What a fantastic outcome! Your persistence really paid off, and this thread is going to be so helpful for others facing the same confusion. It's amazing how much difference the right terminology makes - "excess spousal benefits" and "dual entitlement" seem to be the key phrases that get SSA representatives on the same page. The fact that it came down to checking the wrong box on a previous form is both maddening and enlightening. It shows how easy it is for these situations to get derailed by small miscommunications, but also that the solution can be simpler than we think once everyone understands what's actually being requested. Your approach of asking to see the calculation is really smart too. So many people just accept whatever number they're given without understanding how SSA arrived at it. Getting that transparency will help you verify everything is correct and give you confidence in the process. Thanks for taking the time to update us with your success - it's exactly this kind of real-world experience that makes this community so valuable. Wishing you a smooth process from here on out!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with spousal benefit confusion! @Clay blendedgen, congratulations on finally getting through to someone who understood what you needed. Your experience perfectly illustrates why precision in terminology is so critical when dealing with SSA. For future reference for anyone reading this, I'd add one more tip: if you're ever unsure about which form to complete or which boxes to check, don't hesitate to ask the representative to walk you through it over the phone before you submit anything. Many processing delays and errors happen because forms are filled out incorrectly, not because people aren't eligible for what they're requesting. It's also worth noting that once your excess spousal benefit is processed, you should receive a new benefit verification letter showing both your own retirement benefit amount and the additional spousal amount. Keep that letter in a safe place - you'll need it for tax purposes and it's helpful documentation if any questions arise in the future. Thanks for sharing your success story and for updating the community. Stories like yours help demystify the Social Security process for everyone!

I'm new to this community but have been dealing with SSI for my daughter for about 2 years now. One thing that really helped us was creating a "change reporting checklist" that we keep handy for any major life events. For your situation, I'd suggest documenting everything in writing before you call SSA: - Exact move date and new address - Your husband's expected monthly support amount (even if it varies, give them a range) - Your expected work schedule and estimated monthly earnings - Any changes to household size or living arrangements The income exclusions work in your favor more than you might think. When I started working part-time, I was worried it would eliminate my daughter's benefits completely, but the earned income exclusions meant we actually came out ahead financially. Also, don't forget to update your address with Social Security AND the IRS if you're claiming your son as a dependent. Tax season can get complicated if addresses don't match up properly. One last tip - if you're moving to a larger city in Georgia like Atlanta, some of the local SSA offices have specialists who deal specifically with interstate moves and can walk you through the whole process in one appointment. It's worth asking when you call! Good luck with your move! It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about planning everything out.

As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize a few critical points that will help protect your son's benefits during this transition: **Most Important - Report Changes Promptly:** You have 10 days to report the address change and household composition change. Missing this deadline can result in overpayments that you'll need to repay later. **Income Deeming Rules:** Once you and your husband maintain separate households, SSA will stop "deeming" his income to your son. This could actually increase your son's SSI payment initially. However, any money he sends you will count as unearned income to your son (after the $20 monthly exclusion). **Work Income Advantages:** Your part-time work income gets favorable treatment under SSI rules: - First $65/month excluded (plus any unused portion of the $20 general exclusion) - Only 50% of remaining earnings count against the benefit **Documentation is Key:** Keep detailed records of all support payments from your husband, even informal ones. SSA will ask for this information during reviews, and having organized records prevents complications. **Georgia-Specific Considerations:** - No state SSI supplement (same as Texas), so federal payment rate applies - Excellent Medicaid waiver programs for children with disabilities - Strong special education services in many districts The income calculations might seem complex, but many families find they're actually better off financially after the dust settles. The key is being proactive and transparent with all reporting to avoid any overpayment issues down the road.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to commend you for being proactive about securing these benefits for your mother's estate. Based on everything shared here, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. Just wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I dealt with a similar situation with my father's VA benefits - consider making copies of EVERYTHING before you submit it to SSA. Keep the originals for your records and only give them copies, even if they ask for originals. Government agencies sometimes misplace documents, and you don't want to be scrambling to get new certified copies of death certificates or other important papers. Also, when you do get the SSA-1724 filed and receive a case number, consider setting a calendar reminder to follow up every 3-4 weeks if you haven't heard anything. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, especially with something this complex involving new legislation. Your mother was lucky to have someone like you looking out for her interests even after she's gone. These WEP/GPO affected families deserve every penny they're owed, and I hope SSA processes your claim quickly and without hassle. Best of luck with everything!

I'm sorry for your loss and can relate to your situation. My stepfather passed in January 2024 and had been receiving reduced benefits due to WEP for over a decade. We just received his retroactive payment check last week after filing in December - it took about 7 weeks total once we got all the paperwork submitted correctly. A few things that helped us get through the process faster: 1. We called ahead and scheduled an appointment at our local SSA office rather than just walking in. The scheduled appointments get you someone who has more time to work through complex cases. 2. Bring a simple one-page summary showing the math - what he received monthly vs what he should have received without WEP/GPO for each month from Dec 2023 forward. Having this ready saved a lot of time during the appointment. 3. We also brought his government pension award letter and his most recent SSA benefit statement to help them verify the reduction amounts. The final payment was almost exactly what we calculated it should be, so the math worked out correctly. Don't get discouraged if it takes longer than expected - there's definitely a backlog, but they are processing these claims. The key is just getting everything filed properly with all the right documentation. You're doing the right thing by pursuing this for her estate.

Just wondering... what happens if both your current husband AND your ex-husband pass away? Can you choose the higher of the two survivor benefits? Or does one cancel out the other?

I'm still relatively new to understanding Social Security rules, but I wanted to share what I learned when my mom went through something similar. She was also remarried and collecting her own benefits when her ex-husband passed away. The SSA did allow her to switch to his higher survivor benefits, but the process took several months and required multiple visits to the local office. One thing that really helped her was having all the paperwork organized beforehand - marriage certificate, divorce decree, and even some old tax returns that showed they filed jointly during their marriage. The SSA worker told her that having everything ready upfront made the approval process much smoother. Also, Jessica, since you mentioned your ex's benefits are estimated at $2,800, just remember that might change depending on when he actually passes away and whether he's already claimed his benefits or not. But either way, it sounds like you'd still come out ahead financially compared to your current situation.

Great point about Medicare, Andre! That's something a lot of people overlook. Another consideration is that if your wife does decide to wait until you file at 67, she should still create her my Social Security account online and check her earnings record now to make sure everything is accurate. Any corrections need to be made before she claims benefits. Also, even though the "file and suspend" strategy was eliminated in 2015, there are still some nuances around timing that could affect your overall household strategy. For instance, if you have significant age gaps or health differences, that might influence the optimal timing. The SSA's "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" publication has some good worksheets to help with these calculations.

As someone who recently went through the Social Security claiming process, I can confirm what others have said about the 2015 rule changes. The old "claim now, switch later" strategy is no longer available. However, I'd suggest one additional step that really helped me: consider meeting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization. Yes, there's a cost, but given the permanent nature of these decisions and the potential dollar amounts involved over your lifetimes, it might be worth the investment. They can run multiple scenarios using software that accounts for inflation, life expectancy, and other factors that the basic SSA calculators don't always capture. Also, don't forget that if either of you has government pension benefits (like from teaching or other public service), the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset rules might further complicate your calculations. Good luck with your planning!