I'm in a somewhat similar situation - worked in Japan for about 4 years in the early 2000s and recently started looking into their pension system. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling much more confident about pursuing it despite the WEP implications. What really helped me was actually calling SSA and speaking with someone who specializes in international benefits (took a few transfers to get to the right person). They were able to pull up my earnings record and give me a rough estimate of what my WEP reduction would look like based on my substantial earnings years. One thing I learned that might help others: if you're close to the 30-year threshold for substantial earnings, it might be worth checking if any of your foreign work years can count toward US Social Security through totalization agreements. In some cases, this can bump you over the threshold and eliminate WEP entirely. For anyone struggling with the phone system at SSA (it can be brutal), I found that calling right at 8 AM Eastern when they open gave me the shortest wait times. The international benefits specialists seem to have more availability in the morning hours. The bottom line from my research: unless you have very few years of US Social Security coverage, you'll almost certainly come out ahead financially by claiming both pensions, even with WEP applied.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a French pension from my years working in Paris. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I wanted to add a few points that might help: First, regarding the UK specifically - they have a pretty user-friendly online system for checking your National Insurance record and estimated pension amount. You can get a good sense of what you're entitled to before even starting the formal application process. Second, I learned the hard way that currency fluctuations can be significant over time. My French pension has varied between $180-240 per month just based on EUR/USD exchange rates over the past two years. It's worth factoring this volatility into your calculations, especially for long-term planning. One practical tip: I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking my total monthly income (SS + foreign pension) after the WEP reduction was applied. Even with the reduction and currency swings, I'm still ahead by $150-200 monthly compared to just Social Security alone. The paperwork is definitely annoying and you'll be dealing with bureaucracy in two countries, but don't let that scare you off. The extra income has been worth the hassle. Just make sure to report everything properly to SSA from day one - the penalties for not reporting foreign pensions can be severe, and it's really not worth the risk. If you're on the fence, I'd say apply for the UK pension. Worst case, you can always decline it if the numbers don't work out in your favor after running the actual calculations.

Thanks everyone for the great information! I was definitely overthinking this. I'll stop worrying about the 2024 earnings not showing up yet. Does anyone know if I should be checking my earnings record for accuracy every year? I've never really paid attention to it before now that retirement is getting closer.

Great advice from everyone here! I'm in a similar situation preparing for retirement. One thing I'd add - if you do find any discrepancies when checking your earnings record, make sure to keep copies of your W-2s and tax returns as documentation. I learned this the hard way when I had to prove earnings from a job 15 years ago and had to track down old records. The SSA will accept various forms of proof including pay stubs, tax returns, and employer records, but having your own copies makes the process much smoother.

Maya, I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly frustrating situation! Reading through your story and all these responses has me absolutely furious on your behalf - 7 months after full repayment is completely unacceptable and frankly outrageous. What really stands out to me is how many people here have experienced similar bureaucratic nightmares with SSA, which shows this isn't just a one-off problem but a systemic issue with their withdrawal processing. It's clear your file has fallen into some kind of administrative black hole, likely sitting in an electronic queue assigned to someone who's out on leave or waiting for a supervisor signature that never comes. The advice you've gotten here is excellent - especially the multi-pronged approach of visiting your local office in person, sending a certified letter, and getting your Congressional representative involved. The fact that congressional inquiries force a mandatory 30-day response could be exactly the leverage you need to break this logjam. When you go to your local office, be armed with all the specific terminology people have shared: request an "urgent case review" with a "Post-Entitlement Technical Expert," ask for a "critical hardship" flag due to financial impact, and demand they do a "case status inquiry" right there while you wait. Don't leave without speaking to a supervisor and getting concrete answers about WHERE your file is and WHAT specific steps will happen next. You've been far too patient already - it's time to stop accepting "it's still processing" and start demanding the action you deserve. Your survivor benefits should have started months ago, and you're entitled to substantial backpay when this nightmare finally ends. Keep fighting!

Maya, I'm so incredibly sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare on top of losing your husband. Seven months with no resolution after you've already paid back everything is absolutely unacceptable and frankly disgraceful on SSA's part. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the excellent advice you've received here, and it's clear you need to take immediate aggressive action. The fact that so many people have experienced similar delays shows this is a systemic problem with SSA's withdrawal processing system. Based on everything I've read, here's what I think you should do this week: 1) Go to your local SSA office in person with ALL your documentation and refuse to leave without speaking to a supervisor about an "urgent case review" - use the specific terminology people have shared about requesting a "Post-Entitlement Technical Expert" and asking for a "case status inquiry" done right there while you wait, 2) Request a "critical hardship flag" on your case due to the financial impact of this delay, and 3) If the local office doesn't produce immediate results, contact your Congressional representative's constituent services office for a congressional inquiry - the mandatory 30-day response time could be exactly what you need to break this logjam. You've been incredibly patient, but 7 months is beyond reasonable. Your file is likely stuck in some electronic queue or assigned to someone who's on leave with no backup coverage. Don't accept any more "it's still processing" responses - demand specific answers about WHERE your file is and WHAT needs to happen for immediate resolution. When this finally gets resolved, make sure you get every penny of retroactive survivor benefits you're entitled to. You shouldn't have had to wait a single day longer than necessary, let alone 7 months. Keep fighting - you deserve those benefits and the peace of mind that comes with them!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! Just to summarize what I've learned: 1) We will each get our full benefits based on our own work records, 2) There's no family maximum that applies to our situation, 3) We might want to consider staggered filing with my husband claiming now and me waiting, 4) We should double-check our benefit estimates with SSA directly. This has been incredibly helpful as we plan for retirement!

Great question! As others have confirmed, you'll each receive your full individual benefits - no family maximum applies when both spouses have their own work records. I'm in a similar boat (both my spouse and I worked full careers) and we each get exactly what our statements projected. One tip: since there's an age gap between you two, definitely explore the timing strategy others mentioned. Your husband could file now while you wait until 70 to maximize your benefit with delayed retirement credits. That extra 8% per year from your FRA to 70 could really add up over time, plus it increases the survivor benefit for whichever of you lives longer. The SSA website has some good calculators to help you model different scenarios!

I went through this same situation just 4 months ago with my 14-year-old son when I filed for early retirement at 62. The confusion you experienced is unfortunately very common - I got three different answers from three different SSA reps! Here's what I learned after finally getting it sorted out: You can absolutely file for your daughter's auxiliary benefits RIGHT NOW. Don't wait another day. I filed my son's application just 8 days after my retirement application, and both benefits started the same month with no issues. The magic words when you call are "I need to file for child auxiliary benefits under my pending retirement claim." This seems to get you connected to reps who actually understand the process. I also recommend going in person if possible - the online system for child benefits can be glitchy. For documentation, bring: her certified birth certificate, school enrollment records, your ID, and since mom isn't in the picture, any custody documents or a notarized statement about sole custody. I also brought utility bills showing she lives with me. One thing that really surprised me: my son's benefit is calculated on what my FULL retirement age benefit would be (not my reduced early retirement amount), so it's actually higher than I expected. The family maximum still applies, but it's definitely worth getting the ball rolling immediately. Don't let that confusing initial conversation cost you money - file this week while you're still in that protective 6-month window everyone keeps mentioning!

I just want to add my experience from going through this exact process 8 months ago when I filed for early retirement at 62 with my 16-year-old daughter. The confusion you're experiencing is SO common - I actually had to speak with 4 different SSA reps before getting consistent information! Here's what finally worked for me: I called the main SSA number and specifically said "I need to file auxiliary benefits for my minor child under my pending retirement application." This got me transferred to someone who immediately understood what I needed and confirmed I could file right away - no waiting period required. I ended up going to my local SSA office in person, which I highly recommend. I brought my daughter's certified birth certificate, current school enrollment records, my driver's license, and custody documentation (her father wasn't involved either). The entire process took about 40 minutes, and they were able to link her application directly to mine in their computer system. Both of our benefits started the same month, and I'm so glad I didn't wait. Her monthly benefit ended up being almost exactly 50% of what my full retirement age amount would have been, even though I took early retirement. The key is not letting that initial confusing conversation delay you any further - you're still well within the protective filing timeframe, but every day you wait is a day you could potentially lose. File her application this week!