Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm starting to understand this better now. It sounds like I might get some survivor benefits despite the GPO, which is good news. I'll definitely gather all my pension documentation and see if I can schedule an appointment with a specialist who understands these complicated rules.

My sister-in-law just went through this exact situation last year! Her situation was almost identical - teacher pension and husband had claimed early. One thing no one mentioned yet - if your husband's benefit increased due to COLAs over the years since he claimed at 62, those increases ARE included in the survivor benefit calculation. So that might give you a bit more than you're expecting.

Wait is this about the bill they were trying to pass to repeal WEP/GPO? Did it actually pass?? I thought it was still stuck in Congress! My wife is a retired teacher and we've been waiting forever for this!

To follow up on my earlier comment - I received confirmation that my application was processed yesterday. The representative said I should expect to receive my first payment in about 30-45 days, and they'll send me a detailed breakdown of how the WEP/GPO reduction was calculated. One important thing to note: they asked very specific questions about my non-covered employment (the teaching job with a pension). They wanted exact start and end dates for each position, and information about any breaks in service. I wasn't prepared for this level of detail, so I had to estimate some dates, which could delay processing. The rep also mentioned that they're prioritizing spousal benefit applications for people affected by WEP/GPO right now, which might be why I got through relatively quickly once I reached the right department.

my brother waited til 70 and died at 71. got like 12 checks total after waiting years for that bigger amount. just sayin

Another consideration is what economists call the 'utility of money' - basically, money now might have more value to you than more money later. If you're healthy and have specific plans or dreams, having that extra SS income while you're still able to enjoy it fully (even while working) could be worth more than the mathematically optimal solution. I think the advice to run specific tax calculations is spot on. With your income level, you need to look at the net benefit after taxes, not just the gross benefit amount. The difference between taking it at 69 versus 70 might be less significant after accounting for taxes than it appears at first glance.

question - did they say anything about back benefits? my friend was widowed 4 yrs ago and just found out she could've been getting survivors this whole time. she applied and got 6 mo backpay but that's it. wondering if there's a limit on how far back they'll go?

Same happened to my sister. She finally got a rep who knew what they were talking about and it turns out she was eligible for survivor benefits all along. They gave her 4 months of backpay. Always get a second opinion with Social Security!

my neigbor got ex spouse benefits even with a government pension but only because his ex made ALOT of money and had huge ss benefit. depends on the numbers in your case

One more thing to consider - you mentioned you didn't have enough credits for your own Social Security benefit. However, if you've worked any jobs covered by Social Security since your initial application (even part-time), you might be closer to qualifying for your own benefit. It takes 40 credits (about 10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, and those benefits wouldn't be subject to GPO (though they could be reduced by WEP). Even a small benefit on your own record might be better than nothing if the GPO eliminates your ex-spouse benefit entirely.

I'm a bit confused about something here... isn't 59 too young to collect spousal benefits unless you're caring for a child under 16? So wouldn't your wife lose her benefit anyway when your youngest turns 16 regardless of whether she works or not?

You should really consider the whole financial picture. In my case, when my wife went back to work, we lost her SS benefit BUT: 1. She got health insurance through her employer which saved us $580/month 2. She started contributing to a 401k again 3. Her take-home pay was way more than the SS benefit Just some things to think about beyond just the SS payment itself.

Update: I called the office in the neighboring state and they confirmed I can visit them even though I live across the state line. They said Social Security offices serve everyone regardless of residency since it's a federal program. I've got an appointment for next Tuesday! Thanks everyone for your help!

For future reference, here's the official SSA policy on this question: You can visit any Social Security office nationwide, regardless of where you live. This is particularly useful for people in rural areas, those who live near state borders, or those who are traveling. All SSA field offices have access to the same national computer system, so your records are available at any location. The only exceptions would be for very specific state-supplemented SSI matters that might require coordination with your specific state's systems, but even those can be initiated at any office. Always bring photo ID and your Social Security card (if you have it) to any office visit.

One suggestion I haven't seen mentioned: consider your current tax situation. If you're still working, taking SS now might push you into a higher tax bracket, and up to 85% of your SS benefits could be taxable. If you can wait until you stop working, you might pay significantly less tax on those benefits. The calculators I mentioned earlier should factor this in.

i changed my mind like 10 times before filing lol. in the end i just went with my gut feeling. sometimes u can overthink these things ya know?

hey forgot to say my cousin applied only 2 months before and had problems... payment was late by like 6 weeks and she had to keep calling. total hassle. def do at least 3 months not less

Just a warning - the SSA is SERIOUSLY understaffed right now! I've heard processing times are getting longer and longer. If I were you I'd apply 4 months early just to be safe. The official recommendation might be 3 months but that was before all the staffing issues they're having now. Better safe than sorry!!!

I tried appealing but they wouldn't budge. The rep actually suggested I try to find my ex and convince him to REMARRY me for a couple months to hit the 10-year mark! AS IF! After what he put me through! These rules were created in the 1930s when women didn't work. They need to update this system!!

One other important thing to know - you need to be unmarried when you apply for ex-spouse benefits. If you remarry, you generally can't collect on a former spouse's record unless your later marriage ends by death, divorce, or annulment. Also, claiming on your ex's record has no effect on what they receive. Some people worry about this, but your ex will never even know you've applied for benefits on their record.