As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently going through the Social Security application process myself and was already feeling anxious about understanding all the payment details. Reading everyone's real experiences about prorated first payments has been such a huge relief - I had no idea this was completely normal SSA procedure and would have definitely panicked seeing different amounts in my approval letter. The detailed explanations about how benefits are paid in arrears, the birth date payment schedule, and how partial months work have been more informative than anything I've found in official SSA resources. It's really disappointing that such basic information isn't clearly communicated in their approval letters - even just one sentence explaining prorated payments could save so many people from unnecessary stress and worry. This community has already shown itself to be an amazing resource for understanding the real-world experience of navigating these complex government systems. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and helping newcomers like me feel more prepared and confident about what to expect!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I discovered this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently in the middle of my Social Security application process and was already feeling overwhelmed by all the confusing paperwork and terminology. Reading through everyone's real experiences about prorated first payments has been such an eye-opener - I had absolutely no clue this was standard practice and would have definitely been alarmed seeing different payment amounts in my approval letter. The detailed explanations about benefits being paid in arrears and the birth date payment schedule system are exactly the kind of practical information that seems impossible to find anywhere in official SSA materials. It's really frustrating that something so basic isn't clearly explained in their communications - just adding one simple sentence about prorated first payments could prevent so much unnecessary anxiety for applicants. This community has already proven to be an invaluable resource for understanding what actually happens in the real world when dealing with these government systems. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly and helping newcomers like me feel much more prepared and confident about navigating this complex process!

I went through this exact situation with my two kids when I claimed at 62 three years ago. Here's what actually happened in practice: The SSA calculated my family maximum based on my PIA (full retirement benefit), which was about 175% of that amount. But since I claimed early, both my benefit AND my kids' benefits were reduced proportionally. Each child got 50% of my reduced benefit, not 50% of my PIA. One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you apply for your children's benefits at the same time you apply for yours. They can't get retroactive benefits beyond when you first became eligible, so don't delay their applications thinking you can add them later. Also, keep detailed records of your son's medical expenses. While it won't affect the SS calculations, you might need documentation later for other assistance programs or tax purposes. I wish someone had told me this earlier. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first payment, and yes, the kids' benefits do automatically stop when they turn 18 (19 if still in high school). SSA sends you a notice about 3 months before it happens, so you'll have time to plan for the income reduction. Given your timeline with your kids aging out before your FRA, claiming early probably makes the most financial sense for your family's immediate needs.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation - turning 62 next year with a 13-year-old daughter. One question that hasn't been addressed yet: if I claim early retirement benefits and my daughter receives dependent benefits, what happens if I decide to go back to work full-time later? I understand about the earnings test reducing benefits temporarily, but I'm wondering if there are any other implications. For example, if I return to substantial work, does that affect the calculation of my daughter's benefits going forward, or do they remain based on my original reduced benefit amount? Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where the non-custodial parent later becomes eligible for higher benefits? I'm wondering if my daughter could potentially switch to receiving benefits based on her father's record if his benefits end up being higher than mine. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information that's impossible to get from the SSA phone lines!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm completely new to receiving SSDI (just got approved a few weeks ago and still waiting for my first payment) and I had absolutely no idea that banking issues could cause this kind of terrifying display problem with the benefit verification letter. Reading about everyone's experiences with seeing that $0 and immediately panicking has been both educational and anxiety-provoking - I can only imagine how devastating that moment must be when you depend on these benefits as your primary income source. The fact that SSA's system shows $0 instead of something clear like "Payment Suspended - Banking Issue" really seems like such an unnecessary design flaw that causes trauma to already vulnerable people. I'm definitely taking notes on all the practical advice shared here: setting up Direct Express as a backup payment method before I even need it, keeping documentation of any banking changes, understanding that payment processing is separate from benefit eligibility, and knowing about immediate payment options for emergencies. It's honestly shocking that I'm learning these crucial details from a community forum instead of getting clear guidance from SSA during the application process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and helped turn what could be a future panic situation into something manageable with the right knowledge. This thread should seriously be part of SSA's official new recipient orientation materials!

This entire thread has been such an education for me as someone who's been receiving SSDI for about 8 months now! I had absolutely no clue that banking issues could cause the benefit verification letter to show $0 - that would have sent me into a complete tailspin without this context. What really strikes me is how many people have described the exact same sequence: bank account closure → payment rejection → $0 on verification letter → total panic → eventual relief when they learn it's just a system display issue. This seems like such a predictable pattern that SSA could easily address with better communication design. I'm blown away by how much practical knowledge has been shared here - things like setting up Direct Express as backup, keeping bank closure documentation, asking about immediate payments for emergencies, and understanding that eligibility determination is completely separate from payment method in their system. These are the kinds of crucial details that should be standard information for all benefit recipients, not something we have to discover through community forums during crisis moments. The fact that SSA's system shows that terrifying $0 instead of something descriptive like "Payment Hold - Banking Issue" really feels like a design choice that maximizes anxiety for people who are already in vulnerable situations. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is honestly more valuable than anything on SSA's official website for understanding how their systems actually work in real-world situations!

I'm in almost the identical situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed my Social Security application about 10 days ago and it's still showing "in progress," but after reading everyone's experiences and doing my own calculations, I realize waiting until my FRA at 67 would give me approximately $325 more per month for life. What really struck me was the consistent advice from everyone who's actually been through this process - the distinction between withdrawing a pending application versus using your one-time withdrawal after receiving benefits is crucial, and it sounds like withdrawing before any payments are issued typically doesn't count against that precious one-time limit. I'm planning to follow the proven approach outlined throughout this thread: Form SSA-521 with an extremely clear cover letter stating "requesting immediate cancellation of pending retirement application that has not been approved or issued any benefit payments - this is NOT a request to exercise my one-time withdrawal option," send via certified mail, and follow up with a call in 2 weeks. The tip about calling ahead to put a note on your file is brilliant - I'm definitely doing that tomorrow before mailing my package. With my $325 monthly difference, that's potentially $78,000+ more over a 20+ year retirement, which makes this decision easy if I can manage without the income for now. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community has created the definitive guide for navigating this complex process! It's amazing how much confidence comes from hearing so many successful stories from people in our exact situation.

I'm facing this exact same situation right now! Filed my Social Security retirement application about 2 weeks ago and it's still showing "in progress," but after reading through all these incredibly detailed experiences, I'm convinced that withdrawing to wait until my FRA at 67 is the right financial decision. Like so many others here, I was terrified about accidentally using up my one-time withdrawal option, but the consistent message from everyone who's actually been through this process is so reassuring. The distinction between withdrawing a PENDING application (before any payments) versus using your actual one-time withdrawal after receiving benefits is crucial, and it sounds like the former typically doesn't count against that precious one-time limit. My calculations show waiting those extra 2 years would give me about $312 more per month for life - that's over $74,000 additional over a 20+ year retirement! Definitely worth the wait if I can manage financially without the benefits right now. I'm planning to follow the proven approach that's worked for everyone: Form SSA-521 with a crystal-clear cover letter stating "requesting immediate cancellation of pending retirement application that has not been approved or issued any benefit payments - this is NOT a request to exercise my one-time withdrawal option," send via certified mail, and make that smart proactive call to put a note on my file before mailing. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - it's transformed a scary, confusing process into a clear action plan. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and created this amazing resource for people in our situation!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience as someone who successfully navigated a similar representative payee dispute. My situation involved my nephew's SSI benefits that his mother was misusing - I was able to become his payee despite not having custody. The key thing that made the difference was having my nephew (he was 16 at the time) provide a detailed written statement to SSA about specific instances where he needed basic items but was told there was "no money" despite knowing the benefits were coming in monthly. At 17, your son's testimony will carry even more weight. I also discovered that requesting an "expedited review for potential beneficiary exploitation" gets much faster attention than a standard payee change request. When I used that language, SSA scheduled an interview within two weeks instead of months. One thing that really helped my case was documenting the pattern of me having to supplement his needs with my own limited income - it showed genuine concern for his welfare versus someone who might just want control of the funds. The fact that you're on SSDI but still sending money for your son's necessities actually strengthens your position. Since time is limited with your son turning 18 soon, I'd suggest filing both the SSA-623 AND requesting an immediate accounting of how benefits have been spent over the past 7 months. Even if the payee change takes time, the accounting request puts your ex on notice and might prevent further misuse. Your son's financial future is absolutely worth this fight. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - that $8,750+ deserves protection, and any existing savings need to be preserved for his transition to adulthood.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement as someone who works in disability advocacy. Reading through this thread, it's clear you have a much stronger case than you might realize, and the advice you've received here is excellent. What strikes me most is how organized and documented your approach has become through this conversation. The combination of your son's text messages, your supplemental spending records, and his age (17) creates a compelling narrative for SSA. Many parents in your situation give up too early, but you're absolutely right to pursue this. One additional suggestion: when you have your son write his statement, encourage him to be very specific about amounts and timeframes. Instead of "Dad wouldn't buy me clothes," something like "On [date], I asked Dad for $50 for winter clothes since mine were too small, and he said the SSI money was already spent on bills, so Mom had to send me money instead." That level of detail is powerful. Also, don't underestimate the psychological impact of simply filing these complaints. Even if your ex doesn't know the specific details of your case, the fact that SSA is now scrutinizing his payee performance often leads to immediate changes in behavior. The money might start being used more appropriately just because he knows someone is watching. Your determination to protect your son's financial future - especially while managing your own disability challenges - is admirable. That $8,750+ at stake, plus any accumulated savings, absolutely justifies this effort. Your son will benefit from having a parent who fought for his rights, regardless of the final outcome. Keep pushing forward with those forms and stay organized. You're doing everything right.