SSDI Back Pay Split Between Children

[messfunkt]

Hello,

I followed up on my father's case for disability after he passed away last year and during that process it was asked how many children he had. He had had two other children to a different mother whom I did not know growing up, and whose information I could not find. Because of this, the SSA split the money three ways and told me that if I could not find any information about them that two-thirds of it would be held indefinitely. Upon receiving notice that I'd be paid a third of it, I contacted the SSA and asked about whether or not my half-brother and sister had perhaps been found, as I'd like to get in touch with them. She said she didn't know and that the case was still pending. I asked about what would happen to the money and she said she thought it would go to me after a certain length of time (if they could not be found) but she said she wasn't sure.

I'm wondering if there is a length of time that goes by before the SSA decides to "give up" on a search (or if they even search at all) and whether or not it is even worth trying to pursue the other two-thirds of the money. In the end, I'm not as concerned about the money itself as making sure it does not just sit with the SSA when it was originally due to my late father. Any advice or insight is much appreciated.

[Janke]

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0202301060

Look at B.3.b second bullet. Looks like you have to prove your unknown siblings are deceased before it can be redistributed to you.