Shadetree, are you a US citizen (since pre 1996) that has been in the US since then, no prison, and are not talking about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ? If so I am interested to know this issue as I am not familiar. I do know there as some exceptions (listed a few above) that may have applied to you situation
Your Social Security statement has all the answers. Read it. https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/statement.html
That's like telling someone to read his bank statement if he has an income tax issue... I guess the accountants I paid have no idea what they are talking about. Also, you're a douchebag.