The Transition Times

Anybody ever heard of a web site that has “hours of operation”?

Check out the right hand column — http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/

Of course, I only noticed this because I was trying to access it after hours.

Since I haven’t written on Social Security for a while . . . I applied for disabled widow benefits shortly after Lew’s benefits were cut off in June.  I tried to wait patiently, knowing it takes quite a while.

When I hadn’t heard from them, on January 4th, I called to sign up for just plain widow’s benefits (since I was then qualified).  After 45 minutes on hold, I found out that there was a note in my file, if my application for disability was denied, they would automatically process the widow benefits.  Cool. I sat back and waited.

Day 180 was approaching.  It says all over everywhere that I would hear from them within 180 days.  So, when Day 180 arrived, I checked the mailbox hourly.  Okay, I would be patient for a few more days for the mail.  This just had to be a good sign.  If I had been turned down, they would have told me so a long time ago.

Day 182, the phone rang.  My paperwork was too old to process, we had to start over.  They mailed me the forms giving them permission to get my doctors’ records.

So, of course, it dawned on me — they weren’t going to process my paperwork for widow’s benefits unless they declined my disability application.  Another six months?  And how long after that?  I called Social Security.  They made a telephone appointment for me three weeks away.

A few days later — Do I really need an appointment to apply for widow’s benefits? I called Social Security.  They took my application right then over the phone.  When I asked them to cancel my telephone appointment, they said I should keep it so I could get an update on the status of my disability application.

On appointment day, they called a half hour early.  Fortunately, I had gotten up early and my brain was awake.  They interviewed me for widow’s benefits, again!  Sigh. At least this time, the interviewer was able to tell me the amount my benefit would be and when I could expect my check.  Yay!

The day the check was to be direct deposited . . . A week later, I called Social Security.  “They’re calculating the amount of your payment.”  But they already told me over the phone!

A month later, I got a letter in the mail telling me to expect a letter in the mail.

Four days later, I got a letter in the mail!  I had been approved for disabled widow’s benefits! Yay! My first payment would include the last three months that I was qualified to receive.  Double Yay!

The day the check was to be direct deposited . . . Its now a week later.