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just wondering, has ur sister checked if shes eligible for any of her late husbands Medicare?? my aunt got Medicare at 62 thru her deceased husbands benefits even tho normal Medicare age is 65. might help with her health issues
This is partially correct but needs clarification. Widow(er)s can qualify for Medicare before 65 ONLY if they also qualify for Social Security disability benefits themselves. It's not automatically available to all widows at 62. However, if the sister's disability claim is approved, she would get Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI regardless of her age.
WARNING ABOUT SURVIVORS BENEFITS! If your sister gets a job while collecting early survivors benefits (before her FRA), she'll be subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) and could lose some benefits if she earns over that amount. This trips up so many people! Also, make sure she applies for the one-time $255 death benefit if she hasn't already. It's not much but every bit helps in this situation.
Thanks for mentioning the death benefit - we did apply for that right after the funeral. And good point about the earnings limit. She's not planning to work due to her health issues, but it's definitely something to keep in mind if her situation changes.
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My uncle was a state worker and my aunt couldn't get his SS either, something about the windfall provision I think? But she got his pension so it worked out ok. Good luck!
Just to avoid confusion: State workers who don't pay into Social Security don't earn Social Security benefits, so there are no SS benefits to claim from them. That's different from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which reduces your own SS benefits if you also receive a pension from non-covered work. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces spousal/survivor benefits if you receive a pension from non-covered work. But in the original poster's case, if she's not receiving a pension from her third husband's state work, these provisions likely don't apply to her.
After reading through all the comments, I think your situation is actually more straightforward than it might seem. Since you were married to your first husband for more than 10 years before divorcing, and you'll be 60 when applying, you should be eligible for survivor benefits on his record now that he's deceased. The fact that you later married other people doesn't affect this eligibility since you're over 60 now. When you contact SSA, ask specifically about 'surviving divorced spouse benefits.' Also, make sure to compare this amount with what you might get on your own record when you reach 62, as you can switch to whichever is higher later.
Thank you so much for this clear explanation. I'll specifically ask about 'surviving divorced spouse benefits' when I contact them. It's a relief to know that my later marriages don't complicate my eligibility since I'm turning 60. I truly appreciate everyone's help!
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Didn't the full repeal of WEP and GPO pass Congress? I thought I read that somewhere... now I'm confused because everyone is saying only WEP changed. Can someone clarify what actually passed and what didn't?
No, a full repeal did not pass. What passed was a modification to the WEP calculation formula only. It reduces the penalty for many people affected by WEP, but doesn't eliminate it entirely. And it doesn't address GPO at all. There have been bills introduced for full repeal of both WEP and GPO, but they haven't passed yet.
Thank you all for the clarification. It's disappointing to hear that GPO wasn't addressed in these changes. My husband worked for 31 years as a teacher while I worked in retail and paid into Social Security. Now I lose most of my spousal benefits because of his pension, even though I paid into the system myself. I'll try contacting my representative to ask about future legislation addressing GPO. It seems many of us are in similar situations.
Good luck! I've been writing to my congressman for YEARS about this and nothing ever happens. They don't care about us.
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You all have been so helpful! I'm definitely going to ask about the survivor benefits vs. my own retirement benefits. Had no idea I could potentially claim one now and switch later - that sounds like a smart strategy. I've got my marriage certificate, direct deposit info, and tax returns ready. And I'll make sure to answer the phone early! One more question - the appointment is scheduled for 45 minutes. Is that enough time to cover everything? Should I prepare questions in advance?
45 minutes is usually enough time. Having questions written down is definitely smart! Key questions to ask: 1. What would my benefit amount be at different claiming ages (now, FRA, 70)? 2. What would my survivor benefit be now vs. at my FRA? 3. Which claiming strategy maximizes my lifetime benefits? 4. How does my recent work stoppage affect my benefit amount? Also ask them to email or mail you a summary of the different benefit amounts they quote you. That way you can review everything carefully before making your final decision.
just wondering how the appointment went?? mine was so scary but the lady was soooo nice actually!
It went great! They called right on time and the rep was super helpful. I took everyone's advice here and asked about survivor benefits vs. my own retirement. Turns out I can get about $2,800/month on my husband's record if I wait until my FRA vs. $1,450 on my own record now! I'm going to think about whether to take reduced survivor benefits now or wait. Thanks everyone for your help!!
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YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL HERE. Social Security does sometimes automatically switch people at FRA if they don't specify otherwise. I've seen it happen to three different people in my retirement group. One lady lost almost $400/month because they switched her and then told her she couldn't go back!!! The system is BROKEN.
While it's true SSA can make mistakes, if someone was switched incorrectly, they absolutely CAN appeal and have it corrected - there's no rule saying "you can't go back" if SSA made an error. That said, it's always better to prevent mistakes than correct them afterwards, so being proactive about this is good advice.
Update: I used Claimyr to get through to SSA this morning instead of waiting for my callback. The agent confirmed the letter was just about Medicare enrollment but also said there was a note in my file about "benefit type review" which is why it showed my own retirement amount. She put a note in my file that I want to CONTINUE my survivor benefits and not switch to retirement benefits at this time. She also said I should receive a clarification letter within 2 weeks. Thank you all for your help!
Great news! Always get the names of who you speak with at SSA and keep good notes. And remember - at age 70, check to see if switching to your own retirement benefit would give you more money, as your retirement benefit will have grown substantially by then if you don't claim it earlier.
Glad Claimyr worked for you! And good job being proactive - it sounds like there really WAS a potential issue with your benefits that needed to be addressed. The "benefit type review" they mentioned is exactly the kind of thing that can lead to automatic changes if you don't specify your preference.
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To answer your question about contacting the specific person: unfortunately, SSA doesn't generally allow direct contact with specific employees. Your best bet is to call the main number (1-800-772-1213) and request a callback from your local office regarding your case. Mention it's been 90+ days, which should elevate the priority. Regarding retroactivity: Yes, once your earnings record is corrected, any increase in benefits would be paid retroactively to your entitlement date, so you won't lose money due to the delay.
That's a relief about the retroactive payments! I'll try calling the main number again tomorrow and specifically ask for a callback from the local office. Thanks for the advice.
i wonder if a congressperson could help? my sister had an ssdi issue that was taking forever and she contacted her congressman's office and suddenly everything got fixed in like 2 weeks!
This is actually excellent advice. Congressional inquiries do receive priority handling at SSA. If your case has been pending for 90+ days, a congressional inquiry can often expedite the process. You'd need to contact your representative's local office and complete a privacy release form allowing them to inquire about your case.
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One important point nobody has mentioned yet: if you're approved for SSDI, you'll become eligible for Medicare after 24 months on disability, regardless of your age. This can be extremely valuable for ongoing medical treatment related to your injuries. Also, when you reach Full Retirement Age (67 for someone your age), your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same amount. At that point, any offset with workers' compensation ends. For documentation, focus on these key elements for your SSDI application: 1. Medical evidence showing your condition is severe 2. Doctor's statements specifically addressing work limitations 3. Treatment history showing you're following prescribed therapies 4. Detailed work history showing you can no longer perform previous jobs Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to SSA. Their record-keeping can be inconsistent.
Great point about Medicare! That was a HUGE benefit when I finally got approved for SSDI. My employer health insurance had run out and COBRA was ridiculously expensive. The 24-month waiting period is still too long though - another way they try to wear you down!
Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'm definitely going to apply for SSDI this week. Still a bit confused about how they'll calculate that 80% limit for the offset, but sounds like I'll be dealing with that down the road. Anyone know if I should mention the workers comp when I apply for SSDI, or will they find out about it anyway? Don't want to mess anything up on the application.
Yes, absolutely disclose your workers' compensation benefits on your SSDI application. SSA will ask about this specifically, and failing to disclose could be considered misrepresentation. They will verify this information regardless through data matching with state agencies. For the 80% ACE (Average Current Earnings) calculation, SSA typically uses the highest of: 1. Your average monthly earnings from your highest calendar year in the last 5 years before disability 2. Your average monthly earnings during the 5 consecutive years of highest earnings 3. Your average monthly earnings in the highest-earning single year of employment They will request your workers' compensation payment history directly to calculate any necessary offset.
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Did anyone help you figure out how to actually report the death to Social Security? I've been going in circles on their website trying to find clear instructions.
You can't report a death online through the SSA website. There are three ways to report a death to Social Security: 1. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 2. Contact your local Social Security office 3. Have the funeral home report the death (most funeral homes offer this service) Option 3 is usually the easiest during a difficult time. Just confirm with the funeral director that they'll handle this for you.
The funeral director did mention they would report it for us, so I'll confirm that they're handling it. Thank you for listing all the options.
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no u dont have to tell them before working!! just report it on taxes. thats what i do and im way over the limit. they just send me a letter once a year saying they adjusted my benefit.
One clarification on the earnings limit - truck drivers need to be careful about how they calculate their income. If your husband is an independent contractor (1099 worker), SSA counts net earnings from self-employment, not gross income. If he's a W-2 employee, they count gross wages. This difference can significantly impact how much is withheld. Also, only income from actual work counts toward the earnings limit. Investment income, pension payments, or other government benefits don't count against the limit. From what you've described, having him work while receiving reduced benefits probably makes more financial sense than withdrawing the application entirely.
Luca Conti
My uncle said nobody actually reports their part-time income and SSA doesn't really check anyway lol
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Sean O'Connor
•This is extremely bad advice. SSA has direct access to IRS earnings records and automatically checks them against what you reported. They WILL find out and you WILL get an overpayment notice, potentially years later with interest.
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Anastasia Sokolov
So after reading everyone's comments, it sounds like I should: 1) Understand it's actually $1 reduction for every $2 I earn above the limit (not $3 like I thought); 2) For 2025, they'll only count my earnings after I start benefits in July; 3) I need to report my expected earnings when I apply; 4) It's based on gross wages. Am I missing anything else important?
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CyberNinja
•That's correct! And remember the earnings limit for 2025 will be announced late 2024 (it's adjusted for inflation each year). The 2024 limit is $22,320 for those under FRA. Since you're only counting July-December in 2025, you'd use a monthly limit of $1,860 (the annual limit divided by 12).
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Anastasia Sokolov
•Thank you! That monthly breakdown is really helpful. I'll probably earn around $1,400/month at my part-time job, so it sounds like I'll be under the monthly limit anyway.
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