@original poster - Did you get a letter from SSA explaining the adjustment at any point? I never did, and that's what made me so mad! They should at least TELL US when they're making these adjustments!

For future reference, you can request a detailed explanation of benefit calculations by visiting your local SSA office in person or by calling to request a BOAN (Benefit Overpayment Action Notice) explanation if you suspect there was an overpayment adjustment. They should be able to provide a month-by-month breakdown of the calculations. As others have said, this is standard procedure when transitioning between benefit types, especially with spousal to survivor transitions. The system has to reconcile the different benefit calculations and payment schedules.

Wait so your disabled son gets benefits from his dad? My situation is similar but nobody told me that was an option. How did you set that up? My son has autism and I'm divorced, his dad is still alive but we don't get any benefits???

Based on everything shared here, my advice for your appointment: 1. Ask for a complete breakdown of the FMB calculation for your family 2. Request an estimate of how your son's benefit would be affected if you file for survivors 3. Since you're job-hunting with potential earnings above the limit, consider these strategies: - Wait to file until you reach FRA in 2026 (no earnings limit then) - Only file if you end up with a lower-paying job or work part-time - If you file while earning $62K, be prepared for most of your benefits to be withheld 4. Bring documentation: your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, birth certificates, and your recent tax returns 5. Ask specifically about the 6-month retroactive payment your husband may have taken and how that affects your survivor benefit calculation Remember: Any benefits withheld due to the earnings test will increase your benefit amount once you reach FRA, so they're not permanently lost.

My mom went thru this. She was still working when my dad died (she was 61). She went ahead and filed for survivor benefits even though she was still working. They witheld most of it because of the earnings limit, but when she hit full retirement age they recalculated and gave her a higher monthly amount to make up for some of what was witheld. So even if your working it might be worth applying when the time comes.

Thank you all for the helpful information! This has given me a lot to think about. I'm going to try to get through to SSA to discuss my specific situation and run some numbers. I may check out that Claimyr service if I can't get through on my own. It's a relief to know I have options, especially since neither of us really understood survivor benefits when my wife decided to claim early.

btw I forgot to mention, I found out that when they say "cannot pay you at this time" it sometimes means they're waiting for some verification or something. My friend got a letter like that and it was because they were waiting for his death certificate to be officially recorded in their system. Maybe call and ask if they need anything from you to process it?

One additional point that might be helpful: Since you mentioned the WEP/GPO repeal, it's worth noting that the legislation includes a 5-year phase-out period. The offset reduction starts at 20% in the first year and increases by 20% each subsequent year until fully eliminated. This means if you decide to wait until your FRA to claim survivor benefits, you'll likely benefit from at least some reduction in the GPO offset, potentially increasing your benefit amount significantly beyond what you'd receive if claiming now. This is another reason why getting those detailed projections from a Technical Expert is so important - they can model how the phase-out might affect your specific benefit amounts over the next few years.

my sister had problems with her application and went to the office but they were super busy and told her to just call instead. she ended up on hold forever and gave up. just warning you that getting help isnt easy these days

One more piece of advice - take screenshots of each page as you complete it! I did this and it was incredibly helpful when I needed to call SSA with questions. I could reference exactly what I was seeing, and I also had a record of what I entered in case anything got lost. Just press the PrtScn button on your keyboard and paste into a document, or use the Snipping Tool if you're on Windows.

Has anyone actually successfully gotten them to fix an error in the calculation?? Or do they just make you accept whatever they decide?

Update: I called SSA this morning (took forever to get through!) and finally got an explanation. The rep I spoke with originally didn't apply the correct early retirement reduction factor for my specific age. At 62 and 4 months, my reduction is about 30% from my full retirement age amount, which exactly explains the difference. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

After reading all the comments, I think your best approach is to: 1. First, determine if your teacher pension makes you subject to GPO/WEP rules. This is crucial. 2. Get benefit estimates for all three scenarios: your own record, ex-spouse benefits, and survivor benefits. 3. Request a complete earnings record from SSA to verify everything is accurate. 4. Consider not just which benefit is highest now, but which strategy maximizes your lifetime benefits. Sometimes taking a lower benefit now and switching later can result in more money overall. Documentation you'll need: marriage and divorce certificates for your first marriage, marriage certificate and death certificate for your second marriage, your birth certificate, and your Social Security card. Have these ready when you finally reach SSA.

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice! I've learned so much. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to SSA this week and make sure I ask about WEP/GPO since I did have that teaching pension. I'll gather all my documents and request benefit estimates for all three scenarios. I really appreciate all your help - this has been so confusing to figure out on my own!

Just to add one more thing - make sure you have your most recent Social Security statement, your pension award letter, and maybe your last few years of W-2s handy when you call. Makes the process go much faster when you have all the documentation ready.

To summarize everything in this thread: 1. Earnings limit for 2025 if under FRA whole year: $22,320 (only wages count, not pension) 2. Your part-time job earnings are about $13,200/year, so you're under the limit 3. You likely face a WEP reduction due to your government pension 4. The WEP reduction depends on your years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security 5. The online calculator doesn't automatically show WEP reductions 6. You should contact SSA directly for an accurate calculation Based on what you've shared, you can definitely continue your part-time job without losing SS benefits to the earnings limit. The WEP reduction will happen regardless of whether you work or not, so that shouldn't affect your decision about the part-time job.

My aunt put money in CD and then SSA cut her check!!! be careful!!!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to go ahead and open that high-yield savings account tomorrow. So glad to know that interest won't affect my SSDI benefits. It's not like I'll be earning a ton anyway with current rates, but every little bit helps when you're on a fixed income. I appreciate all the clarification about the difference between SSDI and SSI too - I definitely just have SSDI based on my work history, not SSI.

Based on your follow-up comments, here's what I suggest for your specific situation: 1. Complete your divorce first 2. Request your own Social Security Statement through your my Social Security account online 3. Contact SSA specifically requesting: - Verification of your deceased former husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) - Calculation of your widow benefit at age 60 (71.5% of his PIA) - Calculation of your own retirement benefit at FRA With these three figures, you can work with a financial advisor to determine whether keeping your house is financially viable. The most accurate calculation will include both your reduced widow benefit at 60 and how it compares to your own benefit at your FRA. This information is essential for making informed long-term financial decisions.

DON'T go to a bank financial advisor!!! They don't know SS rules AT ALL and just want to sell you products!!! I learned this the hard way when mine told me completely wrong information about survivor benefits and almost cost me THOUSANDS!!! Find someone who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies - there are actual consultants who ONLY do this!