MAPLE PARK, Ill. (CBS) — Five years now after the disappearance of a 26-year-old DeKalb County man – and almost two years since a court declared him dead – his mother says she is fighting to keep Social Security death benefits for her son’s young daughter.

Brad Olsen, then 28, vanished on Jan. 19, 2007. He had gone to Bar One, at 1000 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, but didn’t leave with his friends who joined him, according to published reports.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports

As WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports, at first, Susan Olsen was looking for Brad to come home. Then she just hoped to recover his body.

That search – the fight to find out what happened to Brad – is still going on after five years.

“It’s gotten to be kind of a way of life for me,” Susan Olsen said.

Then there is the issue of getting Social Security death benefits for Brad Olsen’s young daughter. It was battle Susan Olsen thought the family had won in the fall of 2010. That is, up until a few weeks ago.

“They basically sent us all these – I call them nasty letters – saying they were reconsidering this,” Susan Olsen said, “that they may take the benefits away from us.”

Susan Olsen says she is expecting to hear from the Social Security Administration any day now.

DeKalb Police say they are still getting tips on Brad Olsen – and they’re investigating some now.