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I still think you should ask for MORE money if this is gonna mess up your SS benefits! If they're offering $25k, they can probably go higher, especially if you tell them about potential SS complications. Don't sell yourself short!!!
This is actually a reasonable point. When negotiating a settlement, the potential impact on your Social Security benefits is a legitimate factor to consider. If accepting the settlement creates financial complications with your benefits, that's a real cost to you that could be factored into the negotiation.
One other thing to consider - regardless of how the settlement affects your Social Security benefits, you'll still owe income tax on the settlement amount (unless it's specifically for physical injuries or illness). So factor that into your decision as well. You might want to set aside a portion for taxes next April.
That's a really good point about the taxes. I hadn't even thought about that aspect. Looks like I need to talk to both my lawyer and maybe a tax advisor before making any decisions. I appreciate all the input everyone has provided!
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my sister-in-law got hit by both WEP and GPO. shes a retired teacher but also widowed. they reduced her SS retirement from her own work AND cut her widow benefits by 2/3 because of her teacher pension. the GPO is still staying even with this new law so she only gets help with the WEP part. seems unfair they didn't fix both!
You're absolutely right that GPO remains in effect and continues to impact survivor and spousal benefits. Many advocacy groups are still pushing for GPO repeal as well, but it wasn't included in this legislation. The financial impact of repealing both provisions simultaneously was likely too great for budget negotiations. However, the WEP repeal is still significant progress and helps millions of public servants receive their earned benefits. Hopefully, GPO reform will be addressed in future legislation.
Thanks everyone for all this information! Just to clarify my situation a bit more - I'll be turning 66 and 8 months (my FRA) in July 2025, which happens to be right when the WEP repeal starts phasing in. Based on the advice here, I think I'll plan to delay filing for SS until September or October 2025 to give SSA time to implement the changes and to get that little boost for delaying. I won't delay too long though since the WEP will only be partially phased out initially. My TRS pension will start earlier since I've already met the Rule of 80. I really appreciate everyone's insights!
Good plan! My dad was in a similar situation (police pension + SS) and the calculations are super complicated. Definitely keep all your paperwork handy and expect to have to explain your situation multiple times to different SSA people lol
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My friend got in BIG trouble cuz he didnt report his side gig when taking early SS. they made him pay back like $9000!! dont mess around with this stuff
Omg that's terrifying! I definitely don't want to end up owing thousands in overpayments. I'm going to be super careful with my reporting. Better to be thorough than sorry!
One practical tip I forgot to mention: I set a calendar reminder for the 1st of each month to complete my earnings report for the previous month. I use a very simple template I created in Word that has my name, SSN, month being reported, net earnings, and hours worked. Under that I include a brief breakdown of my self-employment activities that month. I make three copies - one to mail to SSA, one for my personal records, and one that I ask the SSA office to date-stamp if I drop it off in person (or I use certified mail if mailing it). This system has worked well for me for over a year with no issues. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, you can stop the monthly reporting completely - that was a happy day for me!
That's a smart system! I like the idea of keeping copies and getting some kind of receipt. I think I'm going to do exactly this. And I'll definitely be counting down until I reach my FRA and can stop this reporting hassle altogether. Thanks again for all your help!
Social Security phone line - still on hold after hours! Will they answer?
I'm completely losing my mind with this Social Security phone situation! I've been on hold for 4 hours and 45 minutes now - yes, you read that right. The local SSA office has technically CLOSED for the day (it's past 4:30pm), but the automated system is still telling me to stay on the line. I desperately need to speak with someone about my disability backpay that was supposed to arrive last week.Has anyone successfully gotten through to an actual human after normal business hours? The system hasn't offered me a callback option at all, which is infuriating. I'm scared to hang up after investing nearly 5 hours, but also worried I'm just wasting my time holding after they've gone home.Any advice from folks who've been in this nightmare situation before?
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One more thing - for disability backpay specifically, if it's been more than 60 days since your approval, you can contact your Congressperson's office. Every Congressional office has staff dedicated to handling Social Security issues for constituents. They have direct lines to SSA offices that bypass the normal channels.I've seen Congressional inquiries resolve backpay issues in days that were otherwise stuck for months. It's one of the most effective tools available that most people don't know about.
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Another question - if my wife claims her spousal benefit at her FRA (which would be 67 for her), but I haven't claimed yet because I'm waiting until 70, can she still get her spousal benefit? Or does she have to wait until I file for my benefits?
She cannot receive a spousal benefit until you file for your retirement benefit. This is one of the trade-offs of the delayed claiming strategy. However, there's a potential workaround called "file and suspend" that used to allow this, but that loophole was closed in 2016 by the Bipartisan Budget Act. Now you must actually be receiving benefits for your spouse to collect on your record.
My husband and me were just talking about this! Do you guys have a financial advisor who specializes in SS? Our regular investment guy doesnt really know all these complicated rules. Makes a big difference to get the right advice!
Look for a financial advisor who has the RSSA certification (Registered Social Security Analyst) or at minimum a CFP who specializes in retirement income planning. Many investment-focused advisors don't have deep knowledge of Social Security's complex rules.
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One thing nobody mentioned - if you were a stay-at-home parent for some years, there can be gaps in your earnings record. Ask them to print out your complete earnings history and check it for accuracy. Sometimes employers report wages incorrectly or under slightly different names (like if you've changed your name after marriage) and fixing those errors can increase your own benefit amount.
That's excellent advice! I did have several name variations over the years when I worked part-time jobs, so I'll definitely ask for my complete earnings record and check it carefully.
One more important thing to consider - taxation of benefits. If you and your husband have other income (investments, pensions, etc.), up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be taxable. Ask how taking benefits at different ages might affect your overall tax situation. Also, since you mentioned potentially going back to work or working more hours, ask how that would impact not just the earnings test but also the taxation of your benefits. Sometimes earning a bit more can push your combined income into a range where more of your Social Security becomes taxable. Finally, bring a notepad and pen to write everything down. The information can be overwhelming, and it's easy to forget important details. Some offices won't let you record the conversation, so taking good notes is essential.
I hadn't thought about the tax implications at all. We do have some investment income and my husband has a small pension, so this is definitely something I need to ask about. And good suggestion about taking notes - I'll bring a notepad with my questions all written out too. Thank you!
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DONT FORGET about the earnings limit if ur still teaching when u take survivors at 60!!! if ur under FRA they will take back $1 for every $2 u earn above limit. learned this the hard way :
This is an excellent point. For 2025, if you're under Full Retirement Age and working, SSA will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $22,320 (the current annual limit, which increases slightly each year). Teaching salaries typically exceed this limit, which means your survivor benefits could be substantially reduced or eliminated until you stop working or reach your Full Retirement Age.
Thank you all SO much for the helpful responses! I think I have a clearer strategy now: 1. Apply for survivor benefits at 60 2. Be aware of the earnings limit while I'm still teaching 3. Consider delaying my pension as long as possible to minimize GPO 4. Switch to my own SS benefit at 70 (which will end survivor benefits) I'll definitely look into Claimyr to get connected with an SSA specialist who actually understands these rules. And I'll find a financial advisor who specializes in GPO/WEP issues as well. This is all so complicated! I'm grateful for all your help and experiences.
That sounds like a solid plan. One last tip - after you get professional advice and make your decision, document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all applications, approval letters, and calculation explanations. I've seen cases where the SSA made adjustments years later and people needed their historical documents to prove what they were entitled to. Good luck!
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The whole Social Security disability system is SO CONFUSING! My daughter has been disabled since birth and we're still trying to figure everything out 25 years later! Every time I think I understand the rules, something changes. Good luck to you!!
Amen to that! Been dealing with SS for my brother for 15 years and still feel lost half the time.
Since several people have mentioned the transition from SSI to SSDI (as Disabled Adult Child benefits), I wanted to clarify one more thing: your son can potentially receive BOTH benefits if the SSDI amount is low. If the DAC benefit (on your husband's record) is less than the SSI federal benefit rate ($943/month in 2025), your son might get a reduced SSI payment to supplement the SSDI up to that amount. This is called "concurrent benefits," and it's designed to ensure that people don't end up worse off when qualifying for SSDI. The calculation gets complicated with the SSI income disregards, but SSA will figure that part out.
I had no idea this was possible! That's really helpful to know. So he could potentially receive some SSI to supplement the SSDI if needed. That makes me feel better about the potential transition. Thank you!
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned - if your father was receiving Social Security benefits when he passed away, your mother should not cancel his direct deposit or close his accounts until any final benefits are recovered. SSA will want to reclaim his benefit for the month of death (if he wasn't eligible for the full month). Also, while survivor benefits and widow's benefits are essentially the same thing, there are important distinctions in when you can claim them: - Widow's benefits can start as early as age 60 (50 if disabled) - Regular retirement benefits can't start until 62 Since your mother is 62, she has options for either benefit, but the reduction factors are different. Widow's benefits taken at 62 are reduced by about 28.5%, while retirement benefits at 62 are reduced by about 30%. Some widows find it advantageous to take their reduced retirement at 62, then switch to unreduced widow's benefits at their FRA. Others do the opposite. It depends entirely on the benefit amounts involved.
Thank you for mentioning that about his account - we haven't closed anything yet, thankfully. And that's really interesting about the different reduction percentages, I had no idea they weren't the same. We'll definitely need that appointment to sort through all these options.
Fatima Al-Rashid
what about SSI? thats for disabled people too and he might qualify even without the work history especially if he has limited resources now
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's absolutely right - he should apply for both SSI and SSDI (as a Disabled Adult Child on his parents' record). SSI has strict asset limits ($2,000 for an individual in 2025), but it comes with automatic Medicaid in most states. The DAC benefits under SSDI might be higher depending on his parents' earnings record, and after 24 months on SSDI, he'd qualify for Medicare. Many people receive benefits from both programs if the SSDI amount is low.
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Aiden O'Connor
Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. I'm going to gather his school records, get statements from family members and his current doctors, and try to get through to SSA to start the application process. I'm feeling much more hopeful knowing that the Disabled Adult Child benefits might be an option, even without childhood medical records. I'll update once we make some progress with the application.
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