I've been through this exact nightmare with my brother. The DAC benefits are worth fighting for though. Have you followed up with the congressional office recently? They can request something called a "congressional inquiry status report" which forces SSA to provide updates. In our case, we found out the application was just sitting on someone's desk for MONTHS with no action. Also, don't forget to ask about retroactive benefits. Since your application has been pending for a year, they should backpay from the application date. Make sure they don't try to reset the clock because of their error!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare. As someone who works with disability advocates, I've seen the "deceased" error cause massive delays because it corrupts multiple database entries that need to be manually corrected across different SSA systems. A few additional suggestions beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Request a "case summary printout" from SSA showing all actions taken on your daughter's file since the original application. This will help you identify where exactly the process stalled. 2. Ask specifically if the DAC application is in "pending status" or if it needs to be resubmitted due to the death record error. Sometimes these errors require starting over completely. 3. Contact your state's Protection & Advocacy organization - they specialize in disability rights and often have direct contacts within SSA who can expedite complex cases like yours. 4. Document everything with timestamps. Create a log of every phone call, letter, and interaction. This becomes crucial evidence if you need to escalate further. The fact that your daughter has 33 years of established SSI history should work in your favor - there's no question about her disability status. The holdup is likely purely administrative at this point. Hang in there. These cases do eventually get resolved, especially with congressional pressure.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share some additional insights. The confusion here highlights why it's so important to get accurate information directly from SSA. From what I understand, the key rule is that for divorced spouse survivor benefits, you generally cannot receive them if you remarried before age 60 (unless you were disabled and remarried after age 50). Since you remarried at 54 and weren't disabled, you likely don't qualify for survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record. However, don't give up hope entirely - there can sometimes be nuances in individual cases that only a trained SSA representative can evaluate. When you call, definitely ask specifically about "divorced spouse survivor benefits" and mention your remarriage age. Also consider that even if you don't qualify for survivor benefits, you may still have good options with your own retirement benefits or future spousal benefits on your current husband's record when he becomes eligible.

As someone who's also navigating the complexities of Social Security rules, I wanted to chime in with some encouragement. This thread really shows how confusing these regulations can be - even knowledgeable community members are giving conflicting advice! From what I've gathered reading through everyone's responses, it seems like the consensus is that remarrying at 54 (without being disabled) likely disqualifies you from survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record. But I agree with others that you absolutely need to get this confirmed directly from SSA. One tip I learned from dealing with government agencies: when you call, write down the name and employee ID of whoever you speak with, plus the date and time. That way if you get conflicting information later, you have a record. Also, don't be afraid to call back and speak to a different representative if the first answer doesn't seem right - consistency across multiple calls can give you more confidence in the information. Wishing you the best of luck getting through to them!

Hey Mateo! I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the SSA main number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) and kept pressing 0 to get to a human. It took several tries, but I eventually got through to someone who walked me through the new verification process. They can do identity verification over the phone now using a series of questions about your credit history and past addresses. Also, make sure you have your most recent SSA statement handy - they'll ask for specific info from it. Don't give up! The system is messy right now but there are ways through it.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's been such a headache since they stopped using ID.me. I tried calling multiple times but kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Reading through these comments, I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy and see if I can get the phone verification process. Also thinking about reaching out to my congressperson's office like Giovanni suggested - didn't even know that was an option. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's helpful to know I'm not alone in this mess!

Welcome to this community! I'm new here but wanted to share what I learned when helping my sister navigate a similar situation. One thing that really helped her was getting a personalized benefit estimate from SSA that showed her projected benefits under different scenarios - claiming at 62 vs 67, her own record vs ex-spouse benefits, etc. You can request this through your mySocialSecurity account or by calling SSA directly. Also, since you mentioned financial struggles, you might want to look into whether you qualify for any state or local assistance programs for people in your age group - things like utility assistance, food programs, or even job training grants that could help you increase your current income while you're waiting to claim benefits. Every little bit helps when you're planning for the future!

Hi Amina! As someone who went through a similar divorce situation at 54, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me. First, definitely create that mySocialSecurity account everyone mentioned - it's a game-changer for planning. But also consider this: since you're 56 now, you might want to explore if there are any career re-entry programs in your area specifically for women returning to work after divorce. Many community colleges and workforce development centers offer these, sometimes with financial assistance. Also, if you haven't already, consider consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in divorce recovery - they can help you create a comprehensive strategy that looks at all your options together, not just Social Security. The investment in professional advice often pays for itself in better decision-making. You've got 11 years to optimize your situation before full retirement age, which is actually a decent runway if you approach it strategically!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I tried calling SSA this morning but couldn't get through after waiting for over an hour. I'll try again tomorrow and might try that Claimyr service if I can't get through. I'm still working and have decent income, so I'm not worried about my own benefits, but it bothers me if he's getting something he's not entitled to. I'll update once I learn more about what's actually going on.

Just wanted to add some perspective from someone who works in benefits administration - this situation is actually more common than you might think. SSA processes millions of claims and sometimes errors do slip through, especially with complex eligibility rules like divorced spouse benefits. When you do get through to them, be prepared with specific information: your ex-husband's full name, approximate date he started receiving benefits, and the fact that he remarried before age 60 while still married. Also, don't be surprised if the first representative you speak with needs to transfer you to someone more specialized - divorced spouse benefit rules are tricky and not all front-line staff are fully trained on them. The good news is that once you report a potential issue, they take it seriously and will investigate thoroughly.