Social security so sloow on Survivor Benefits

[mousefan73]

I have googled this and have not found any information. So I was wondering if any of you have had this experience. My father passed away beginning of March and his death was reported immediately to Social security and also his benefits were then stopped right away. The thing is my mother is having issue with spousal benefits. everywhere I read it says automatic as she was already claiming spouse and now needs survivor. but yet it’s been almost 4 months. We have tried numerous times of contacting Social security and have not had a response. We cannot get through on the phone. Emails are not answered. Is this normal? what is the average time for spousal benefits to change to survivor benefits? everywhere I read online it says automatic. What is their definition of automatic, a half a year, a year this is starting to get ridiculous.

I can understand disability taking a while to process as things need to get approved but I would assume that if one is already claiming on another record and the cause of death is confirmed there should not be much to do.

 

[Kellykins1218]

When my ex-husband passed away and I signed up for benefits for our son, he started receiving it within a matter of weeks. If I were you, I'd take your mother to your local Social Security office and speak to someone about it. Any time we've had an issue with his benefits or my other son's disability benefits, they've been able to straighten it out right away.

 

[barkley]

When my ex-husband passed away and I signed up for benefits for our son, he started receiving it within a matter of weeks. If I were you, I'd take your mother to your local Social Security office and speak to someone about it. Any time we've had an issue with his benefits or my other son's disability benefits, they've been able to straighten it out right away.

i agree with going to a local office. sometimes seeing someone face to face at social security is what it takes to get things straightened out. that said-even if you've already provided it take a certified copy of your dh's death certificate and try to avoid going on a monday (ANY monday) or during the first week of the month (it's always a madhouse). it's also best to get there first thing in the morning (our local office will have a line at the door and down the side of the building from about 30 minutes prior to opening each day).

 

[disneyhand]

After my Father passed away, we pretty much had problems of some sort with every agency we had to deal with. For instance with Social Security we found out months after Dad's death that they had made Mom dead too. She wasn't. They blamed the bank and the bank blamed them. She had to go down in person with identification, to prove she was alive.

 

[barkley]

After my Father passed away, we pretty much had problems of some sort with every agency we had to deal with. For instance with Social Security we found out months after Dad's death that they had made Mom dead too. She wasn't. They blamed the bank and the bank blamed them. She had to go down in person with identification, to prove she was alive.

i'm SO sorry you had to deal with this.

i supervised a medicaid unit for dshs and recall an adult child/legal guardian calling me in tears of frustration b/c social security had 'killed' his elderly mother on their system which meant not only no check but no funds from medicare for nursing care AND it effectively killed her on the medicaid system as well. i went round and round w/social security on the woman's behalf with them saying she had to appear in person. the thing was-she was 101 and comatose so no way that was going to happen. the nursing home had been patient on non payment but with the issue entering it's third month of nonpayment they were telling the son he had to find alternate care ss did'nt care that the son had all the legal documents showing he could act on mom's behalf and if given an appointment had arranged with the nursing center to get same day notarized verification of her 'live status'. it was a nightmare.

 

[mousefan73]

Yeah we would go in. It’s just a 2-3 hr trip. I need to speak with my mom.

 

[Skippy918]

When Fil died, Mil had to make an appointment at the SS office to get the paperwork for survivor benefits processed. The appt was 3 months after he died, but she was paid retroactively from the date of his death.

 

[marybet]

My husband found that the best time to call SS was when they first opened in the morning, he always got through with a very short wait time. Worth another try before you make a long tip. Good luck.

 

[disneyhand]

i'm SO sorry you had to deal with this.

i supervised a medicaid unit for dshs and recall an adult child/legal guardian calling me in tears of frustration b/c social security had 'killed' his elderly mother on their system which meant not only no check but no funds from medicare for nursing care AND it effectively killed her on the medicaid system as well. i went round and round w/social security on the woman's behalf with them saying she had to appear in person. the thing was-she was 101 and comatose so no way that was going to happen. the nursing home had been patient on non payment but with the issue entering it's third month of nonpayment they were telling the son he had to find alternate care ss did'nt care that the son had all the legal documents showing he could act on mom's behalf and if given an appointment had arranged with the nursing center to get same day notarized verification of her 'live status'. it was a nightmare.

That sounds like a nightmare situation. Helping our elderly with these type of issues can be so frustrating at our level, can't imagine how those that are alone navigate it all. My mom was only 92 at the time and though physically challenged, we were able to get her there. Thought that was rough but 101 years old and comatose is a whole different story. I feel for her son! Thank you

 

[okeydokey]

It's worth a drive in. Government offices are very short staffed these days.

 

[luvbwv]

I called SS on Wednesday to find out how to apply for survivor benefits for myself. After listening to a bunch of options the recording said something like all operators were busy so please call back, it went on to say the busiest times were at the beginning of the week and the beginning of the month, so try a different time. My call was not placed at the beginning of a week or month so I called back. I went through a bunch of options again but I think I answered them differently because I was given the option to wait 45 minutes or receive a call back in 1 hour. I chose the call back. I did receive a call in about 50 minutes.
Try calling back until you get the option to get a call back, hopefully you will get things taken care of.

 

[mousefan73]

I called SS on Wednesday to find out how to apply for survivor benefits for myself. After listening to a bunch of options the recording said something like all operators were busy so please call back, it went on to say the busiest times were at the beginning of the week and the beginning of the month, so try a different time. My call was not placed at the beginning of a week or month so I called back. I went through a bunch of options again but I think I answered them differently because I was given the option to wait 45 minutes or receive a call back in 1 hour. I chose the call back. I did receive a call in about 50 minutes.
Try calling back until you get the option to get a call back, hopefully you will get things taken care of.

My condonlences.... yeah we will try again.

 

[mousefan73]

i'm SO sorry you had to deal with this.

i supervised a medicaid unit for dshs and recall an adult child/legal guardian calling me in tears of frustration b/c social security had 'killed' his elderly mother on their system which meant not only no check but no funds from medicare for nursing care AND it effectively killed her on the medicaid system as well. i went round and round w/social security on the woman's behalf with them saying she had to appear in person. the thing was-she was 101 and comatose so no way that was going to happen. the nursing home had been patient on non payment but with the issue entering it's third month of nonpayment they were telling the son he had to find alternate care ss did'nt care that the son had all the legal documents showing he could act on mom's behalf and if given an appointment had arranged with the nursing center to get same day notarized verification of her 'live status'. it was a nightmare.

That is just horrible.. scary thing is after trying to find answers online, i read so many of these stories. One widow was running out of cash and the processing was taking so long.. they told her to apply for county support, foodstamps... ridiculous.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah we would go in. It’s just a 2-3 hr trip. I need to speak with my mom.

Doesn't matter. Go the night before it you need, to be first in line.

Actually, as suggested above, call as soon as the phone lines open. Make an appointment. Still go to the SS office as soon as possible; be ready to wait. This is advice I got (and followed) from the callback person. He told me to expect to wait 2-3 hours, but by being first in line, thus the first non-appointment person seen, I was out in 45 minutes.

 

[laurafergie]

Call your nearest Social Security Office and make an appointment. These are the instructions and the 2 forms you need. (4 links)

Read carefully and bring all the supporting documentation that is listed. It is better to bring too much than not enough. If you do not bring the supporting documentation, they will stop and not do anything and the trip and waiting time will be wasted. Always deal face to face with the Social Security Administration and for that matter, the Veterans Administration also.

Form SSA-10 | Information You Need to Apply for Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Divorced Spouse's Benefits and the FORM

Form SSA-8 | Information You Need To Apply For Lump Sum Death Benefit and the FORM

 

[tvguy]

When my MIL's husband passed, I took her to the Social Security office. He died on May 24th, so it was after that, but she had her survivors benefits June 1st. It was very quick, but it was not automatic.

 

[manning]

After my Father passed away, we pretty much had problems of some sort with every agency we had to deal with. For instance with Social Security we found out months after Dad's death that they had made Mom dead too. She wasn't. They blamed the bank and the bank blamed them. She had to go down in person with identification, to prove she was alive.

I'm amazed they didn't looked at her and said "we can't talk to you, you're dead. It says so here.'

 

[DenMig]

My father passed away on April 22nd. Our first call to social security our funeral director made with my mom, myself, and siblings there in late May. They took some basic info and set up a phone interview with her at 1:15 on June 21st (today). They called at 1:15 on the dot. They are sending her something she has to complete to finish the process but she needs a marriage certificate in addition to the death certificate.