Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you do get that SSA appointment, bring documentation of ALL your earnings history if you have it. I brought my old W-2s and tax returns from my private sector years, and it helped the agent verify my substantial earnings years more quickly. Also, don't be discouraged if the first agent you speak with seems unsure about WEP calculations. I had to speak with a supervisor to get accurate numbers. The calculation is complex and not all front-line staff are equally familiar with it. One last thing - if you're married, make sure to ask about how WEP might affect any spousal benefits your spouse might be eligible for. The rules are different than for your own retirement benefit. Good luck with your appointment! It sounds like you're being very thorough in your planning, which will serve you well.

I'm in a similar situation but about 5 years behind you - currently 61 and working for my city government with 13 years of service, plus 17 years in private sector before that. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the substantial earnings threshold and how continuing to work in SS-covered employment after government retirement could reduce WEP penalties. One question I haven't seen addressed: does it matter WHEN during the year you start collecting SS benefits if you're continuing to work? I'm wondering if there are any tax advantages to starting benefits at the beginning vs middle vs end of a calendar year, especially when you're still earning a government salary. Also, has anyone dealt with state taxes on SS benefits while still working? My state taxes SS benefits and I'm trying to figure out the overall tax impact of collecting both my salary and SS in the same year. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical information that you just can't get from the official pamphlets!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation, so this entire discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I retired from corporate work last year and have been considering substitute teaching, but I was completely confused about how it might affect my Social Security benefits. What I'm taking away from all these responses is that the key factor is whether you'll actually RECEIVE a pension from the non-SS covered work, not just whether you pay into their system. The math on service credit accumulation for part-time substitute work makes it clear that reaching vesting requirements would take many, many years. For someone like the OP (and myself) with 30+ years of Social Security-covered earnings, it sounds like we have strong protection against WEP reductions even in unlikely scenarios where we might eventually earn a small pension. I'm particularly grateful to those who shared their actual experiences with calling SSA and getting official guidance. It seems like the consistent message is that part-time substitute teaching at our career stage is very unlikely to trigger WEP issues. This thread should definitely be bookmarked for anyone considering post-retirement teaching work! Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their research and real-world experiences.

Welcome to the community! Your situation is actually quite common for retirees exploring substitute teaching, and based on everything discussed in this thread, you should feel confident moving forward with your plans. The consensus from multiple people with real experience is crystal clear: WEP only applies when you actually receive a pension from non-SS covered work. Since Kentucky requires 5 years of service credit to vest and you're only working 2-3 days per week as a substitute, you'd need to work well over a decade to reach that threshold - which clearly isn't your plan. Your 35+ years of Social Security contributions actually put you in an excellent position. Even in the extremely unlikely scenario that you somehow accumulated enough service to earn a minimal pension years down the road, your extensive SS-covered work history would minimize any WEP impact. I'd encourage you to enjoy the substitute teaching for what it is - meaningful work that keeps you engaged while providing some extra income. Don't let WEP concerns hold you back from something that's clearly fulfilling. If you want absolute peace of mind, a quick call to SSA can confirm what everyone here is telling you, but mathematically your Social Security benefits should be safe. Thanks for bringing up this topic - the discussion has been incredibly helpful for many of us navigating similar retirement decisions!

I'm so sorry you're going through this frustrating ordeal with SSA! Your situation really highlights the systemic issues many of us face when dealing with complex benefit calculations. Reading through everyone's responses, it's clear you now have a solid action plan with multiple strategies to pursue. As a newcomer to this community, I'm struck by how knowledgeable and supportive everyone has been in breaking down the technical aspects of family maximum benefits, manual computations, and the various forms and specialists you can request. The fact that so many people have experienced similar issues with conflicting letters, disappearing online accounts, and unhelpful representatives shows these aren't isolated incidents but real problems with SSA's systems. I'd especially encourage you to pursue that congressional office contact that Brandon mentioned - from what I've seen in other situations, congressional inquiries often cut through the bureaucratic maze much faster than trying to navigate the system on your own. Combined with requesting the specific forms (SSA-1090-SM, BENDEX screen) and asking for a manual computation specialist, you should be able to get the detailed explanations you deserve. Your persistence is admirable, and you absolutely shouldn't accept vague answers like "just ignore that notice." You've earned these benefits through decades of work, and you have every right to understand exactly how they're being calculated. Keep documenting everything, and don't let them brush you off. Hoping you get this resolved soon and receive all the back pay you're owed!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too, but I wanted to say how impressed I am by all the detailed advice everyone has shared about your incredibly frustrating situation with SSA. Reading through this whole thread has been really educational about how complex Social Security can get when you have multiple beneficiaries on one record. The combination of family maximum calculations, manual computations, and system glitches you're dealing with sounds like a perfect storm. What really stands out to me is how many specific, actionable strategies people have provided - from contacting your congressman's office to requesting those specialized forms (SSA-1090-SM, BENDEX screen) to asking for a manual computation specialist. The fact that Brandon got results within a week through congressional intervention seems especially promising. It's both reassuring and concerning that so many others have experienced similar issues with conflicting letters, disappearing online accounts, and representatives giving contradictory information. At least you know you're not alone in this bureaucratic maze! The persistence everyone is encouraging definitely seems key. That representative who told you to "just ignore" an official notice was completely out of line - you absolutely deserve clear, consistent answers about benefits you've earned through decades of work. I'm rooting for you to get this resolved quickly! With all these strategies and this supportive community behind you, hopefully you'll have clarity soon and receive any back pay owed. Keep us posted on how it goes!

wait does she get any of his benefit if he passes away? or does gpo still apply to widow benefits to?

Based on the detailed discussion here, it sounds like your mom's situation is unfortunately common but there are definitely some avenues worth exploring! The math that Omar laid out is spot-on - with her $2,200 state pension creating a $1,467 GPO reduction, she wouldn't get additional spousal benefits since her own $480 is higher than the remaining $413. However, I'd really encourage you to dig into those exceptions that Ravi and others mentioned. The 60-month rule could be a game-changer if she paid SS taxes during her final years of state employment. Many teachers and state employees don't realize their districts sometimes switched to SS-covered positions near retirement. Also, that service Astrid mentioned (claimyr) might be worth the investment if you keep hitting dead ends with SSA phone calls. Sometimes paying a small fee to skip the phone queue nightmare is worth your sanity and time. Good luck, and don't give up - these rules are complex but there are people out there who can help navigate them!

Thanks everyone for the great information! To summarize what I've learned: there's NO hourly limit, just the earnings cap of $59,520 for months before FRA in 2025. I need to track when money is EARNED not paid, and be proactive about reporting if I might exceed the limit. Investment income doesn't count toward the limit, and any benefit reductions now will increase my benefit amount later. Really appreciate all the help!

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might help - if you do end up exceeding the earnings limit, Social Security typically stops your benefits entirely until they've withheld the required amount, rather than reducing each monthly payment proportionally. So if you owe $3,000 in withheld benefits and your monthly benefit is $1,500, they'll stop TWO full months of payments rather than reducing 6 months by $500 each. This can create cash flow issues if you're not prepared for it. Planning ahead with SSA is definitely the way to go if you think you might go over the limit!