling strategy that @Caleb Stark mentioned, and requesting the complete earnings and benefit computation record from @Amina Bah sounds like the smartest approach to get all the details in one shot. That Claimyr service @NeonNebula mentioned also sounds intriguing if it can really cut those awful hold times. It's absolutely ridiculous that in 2025 we need to become experts at timing phone calls and knowing exactly what phrases to use just to access our own basic benefits information. But thank you all for sharing these real-world workarounds - this community provides exactly the practical guidance that the official SSA resources completely fail to deliver!

I'm sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through something very similar when my mother passed away last year. The good news is that it really doesn't matter which office you choose - all SSA field offices process forms the same way and have access to the same national system. What I'd recommend is calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and asking which office was handling your father's benefits originally. While any office can process your SSA-1724, sending it to the office that already has his file can sometimes be slightly more efficient. A few practical tips from my experience: - Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery - Keep copies of everything you send - Include a brief cover letter with your contact info - Follow up after 2 weeks to confirm receipt The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for me from submission to completion. Your 2-month timeline since his passing is completely normal - don't feel rushed. Most families take several months to get everything organized, and the SSA understands this. Make sure you have a certified copy of the death certificate (not the original) and all your identification documents ready. You're doing everything right, and this will get resolved. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jasmine. I went through this exact situation when my stepfather passed away about a year ago, and I completely understand the stress of trying to figure out the best approach while dealing with grief. The consensus here is absolutely correct - any of the three offices can process your SSA-1724, and they all use the same national system. What made the biggest difference for me was calling the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) first to find out which office had been handling his benefits. They can tell you this information right away, and while it's not required to send it there, it can potentially save a few days since they already have his file accessible. I also want to echo what others have said about the online submission option through your my Social Security account. If you can set one up (or already have one), submitting digitally is often much faster than mail and you don't have to worry about documents getting lost. You can upload scanned copies of required documents directly. Your timeline is completely normal - I took almost 3 months to get everything together, so don't feel like you're behind. The most important thing is having all your documentation complete rather than rushing to pick the "perfect" office. Missing paperwork causes much longer delays than office choice ever could. You're handling a difficult situation really well. Take it one step at a time, and don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions if you need clarification on anything.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this overwhelming situation. My mom went through something very similar when my dad needed nursing home care for his stroke recovery. What I learned is that you need to understand the difference between Social Security spousal benefits (which you probably won't qualify for since your $1,740 is already more than 50% of his $2,450) and Medicaid spousal impoverishment protections, which are completely separate and designed exactly for your situation. When we applied for Medicaid, they calculated something called the MMMNA (Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance) - basically the minimum income you're allowed to keep to cover your basic living expenses. If your income falls below that threshold, you can keep a portion of your husband's Social Security to bring you up to that level. With your high mortgage payment of $1,850, you'll likely qualify for an "excess shelter allowance" on top of the basic MMMNA, which could significantly increase how much you're allowed to keep. The process took about 3 months for us, but it was worth it - my mom was able to keep about $600/month of dad's Social Security check to help with the house payments. Start the Medicaid application process immediately while you're setting up other consultations, and make sure to ask specifically for a caseworker who handles "spousal impoverishment assessments." Document everything and don't let anyone tell you there's nothing available - these protections exist specifically for situations like yours!

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation with your husband's care. As someone who works in eldercare benefits counseling, I want to emphasize what others have said about Medicaid spousal protections being separate from Social Security rules. You're absolutely right that you won't qualify for additional SS spousal benefits since your $1,740 exceeds 50% of his $2,450 benefit. However, Ohio has strong spousal impoverishment protections that could help significantly. With your mortgage at $1,850/month, you'll likely qualify for the excess shelter allowance above the standard MMMNA. In Ohio, I've seen community spouses with similar housing costs able to retain $500-800 monthly from their spouse's Social Security. One critical tip: when you apply for Medicaid, request the "MM-1" form specifically - this is Ohio's spousal impoverishment calculation worksheet. Many intake workers don't automatically provide it, but it's essential for documenting your shelter costs and getting the maximum allowance. Also, Ohio allows "spousal income first" policies in some counties, which can be more favorable than the standard calculation. Ask your elder law attorney about this option. You're taking all the right steps - this process is complex but the protections are real and can make a substantial difference in your financial stability.

As a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate seeing all this detailed information about Social Security strategies! I'm 58 and starting to think about my own retirement planning. One thing I'm wondering about from reading this discussion - @Keisha Taylor, have you considered getting a personalized Social Security statement from the SSA website? It should show your projected benefits at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70) which might help with your number-crunching. Also, I've heard that some people benefit from working with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization. With the complexity of spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and timing strategies that everyone has mentioned, it might be worth the consultation fee to get a personalized analysis of your specific situation. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this has been really educational for someone just starting to navigate these decisions!

As someone new to this community and currently navigating Social Security decisions myself, I want to echo what others have said about the complexity of these choices. @Keisha Taylor, your situation really highlights how important it is to understand all the moving parts. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might want to create a my Social Security account on ssa.gov if you haven't already. Beyond just showing your projected benefits, you can also use their online calculators to model different claiming scenarios. There's a retirement estimator that lets you input different retirement dates and see how your benefits change. Also, given that you're a teacher, make sure you're aware of any potential impact from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO) if you have a pension from work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes. These rules can significantly affect Social Security benefits for government employees, though they may not apply to your specific teaching position. The advice about consulting with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security is spot-on. With the amounts you're dealing with and the long-term implications for both you and your husband, even a few hundred dollars for professional guidance could save you thousands over your lifetime. Best of luck with your decision!