I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it might help. I just went through a similar situation with my disability benefits review that took 3+ months. What finally worked for me was using the "Contact Us" feature in my online SSA account rather than calling. I was able to submit a message asking for a status update on my application, and they responded within 5 business days with specific information about what was causing the delay. It turned out they needed additional documentation from one of my previous employers, but for some reason that request never made it to me. Once I provided what they needed, my case was processed within 2 weeks. The online messaging system seems to be more reliable than phone calls right now, and you get a written record of all communications. Might be worth trying that route alongside calling - sometimes multiple touchpoints help move things along faster.

I'm sorry to hear about the stress you're dealing with - waiting months without communication from SSA is incredibly frustrating! I wanted to add another perspective based on what I've seen in this community. You mentioned your application was straightforward, which is actually good news. Sometimes the simplest cases get delayed not because there's a problem, but because they get deprioritized in favor of more complex cases that require immediate attention. It's backwards, but that's how the system sometimes works. One thing I'd suggest is documenting everything from this point forward - dates you call, who you speak with, what they tell you. If there are any issues with your payment timing later, having that documentation can be really helpful. Also, don't be afraid to escalate if the first person you talk to can't give you specific answers. Ask to speak with a supervisor if needed. The February payment date is still achievable if they process your application in the next couple of weeks, so there's still hope you won't experience any payment delays. Keep us posted on what you find out when you contact them!

That's great news! Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit, and get the name of any representatives you speak with. If you run into any issues, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a technical expert or supervisor who might be more familiar with the secondary evidence rules. Good luck with your application!

That's wonderful news Miguel! I'm so glad you got this sorted out quickly. Your situation is actually pretty common - many people from older marriages run into this exact issue where the ceremony happened but the paperwork wasn't filed properly. The fact that your divorce decree acknowledges the marriage date and duration is really the key piece here. For anyone else reading this thread with similar concerns, Miguel's experience shows that SSA does have processes in place to handle these situations. The secondary evidence route with forms SSA-754 and supporting documentation like tax returns really does work. Thanks for updating us on how it went!

Congrats on your citizenship, Malik! 🎉 I actually work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate government services, and I see this question a lot. Here are the key things to know: **Essential documents you'll need:** - Your Certificate of Naturalization (make photocopies, never send original!) - Current ID (driver's license or state ID) - Your Social Security card if you have it **Best strategy for calling:** - Call 1-800-772-1213 right at 8:00 AM in your time zone - Have all your info ready: SSN, full name, DOB, current address - Tell them: "I need to update my citizenship status in my Social Security record" **What to expect:** - They'll verify your identity first - You'll likely need to complete Form SS-5 and mail it with document copies - The whole process usually takes 2-4 weeks once you submit everything **Pro tip:** If you can't get through by phone, some local SSA offices are accepting walk-ins again. Check ssa.gov for your local office hours - sometimes it's actually faster than waiting on hold! The anxiety is totally normal, but this is a routine update they handle all the time. You've already done the hard part by becoming a citizen - this is just paperwork! Good luck! 💪

Hey Malik! Huge congrats on becoming a US citizen! 🎉🇺🇸 I just went through this exact process about 3 months ago, so it's still fresh in my memory. Here's what worked for me: **Getting through on the phone:** - Call 1-800-772-1213 at exactly 8:00 AM (set an alarm!) - I got through in about 12 minutes on a Thursday morning - Have your SSN, DOB, and current address ready **What the rep will do:** - Verify your identity with basic info - Ask about your citizenship status change - Send you Form SS-5 and a checklist of required documents **Documents I sent:** - Photocopy of my naturalization certificate (front and back) - Photocopy of driver's license - Completed SS-5 form **Timeline for me:** - Phone call: Day 1 - Received forms in mail: Day 5 - Mailed documents back: Day 7 - Got confirmation letter: Day 21 - Received new Social Security card: Day 28 The whole process was actually way less stressful than I expected! The SSA rep was really patient and helpful. Just remember to NEVER send your original naturalization certificate - photocopies are perfectly fine and that's what they prefer anyway. You've got this! The hardest part (becoming a citizen) is already done! 💪

As a newcomer to this community who just received approval for SSDI with my 9-year-old son eligible for CIB benefits, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly helpful discussion! Reading through all these experiences has completely eased my anxiety about managing his benefits properly. Like so many others here, I was panicking about needing to create some complex system to split every household expense proportionally. Learning that I can use his benefits for specific categories like groceries, utilities, his clothing, and activities while covering rent from my SSDI makes this so much more practical and manageable. The advice about keeping simple records with a monthly spreadsheet tracking broad categories is perfect - organized enough to meet requirements without being overwhelming. And it's such a relief to know that his tennis lessons and coding classes would be appropriate expenses since they support his physical and educational development. One question I have - when setting up that separate account for his benefits that some mentioned, should it be a regular checking account or is there a specific type of account recommended for representative payee situations? I want to make sure I'm following best practices from the start. This community has been invaluable in making what seemed like an impossible bureaucratic process feel actually doable. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's also new to navigating SSDI and CIB benefits, this entire discussion has been incredibly reassuring. I'm currently waiting for my decision with my 6-year-old daughter who would be eligible for benefits, and like everyone else here, I was completely overwhelmed thinking about the accounting requirements. The clarity that you can use your child's benefits for specific expense categories rather than splitting every bill proportionally is such a relief! I'm planning to follow the approach many have mentioned - using her benefits for groceries, utilities, her clothing and activities while covering rent from my SSDI. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed - what about medical expenses that aren't fully covered by insurance? Things like copays, prescription medications, or therapy sessions? I assume these would be appropriate uses of her benefits since they're directly for her health needs, but I want to make sure I understand correctly. Thank you all for sharing such practical, real-world advice. It's made this process feel so much more manageable than the confusing SSA pamphlets suggested!

I'm also navigating this system for the first time and feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and options! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm curious - for those of you who have successfully applied for ex-spousal benefits while on SSDI, how long did it take for the additional amount to show up in your payments? And did you have to submit any additional paperwork after the initial application, or was it pretty much a one-and-done process once approved? I'm trying to get a realistic timeline in my head for what to expect if I decide to move forward with this.

Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - I've been on SSDI for about 5 years and will be turning 62 next year. My marriage lasted 11 years before we divorced, and I've been single ever since. One thing that hasn't been mentioned much is the impact on taxes. Since I'm already close to the income threshold where Social Security benefits become taxable, I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the additional amount from ex-spousal benefits would push me into owing taxes on my Social Security income? Right now I don't pay federal taxes on my SSDI, but I'm worried that extra income might change that. Also, has anyone had experience with this when your ex-spouse lives in a different state? I know mine moved to Texas about 10 years ago, but I'm not sure if that complicates the application process at all. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - it's making this whole process seem much less intimidating!