What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland.
My husband and I have been married for 10 yrs. After the first year of marriage and the birth of our daughter, we went to social security to add her and myself. I also have twin daughters that are from a previous relationship. At the time of adding my daughter and myself, I asked if step children could receive benefits and was told no by the representative. That was in 2000.
After reading on the internet that step children qualify I asked Social Security again about my daughters and the answer was no. This was in 2004 when my other daughter was born.
Just recently (May 2010) my husband and I went to the local social security to fix a payee problem and again asked about step children and was told no they do not receive benefits. I then told the woman what I read on the computer and she told me that she has been doing her job for a long time and she knows what she is doing. Arrogant, to say the least.
I just recently applied for my daughter (who is not my husbands) for SS for her mental illness and was told that she may be able to receive benefits, but they would deduct what she was receiving from my husbands benefits. Meaning whatever she received was be minus the money she was receiving off of my husbands benefits. Puzzled I asked the representative what she meant and she informed me that my children should have been receiving benefits for the last 9 yrs!!
I even told her that I was constantly told no and she said that the info was wrong. So my question is, once I add them am I out of luck for any back pay money? Or do I just add them and forget what I was told for the last 9 1/2 years? I have been told many different things from friends and family, like get a lawyer, but I don't know what to do. Incidentally I went back to the local office, the same where I was told no and by a different worker, who looked right on the computer, and was told yes they do qualify and was given an appointment to add them.
So ultimately my question is, "Do I contact a lawyer?" or just let it go?
Thank you.
My husband and I have been married for 10 yrs. After the first year of marriage and the birth of our daughter, we went to social security to add her and myself. I also have twin daughters that are from a previous relationship. At the time of adding my daughter and myself, I asked if step children could receive benefits and was told no by the representative. That was in 2000.
After reading on the internet that step children qualify I asked Social Security again about my daughters and the answer was no. This was in 2004 when my other daughter was born.
Just recently (May 2010) my husband and I went to the local social security to fix a payee problem and again asked about step children and was told no they do not receive benefits. I then told the woman what I read on the computer and she told me that she has been doing her job for a long time and she knows what she is doing. Arrogant, to say the least.
I just recently applied for my daughter (who is not my husbands) for SS for her mental illness and was told that she may be able to receive benefits, but they would deduct what she was receiving from my husbands benefits. Meaning whatever she received was be minus the money she was receiving off of my husbands benefits. Puzzled I asked the representative what she meant and she informed me that my children should have been receiving benefits for the last 9 yrs!!
I even told her that I was constantly told no and she said that the info was wrong. So my question is, once I add them am I out of luck for any back pay money? Or do I just add them and forget what I was told for the last 9 1/2 years? I have been told many different things from friends and family, like get a lawyer, but I don't know what to do. Incidentally I went back to the local office, the same where I was told no and by a different worker, who looked right on the computer, and was told yes they do qualify and was given an appointment to add them.
So ultimately my question is, "Do I contact a lawyer?" or just let it go?
Thank you.
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