Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation a few years ago. I was a CalPERS retiree with only 23 quarters of Social Security coverage, and like you, I initially got zero spousal benefits due to GPO. However, I'd strongly recommend following up on what @698cf40d106d and @e25bcdc944e7 mentioned about verifying if your CalPERS service is actually subject to GPO. This is crucial! If you worked in a position where Social Security taxes WERE deducted from your pay (which did happen for some California state positions, especially in later years), then GPO wouldn't apply to you at all. I spent months assuming I got nothing, only to discover later that a portion of my state service was actually covered by Social Security. It took some digging through old records, but I was eventually able to claim a reduced spousal benefit. Don't give up just yet - get a complete earnings statement from SSA and verify with CalPERS exactly which years (if any) had Social Security coverage. The rules are complex, but it's worth double-checking before you close the book on this!

@71c79734e414 You're absolutely right to pursue this further! California state employment had some complex Social Security coverage rules over the decades. Many CalPERS members are surprised to learn that certain positions or time periods were actually covered by Social Security. Here's what I'd recommend for your verification process: 1. Request a detailed Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov - this will show ALL earnings where SS taxes were paid, year by year 2. Contact CalPERS member services and ask specifically about Social Security coverage for your positions and employment dates 3. If you still have any old pay stubs from different years, check if OASDI (Social Security) taxes were deducted The key thing to remember is that if ANY portion of your government service was covered by Social Security, it changes the GPO calculation significantly. Even partial coverage could result in you receiving some spousal benefits rather than zero. Given that you worked 35 years (1985-2020), there's a real possibility that at least some of those years included Social Security coverage. California made various changes to state employee Social Security participation over that time period, so don't assume it was all non-covered employment. Keep us posted on what you find out - your situation could help other CalPERS retirees who might be in similar circumstances!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone new to the community who's just starting to research Social Security retirement benefits, I'm amazed by the depth of practical knowledge everyone has shared here. I'm particularly grateful for the clarification about the monthly earnings test in the first year versus the annual test in subsequent years - that's such a crucial distinction that isn't clearly explained on the SSA website. The specific examples of how even working a few days in January can push you over the monthly limit and delay benefits by a full month really drives home how important that December 31st cutoff date is. I also appreciate everyone mentioning the related considerations like Medicare enrollment timing, COBRA coverage, year-end bonus/vacation payouts, and 401(k) decisions. It's clear that retiring involves coordinating so many different moving pieces beyond just the Social Security application itself. For those still planning their retirement, this thread shows how valuable it is to start researching these details well in advance rather than waiting until the last minute. The complexity of the earnings test rules and payment timing really requires careful planning to avoid costly mistakes. Thanks to everyone who shared their personal experiences and expertise - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes all the difference when navigating these important decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience everyone has shared in this thread! The distinction between the monthly earnings test in your first year of retirement versus the annual test in subsequent years is something I had never heard explained so clearly anywhere else. What really stands out to me is how the December 31st retirement date strategy can literally save someone an entire month of benefits. At a typical Social Security payment amount, that could be $1,500-$3,000+ that you'd lose just from working a few extra days in January. The stakes are much higher than I realized! I'm also taking notes on all the additional considerations mentioned here - Medicare coordination, COBRA timing, final paycheck scheduling, 401(k) decisions, etc. It's clear that successful retirement requires orchestrating multiple government and employer systems simultaneously, not just focusing on Social Security alone. For anyone else reading this thread who's planning retirement, I'd echo what others have said about starting this research early. The complexity of these rules and the potential financial impact of small timing mistakes really requires careful advance planning. This community discussion has been more valuable than hours of trying to navigate the official SSA website! Thanks to everyone who shared their personal experiences and expertise - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes a real difference when making these important life decisions.

Just went through this exact same situation with my husband last year! One thing that really helped us was setting up automatic transfers from our savings to checking to cover that first month gap. Since you know she won't get her first SS payment until May 2026 even though benefits start in April, you can plan ahead financially. We moved one month's worth of "expected SS income" from savings about 6 weeks before his first benefit month just to smooth out our cash flow. Also, make sure to keep all the paperwork from her application - we needed to reference the confirmation numbers a few times when checking status online. The whole process went much smoother than we expected once we understood the timeline!

One thing that helped me when I started collecting benefits was to download the SSA's mobile app too. It lets you check your payment status and account info on the go, which was really convenient during those first few months when I was constantly wondering if everything was processing correctly. Also, if your wife is planning to work part-time after starting benefits, she might want to consider having her employer withhold federal taxes from her Social Security payments (you can request this on Form W-4V). Up to 85% of SS benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income, and it's easier to have it withheld than to owe a big tax bill at the end of the year. The combination of part-time work income plus Social Security can sometimes push people into a higher tax bracket than they expect.

As a newcomer to this community and someone who just started navigating SSDI, I want to express how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I'm receiving delayed payments from work I completed before becoming disabled, and the level of detailed, practical advice shared here is remarkable. What strikes me most is how this thread demonstrates that while SSA's communication can be inconsistent and confusing, there are clear best practices that work across different types of delayed payment situations. Whether it's real estate commissions, insurance renewals, consulting fees, or freelance work, the core strategy remains the same: immediate reporting with comprehensive documentation that clearly establishes when the actual work was performed versus when payment is received. The practical tips shared here - creating disability timelines, using specific language like "payment for work completed before disability onset," keeping detailed logs of SSA communications, and seeking third-party verification when possible - provide a concrete roadmap for handling these anxiety-provoking situations. For Anna and anyone else dealing with delayed commissions or similar payments, this community has shown that transparency and thorough documentation are your best protection. The fear of accidentally jeopardizing benefits is completely understandable, but being proactive rather than reactive is clearly the safest approach. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative environment. This is exactly the kind of peer support that makes navigating complex SSDI challenges much more manageable!

As someone new to both SSDI and this community, I'm amazed by how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I'm currently facing a very similar situation - I've been on SSDI for about 3 months due to fibromyalgia, and I'm still receiving payments from a consulting contract I completed in late 2022, well before my condition became disabling. Reading through everyone's experiences has transformed what felt like an overwhelming and scary situation into something much more manageable. The consistency in advice across so many different types of delayed payments (real estate, insurance, freelance work, book royalties) really reinforces that there's a proven approach that works. I'm particularly grateful for the specific language suggestions like "payment received for work completed before disability onset" - having that clear phrasing takes the guesswork out of how to communicate with SSA. The idea of creating a disability timeline to visually map when work was done versus when payments are received is brilliant and something I'm implementing immediately. What gives me the most confidence is seeing how many community members have successfully navigated these situations by being proactive and transparent. Anna, your original question has sparked such a valuable resource for anyone dealing with delayed payments while on SSDI. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes all the difference when dealing with these complex benefit issues!

As someone who's also new to this process, I wanted to share what I learned from my research after reading all these experiences. According to the official Medicare.gov website, when you have employer coverage past age 65, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period that starts the month after your employment ends OR your group health coverage ends (whichever comes first). What really helped me understand this better was realizing that the SSA retirement application and Medicare enrollment can absolutely be coordinated - they're designed to work together. The key seems to be clear communication about your timeline in that remarks section. For anyone else feeling overwhelmed by this (like I was!), I found it helpful to write out my timeline on paper first: when I turn 65, when my employer coverage ends, when I want Medicare to start, when I want SS benefits to start. Having it all mapped out made it much clearer what to request in the application. This community has been such a great resource for understanding the real-world aspects that the official websites don't always explain clearly!

As someone completely new to this whole Social Security and Medicare maze, this discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm still about 10 years away from having to deal with any of this myself, but I'm already feeling anxious about navigating these systems when the time comes. What strikes me most is how the official government resources seem to leave out so many of these practical details that everyone's sharing here. Like the fact that you can coordinate SS retirement and Medicare enrollment in one application, or the importance of being super specific in that remarks section about your timing preferences. These are the kinds of real-world tips that make all the difference! I'm definitely bookmarking this entire thread for future reference. It's also making me realize I should probably start educating myself about these processes well before I actually need them, rather than scrambling to figure it all out at the last minute like it sounds like many people do. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - both good and bad - it's given me a much clearer picture of what to expect and how to prepare!