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Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. I feel much better knowing I didn't actually miss out on benefits I was entitled to. I'm going to stick with my survivor benefits since they're higher than what I'd get on my own record. I appreciate all the information and personal experiences shared here!
glad you got your answer! this stuff is so complicated. good luck with everything!
My mom went thru something similar and the social security office gave her different answers every time she called!!! So frustrating!! Have you tried going to your local office in person? Sometimes that works better than calling.
I haven't tried the local office recently. I might do that if I have more questions. It's true they sometimes give conflicting information, which makes everything more confusing!
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my aunt said theres also something about if u have 5 years of substantial earnings before 1986 ur exempt from wep??? is that true??
That's not quite accurate. WEP doesn't apply to people who were eligible for their government pension before 1986 (meaning they had enough years of service to qualify, even if they hadn't retired yet). It's not about having 5 years of substantial earnings. This is why it's important to speak with SSA directly about your specific situation rather than relying on second-hand information.
I think you might be mixing up some things here. WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) affects your OWN Social Security benefits if you also receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. GPO (Government Pension Offset) affects SPOUSAL or SURVIVOR benefits if you receive a government pension from non-covered work. So the answers to your questions depend on whether we're talking about: 1. Your own SS retirement benefits (WEP) 2. Your potential claim on your wife's record (GPO if she passes) 3. Your wife's potential survivor claim on your record (GPO if you pass) Do you know which one concerns you most?
You're right, I was confusing the two. My main concern is my own SS benefits (WEP) since I have some quarters but not 40. But I'm also worried about my wife's survivor benefits if I die first. She has a teacher's pension but no SS on her own record. So I guess both WEP and GPO are issues for us. Thanks for helping me sort this out.
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just curious what kinda health condition lets u work at a bookstore but still get disability? not judging just wondering how that works
That's a fair question. I have a chronic neurological condition that causes fatigue and mobility issues that can flare up unpredictably. Some days I can function fairly normally, other days I can barely get out of bed. The bookstore is accommodating my needs with flexible scheduling and allowing me to sit when necessary. My doctor actually encouraged some part-time work as part of my treatment plan, but I still can't reliably work enough hours to support myself. That's why SSDI has been so important for me.
oh that makes sense. thx for explaining
One important thing to remember - keep good records of everything related to your work activity! Save all pay stubs, keep a log of hours worked, and maintain copies of all communication with SSA (including confirmation numbers from the app). If there's ever a question about your reporting or benefits, having documentation will make resolving issues much easier. Also, if your income varies month to month, it's especially important to report accurately. The consequences of not reporting can include overpayments that you'll have to pay back, so it's always better to over-report than under-report.
This is great advice - I'll definitely keep detailed records of everything. My hours should be pretty consistent (15/week) but I'll make sure to report any changes. Thanks for all the help!
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I've been trying to reach the SSA for weeks to ask similar questions about my claiming strategy and can't get through. Always disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes! Has anyone found a way to actually speak to someone at Social Security without wasting an entire day?
I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to SSA in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hours-long wait. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. I was skeptical but it worked really well when I needed to sort out an issue with my benefit calculation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU That said, SSA agents may not be able to give specific advice about when YOU should claim - they're limited in what recommendations they can make. They'll mainly explain the rules and provide benefit estimates.
While calculators are certainly helpful, I'd recommend also considering your broader retirement picture. The best claiming strategy depends heavily on your overall financial situation: 1. Do you have sufficient savings/investments to delay claiming? 2. How does your health and family history affect your longevity expectations? 3. Are you married? Coordinating spousal benefits can significantly impact optimal claiming strategies. 4. Do you plan to work after claiming early benefits? Remember the earnings test may reduce benefits before FRA. 5. What other income sources will you have in retirement (pensions, 401(k), etc.)? The Social Security claiming decision is one of the most important financial choices many retirees make. It's essentially buying a larger inflation-protected annuity by waiting, which has genuine value that many calculators don't fully capture.
These are excellent points - thank you. I do have adequate savings to delay claiming if that makes mathematical sense. No pension unfortunately, just 401(k) and IRA savings. My health is good but family longevity is mixed - some relatives lived into their 90s while others died in their 70s. That uncertainty is exactly why I want to run the numbers carefully.
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My Uncle works for SSA and he says they're ALREADY planning the cuts!!! He says there's internal memos about how they'll implement the reductions. The public statements about "Congress will fix it" are just to prevent panic!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
I work as a financial advisor specializing in retirement planning, and I can assure you that the SSA absolutely must have contingency plans in place - that's just responsible governance. However, having plans doesn't mean they expect to implement them. The SSA and its Trustees are required by law to report on the financial status of the program and to have operational plans for various scenarios. This is no different than any well-run organization doing risk management. I would strongly caution against spreading information from alleged "internal memos" as this can cause unnecessary anxiety for those planning their retirements. The facts about the trust fund status are all publicly available in the annual Trustees Report.
I appreciate everyone's insights! I'm going to talk to my financial advisor about adjusting my retirement plans just to be safe. Sounds like I should hope for the best but plan for that 20% reduction. Still frustrating that we've known about this problem for so long and nothing has been done to fix it.
That's a wise approach. One additional suggestion - consider looking into whether delaying your Social Security claim beyond your Full Retirement Age would make sense for your situation. Even with a potential future reduction, the 8% per year increase in benefits for delaying (up to age 70) could help offset some of the impact. Additionally, stay informed about legislative proposals as we get closer to 2033. If you're concerned, contact your representatives and let them know this issue is important to you. The more voters express concern, the more likely Congress is to prioritize finding a solution.
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wait did u bring your social security card to the interview? i heard they deny people who dont bring the actual card even if u know the number
Yes, I had my SS card plus my driver's license and passport. They didn't seem to have any issue with my identification - just these random questions about my ex!
Quick update for you - I checked with a colleague who works at our local SSA office. These questions about former spouses are standard procedure, especially for marriages lasting over 10 years (which yours did at 12 years). Since you're eligible for either benefits on your own record OR potentially spousal benefits on your ex-wife's record (whichever is higher), they need to verify the relationship. Not remembering her birthday isn't grounds for denial. They'll verify her information in their system and proceed with your application. No need to worry about this particular issue.
Thank you so much for checking! That's incredibly helpful and puts my mind at ease. I didn't even realize I might be eligible for benefits on her record since I always worked full-time myself. Really appreciate you taking the time to follow up!
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my payment date changes sometimes depending on weekends and holidays so maybe thats why theres 2 dates showing?
Based on all the responses here, I think we've established this is likely a display issue rather than an actual missed payment. However, it's still worth calling SSA to confirm. When you speak with them, ask them to explain their payment notation system and whether what you're seeing is normal for new beneficiaries. Also request that they verify your correct monthly payment date based on your birth date (as mentioned earlier, this follows a standard schedule). For future reference, you can always verify actual payments received by requesting a "Benefit Verification Letter" through your my Social Security account. This document serves as the official record of your benefit status and payments. Please let us know what you find out after speaking with them!
Thank you! I definitely will update once I speak with them. It's reassuring to hear from multiple people that this is likely just a display quirk in their system. I'll try calling on Monday and if I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned above.
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does anyone know if it matters what day of the month you apply? like is it better to do it at the beginning of May vs the end of May if targeting September benefits?
The day of the month doesn't significantly impact processing times for retirement benefits. The important part is selecting the correct month when you want benefits to begin (September 2025 in the original poster's case). However, as a general best practice with any government system, I'd recommend applying earlier in the month rather than later, simply to avoid any end-of-month processing backlogs or system maintenance issues that occasionally happen.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply in early May, which will be about 4 months before my September eligibility. I'll make sure my mySocialSecurity account is up-to-date first and have all my documents ready. One more question - does anyone know if I need to provide my birth certificate even if I'm applying online? I have a passport, but my original birth certificate is in a safety deposit box that's not very convenient to access.
If you're a US citizen and already have a mySocialSecurity account that's been verified, you typically won't need to submit your birth certificate with an online application. Your passport is actually a stronger form of ID anyway. However, keep in mind that SSA might request additional documentation if there are any discrepancies in their records. I always recommend having these documents accessible just in case, but you likely won't need to upload them with your initial application if you're applying online with an established account.
Perfect, thank you! That makes things much easier.
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Update: I should have mentioned that for self-employment income specifically, there's a lag time because the SSA doesn't receive your earnings information until after you file your tax return. If you filed extensions, this could delay the AERO process. For complicated cases like yours with both WEP and ongoing self-employment, it's best to speak directly with a Technical Expert (TE) at SSA, not just a regular claims representative. When you call, specifically request to speak with a TE who specializes in WEP calculations.
That's a great tip! I did file an extension this year, so that probably explains part of the delay. I'll specifically ask for a Technical Expert when I call.
IMPORTANT QUESTION: Are you also subject to GPO (Government Pension Offset)? That's different from WEP and applies to spouse/survivor benefits. The combination of WEP and GPO can be really complex. Just making sure you're aware of both if they apply to your situation.
Thankfully no - I'm not eligible for any spousal benefits so GPO doesn't apply in my case. But you're right that the combination would make things even more complicated!
Brooklyn Foley
Has anyone else noticed the website estimates are almost ALWAYS wrong by a few dollars anyway? My actual payment ended up being $13 different than what the estimate said, even after COLA. Some weird calculation thing they do at the end I guess.
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Sophia Carson
•yep!! mine was off by $26!! tried asking WHY and got a different answer from every person i talked to. one said medicare one said taxes one said rounding. total mess
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Ezra Bates
Update: I finally got through to SSA this morning after trying for days! They confirmed that yes, my February payment (for January) WILL include the 2025 COLA. The representative explained that what I'm seeing online is my base amount before the COLA adjustment. She said the online portal won't display the updated amount until my claim is fully processed in January. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help.
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Jay Lincoln
•Great news! This is exactly what I was explaining about how their systems work. Once January processing runs, your online account will show the updated amount. Glad you got confirmation directly from SSA.
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