One more thing to keep in mind - since your wife is at full retirement age (FRA), she's eligible for the full spousal benefit of 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (before any GPO reduction). If she's eligible for both her own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, SSA will pay her own benefit plus the difference to equal the higher amount. Also, since she's past FRA, there's no penalty for either of you working while collecting benefits. The earnings test doesn't apply after FRA. Bring to your appointment: 1. Photo ID for both of you 2. Social Security cards 3. Marriage certificate 4. Pension documentation with lump sum details 5. Recent tax returns 6. Bank account information for direct deposit Good luck with your appointment!

after all ur appointments done come back and tell us what happend! lots of us dealing with same stuff and its helpful to hear real examples

My cousin got a suplimental on her ex's record but she had to apply through the local office in person. Theyre realy strict about the 10 year marriage rule, even if your off by a month they say no. But she gets an extra $230 evry month now on top of her disability. Worth trying for sure!!!!

One more important thing to know: when you apply for the divorced spouse benefit, SSA won't tell your ex-husband. Some people worry about this, but your application won't affect his benefit amount or generate any notification to him. Also, if your ex-husband has remarried, it doesn't affect your eligibility for benefits on his record. When you do apply, be prepared for SSA to request: - Proof of your SSDI entitlement (they should have this already) - Marriage certificate - Final divorce decree - Your ex's Social Security number (helpful but not required) Good luck with your application!

Just want to add some helpful information for others who might be in a similar situation. If you don't want to wait for tax withholding to begin (or if it takes several months to process), another option is to make quarterly estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES. This is what I ended up doing when my withholding took nearly 4 months to go into effect. The quarterly due dates are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. This can be a good backup plan if your W-4V isn't processed quickly. The IRS has an online payment system that makes it relatively easy.

one more thing - they only withhold whole percentages (7%, 10%, 12%, 22%) nothing customized so you might still owe some or get refund

My sister went thru this and she said the problem was that her husband collected SS on HER record not his own thats why they both got hit when she made to much $. if ur hubby gets his own check based on his own work then ur fine!!!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much better understanding that our tax filing status doesn't affect how Social Security handles the earnings limit. I'll file jointly with my husband since it won't put his benefits at risk. I'm still worried about how much they'll take from my benefits next year, but at least I know it won't affect my husband. Does anyone know if they just withhold future payments or do they sometimes send a bill asking for the money back in a lump sum?

Don't let anyone tell you there's nothing you can do about these unfair provisions! There are bills in Congress right now to reform or eliminate WEP/GPO. Contact your representatives! My mom's teacher group is fighting this tooth and nail. Public servants deserve better!

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I've scheduled an in-person appointment at my local SSA office for next week and I'm gathering all my pension documentation. I've also made a list of questions based on all your advice. I'm still frustrated about the WEP/GPO reductions, but at least I understand the process better now. I'll update once I've had my appointment and let you know how it goes.

wait im confused about the gpo thing...does this mean teachers cant get ANY spouse benefits?? my wife is retiring from teaching next year, will she get any of my ss??

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Looks like I need to contact SSA directly to get a definitive answer. I'll try calling them (with help from that service someone mentioned if needed) and specifically ask if there's an application on file for me. Even though the GPO means I'll get $0 either way, I just want to make sure everything is correct in their system. I appreciate all the explanations about how the notation on my statement might just be showing my theoretical entitlement rather than confirming I've applied.

call that brother and set him straight! family shouldnt do this to family especially when its ur own father trying to help u out. shame on him. ur dad needs to talk to the lender right away and explain the situation maybe they can work something out. credit unions are usually more understanding than big banks for this kinda thing

One more important thing: if your father is receiving ONLY Social Security retirement, he should send the creditor (and their attorneys if they have any) a formal letter stating that his only income is Social Security benefits, which are exempt from garnishment under 42 U.S.C. § 407. Include his Social Security award letter or benefit statements as proof. This won't stop them from pursuing legal action, but it puts them on notice that even if they win a judgment, collection will be difficult. Sometimes this is enough to get them to offer a much reduced settlement.

can u get a US bank account and just keep using that? thats what my sister does in australia. gets SS in her US bank then transfers to aus bank herself. avoids all this international deposit drama

I've helped several clients navigate international Social Security issues. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your payment isn't lost permanently - it's likely been returned to Treasury and is on hold 2. The Buffalo office was correct - only certain offices handle international cases 3. For Canada specifically, you have these options: - Contact the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at Ottawa Embassy - Visit the Detroit field office (they handle Canadian cases) - Schedule a dedicated international benefits specialist call 4. Important: Make sure you're using the correct form - SSA-1199-OP1 (Canada) for direct deposit The most efficient approach is emailing Ottawa's FBU (FBU.Ottawa@ssa.gov) with your information. Include your SSN, Canadian address, and full banking details. They typically respond within 3-5 business days and can process your direct deposit correctly.

Actually, for survivor benefits, you can't apply online - you have to either call SSA or visit an office. But you're absolutely right about the appointment. Never just show up! I called the national number (1-800-772-1213) to schedule mine. Had to call right when they opened at 8am to get through.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply in August 2025 (3 months before my November birthday) and make sure I have all my documents ready. I'll call the SSA to schedule an appointment since it sounds like I can't apply for survivor benefits online. I really appreciate all the tips about the earnings test and comparing benefit options. This community has been so helpful!

To directly answer your question: Your SSDI benefit at FRA conversion is calculated as if you had reached full retirement age at the time you became disabled. This means the amount reflects: 1. Your earnings up until your disability began 2. An adjustment that removes any reduction for taking benefits early 3. No earnings after your disability began If you had continued working instead of receiving SSDI, your retirement benefit might be different based on: - Whether those additional working years would have been higher than your previous 35 highest years - How many more years you would have worked - What your salary would have been during those years The disability freeze protected you from having zero-income years count against you, but it also prevented including potentially higher-earning years.

I went thru the same thing!! When my SSDI changed over i was SHOCKED it was the same amount, i always thought SSDI was more. My neighbor said her husband's check actually went DOWN but i think she's confused about something because everything i've read says the amount stays the same?? The whole system is so confusing lol.