Just want to follow up to say that when I called SS about my IRMAA appeal, they told me I could also fax the completed SSA-44 form with supporting documentation to my local office. Might be worth trying that approach if you continue having trouble reaching someone by phone. The fax number should be available on the SSA website for your local office.

I went through this exact same situation last year! My income dropped significantly when I switched from corporate to consulting work. Here's what I learned: You definitely qualify for an IRMAA appeal with that income reduction. The key is documenting the "life-changing event" properly. Since you went from employment to self-employment, that counts as work reduction. For your S-Corp structure, only your $15K salary plus any distributions you take will count toward IRMAA - the business profits staying in the company won't affect your personal MAGI. A few practical tips: - Try calling SSA right at 8am when they open - I had better luck then - Have your SSA-44 form filled out before you call so you're ready - Keep detailed records of every call attempt (date/time) in case you need to escalate The whole process took about 6 weeks for me, but the premium reduction was backdated to when it should have started. Don't give up - that $258K to $74K drop should easily get you out of the IRMAA surcharge tiers!

One thing no one has mentioned yet - make sure your husband's CSRS survivor benefit election is properly documented with OPM. There should be a form (I believe it's SF 2801) on file that confirms his election of survivor benefits. Might be worth checking that everything is in order while you're both still here to address any issues.

This thread has been really helpful! As someone new to understanding these retirement benefits, I want to make sure I have this straight: the key point is that GPO and WEP only apply to the person who actually worked in the non-covered government job, not their spouse. So if you worked your whole career paying into Social Security and your spouse had CSRS, you're in the clear to receive both benefits without any reductions. It sounds like the confusion often comes from people not realizing these provisions are based on YOUR work history, not your spouse's. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - that's so much more reassuring than just reading the official rules!

I still think the whole system is INSANE!!! Why make us wait until 66 and 8 months? Why not just 66 or 67? And the earnings limit is PUNISHING people who work. If I didn't need the money I wouldn't still be working at 66!!! Anyone else feel like the system is designed to confuse us????

The FRA calculation can definitely be confusing! Just to reinforce what others have said - you'll reach FRA in January 2025, not December 2024. SSA uses a specific rule where you "attain" an age on the first day of the month after you actually reach that age milestone. Here's what to expect for your timeline: - 2024: You'll be subject to the earnings limit all year, but it's the higher limit for the year you reach FRA (around $59,520 for 2024) - January 2025: FRA month - no earnings limit from this point forward - February 2025: You'll receive your first full Social Security payment regardless of earnings - Spring 2025: SSA should automatically recalculate your benefit to give you credit for all those months of withheld benefits over the years Keep checking your mySocialSecurity account to make sure your earnings are being recorded correctly. That ARF adjustment could be a nice bump in your monthly payment after all those years of dealing with the earnings test!

One additional point that might be relevant for your situation: If your wife reports your death to SSA within the same month that you pass away, they may withhold your final monthly payment. However, if she reports it in the month after your death, your final payment is generally allowed to remain. This can make a difference of an entire month's benefit amount. The rules around this can be complex, so it's something to discuss with SSA when the time comes.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned when helping my aunt navigate this situation last year - make sure your wife keeps detailed records of all her communications with SSA regarding the survivor benefits application. The process can sometimes take a few months to complete, and having documentation of what was submitted and when can be really helpful if there are any delays or issues. Also, if she's comfortable with technology, she can check the status of her application online through her my Social Security account, which saved my aunt from making multiple phone calls during the waiting period.

I haven't tried going in person yet, but that's a great suggestion. The office is about 40 minutes away, so it's not too bad. I've just been avoiding it because I heard the wait times can be long even with an appointment. But it might be worth it to get this sorted out face-to-face with someone who can look at all my documentation at once.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Rachel. This situation is unfortunately common but can definitely be resolved with the new WEP/GPO changes. Since you were a teacher in a non-covered state for 22 years, WEP was definitely reducing your benefit. Here's what I'd recommend as your next steps: 1. **Don't wait for automatic recalculation** - While SSA says they'll do it automatically, being proactive is smart given how overwhelmed they are with these changes. 2. **Schedule an in-person appointment** - I know it's 40 minutes away, but for something this complex, face-to-face is often more effective. You can bring all your documents and they can review everything at once. 3. **Bring specific documents**: your original denial letter, marriage certificate, death certificate, and any correspondence about WEP reductions. 4. **Ask specific questions**: - What was your exact benefit amount before and after WEP? - What would your survivor benefit be without any reductions? - When exactly will they recalculate as WEP phases out? The phase-out means your WEP reduction will decrease by 20% each year starting in 2025. If this makes your survivor benefit higher than your own benefit at any point, they should automatically switch you. You've got this! The new law is designed to help people exactly like you.