I really appreciate everyone's help! I think I'm starting to understand this better. So if something happens to my husband, I have options: 1. Claim survivor benefits early but face significant reductions due to both early claiming AND the earnings test 2. Wait until FRA to claim 100% of his benefit with no earnings limit, while still working 3. Potentially delay my own benefit until 70 to maximize it I'm going to try calling SSA to get my specific numbers. Does anyone have tips for actually getting through to a real person there?

One more important point: If your husband passes away, you would be eligible for a one-time death benefit payment of $255 from Social Security. It's not much, but it's something. Also, regarding your student loans - federal student loans are discharged upon death, and there are income-driven repayment plans that could help while you're alive. If you're working for a non-profit, definitely look into PSLF as someone suggested. The survivor benefit rules are complex but designed to provide flexibility. The key decision points are: 1. When to claim (early with reduction vs. FRA with full amount) 2. How your current earnings affect benefits before FRA 3. When/if to switch between survivor benefits and your own retirement benefit A personalized analysis of your exact situation by SSA would be very helpful.

has anyone mentioned the kids can get benefits from BOTH US and canada? my friends kids got both after their dad died who worked in both countries, but i dont know much about how it worked

Since you're dealing with both US and Canadian benefits, here's what I recommend for your planning: 1. Request your SSA earnings record and your CPP contribution statement to confirm your work history in both countries is accurate. 2. For your wife's planning, she should compare these scenarios: - Taking survivor benefits at her FRA, then switching to her own SS at 70 - Taking her own reduced benefit early, then switching to survivor benefits at her FRA 3. Calculate the family maximum benefit now so you have realistic expectations for what your children will receive. 4. Contact both SSA and Service Canada to confirm children's eligibility for survivor benefits under both systems. 5. Consider consulting with a financial planner who specializes in cross-border retirement planning, particularly someone with expertise in the US-Canada Social Security Agreement. The fact that survivor benefits aren't reduced by WEP is extremely important to your planning and could significantly impact your strategy.

BTW if your uncle was married make sure his wife applies for the $255 death benefit too!!! its not much but its something

Something else to consider - if your aunt was already receiving spousal benefits on your uncle's record, her benefit amount should increase to his full benefit amount as a widow. She should contact SSA about this too, as survivor benefits need to be applied for; they don't automatically convert. And if she's not yet at her full retirement age, there could be strategic filing considerations to maximize her long-term benefits.

also tell ur sister to be ready for backpay when approved! they pay from when she applied or sometimes even from when her disability started if thats within a year of applying. she could get a big chunk of money all at once when approved

One more important point - if your sister has any dependent children under 18 (or adult disabled children whose disability began before age 22), they may also qualify for benefits on her record once she's approved for SSDI. This doesn't apply to most 61-year-olds, but worth mentioning in case it's relevant to her situation.

wait i just remembered something else important my aunt told me! if your getting the spousal benefit as a top-up on your own benefit, and then your husband passes away, you CANT get both the spousal AND the survivor benefit. you have to pick one. she said lots of people don't know this and expect to get both

Thank you all so much for this information! I'm feeling much more prepared now. Let me see if I understand the key points correctly: 1. If my husband passes away, I CAN claim survivor benefits before my FRA of 67, but they'll be reduced if I claim early 2. His early claiming at 62 won't fully reduce my survivor benefits due to the RIB-LIM rule (I'll get at least 82.5% of his FRA benefit) 3. I have flexibility to switch between my own benefit and survivor benefits at any point after he passes 4. If he passes away early, I could potentially take my reduced retirement benefit at 63 as planned, then switch to the unreduced survivor benefit at my FRA of 67 This is all so much more reassuring than what I feared. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me understand this complicated system!

One more important thing: if your friend's husband worked in both SS-covered employment AND government employment not covered by SS, the SSA will need to carefully review his earnings record to calculate the correct benefit. Make sure she brings his complete work history if possible. Also, the fact that she receives a small SS benefit suggests she might have enough SS-covered work quarters to potentially reduce the GPO impact. The rules are extremely technical, which is why an in-person appointment with documentation is crucial.

Just to add - there's a movement to repeal GPO and WEP with multiple bills introduced in Congress over the years, but nothing has passed yet. The Social Security Fairness Act would eliminate both provisions, but it's been stalled for years despite bipartisan support. Public pension recipients should follow this legislation.

I think everyone's making this more complicated than it needs to be. If you're making good money and don't need the SS now, just wait till 70. That's what my financial advisor told me to do. The 3 extra years of growth is worth it in the long run especially if you have family history of longevity.

To correct my earlier mistake: Since you were born after 1/2/1954, you can't do a restricted application. However, if your ex-spouse benefit would be higher than your own benefit (which seems unlikely from your numbers), you could claim now and then switch to your own at 70. But since your own benefit is higher, you're better off waiting. One consideration: If you have health concerns that might impact longevity, waiting to 70 might not be optimal. The general breakeven age is around 82-83 - if you live beyond that, waiting to 70 pays off.

my mom always said you should apply on your birthday month is that true?

You need to watch out because they make you pick a Medicare plan too when you file for SS if he hasn't already done that part. My husband got totally confused by all the Medicare options when he was trying to do his SS application. Just a heads up that might slow things down.

My friend at work said something about a "restricted application" if you were born before 1954? does that matter for divorced benefits?

I've been through this exact process! Just FYI - when you do apply, make sure to specifically tell them you want to file for divorced spouse benefits. I originally just applied for retirement and the claims specialist never mentioned I could get more by claiming on my ex's record (we were married 11 years). Had to go back and refile 6 months later when I found out, and they only gave me 6 months of retroactive payments even though I was eligible all along. So frustrating!

just wondering if u ever got this resolved? im in a similar boat and scared about how long it might take

After reading through this thread, I think contacting your Congressional representative was a smart move. Their constituent services can often push things forward much faster than we can as individuals. Just to confirm a few technical points: 1. The form you filed (SSA-521) requests withdrawal of a claim, which is different from simply changing your month of entitlement. If you only wanted to delay by 3 months, a withdrawal might have been more complicated than necessary. 2. For Social Security retirement benefits, changing your month of entitlement can affect your benefit amount due to the monthly delayed retirement credits you earn after Full Retirement Age until age 70. 3. When transitioning from survivor to retirement benefits, there's often confusion about the Medicare premium transfers, which is why you're experiencing the issues with having to pay out of pocket. Keep detailed records of all your out-of-pocket Medicare payments. When your case is resolved, you'll need to submit Form SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant) with copies of your receipts to request reimbursement. This won't happen automatically.