When the Benefits You Deserve Feel Out of Reach — How a Financial Advocate Can Change Everything

Earlier this year, I worked with a client, who is near and dear to me, on helping her work through what we thought would be just paperwork to move her late husband’s monthly pension to her spousal benefit.

Before his passing, they had called multiple times and were told everything was set and she would receive this benefit. After his passing, she received a packet (confusing in itself). We submitted all the information to transfer this monthly benefit into her name, and all signs pointed toward a smooth approval for monthly benefits and health insurance coverage.

Then came the silence. Weeks passed with no letter, no call, no confirmation.

And when the call finally came, the news was contradictory to say the least. In one phone call, whether or not she would receive the benefit flip-flopped back and forth. 

Ultimately ending on  — the benefits were denied.

The denial wasn’t just unexpected; it was baffling. The agency admitted that paperwork from over a decade ago — the very forms that secured the client’s eligibility — had been received but never processed. 

Their conclusion? There was no “correctable error,” and the decision stood.

Already navigating grief and significant life changes, this was more than a setback. It was a moment when financial stability and healthcare security seemed to slip away instantly.

When it hit the year mark, I could tell that continuing to pursue this seemed almost impossible to her. On our end, we were able to handle the appeal and be the primary contact so that she would not have to reach out to check in on the status or push to make sure her case wasn’t falling to the back burner.

Why Having a Partner Matters

This is where our work together became more than numbers or forms. My role shifted into full-on advocacy:

• Documenting Every Step: Every conversation, date, promise, and follow-up was documented so nothing could be disputed later.

• Navigating the Maze: We connected with multiple departments, escalated the issue to legal, and met every appeal deadline — no matter how short.

• Translating Complexity: We translated the dense, technical letters into plain language so she understood exactly what was happening and what came next.

• Persistence, Not Pressure: We stayed professional but unrelenting, ensuring the case remained active instead of buried.

After more than a year of persistence — dozens of calls, letters, and follow-ups — the appeal was won. 

The agency reversed its decision, reinstating full monthly benefits and health insurance.

When I called her to share the news, there was a long pause on the other end of the line. Honestly, this had been going on for so long, and we were told incorrect information multiple times. We were hesitant to believe this was the outcome until the letter laying out everything arrived. 

Processes like this can feel impossible to navigate alone. Even with the correct paperwork, people can get caught in cycles of delay and contradiction. That’s why having a financial partner isn’t just about planning for the future — it’s about having someone on your team, with the time and expertise to help you navigate unexpected circumstances, with you or entirely on your behalf, enabling you to continue your day-to-day life.

Challenges like these remind me that sometimes the true value we bring to each other is simply being there—steady, present, and willing to navigate the maze together.

Leah