Did you know if you die in the first 15 days of the month, your spouse doesn't get your benefit for that month AT ALL? But if you die on the 16th or later, they get to keep your payment for that month. makes NO sense!!! the whole system needs to be simplified!! too many ridiculous rules!!

Just wanted to add some clarity on the timing aspect that others mentioned. When applying for survivor benefits, there's typically a 5-month waiting period from the date of death before benefits begin, unless the surviving spouse is already receiving benefits on their own record. In your wife's case, since she'd already be receiving her own retirement benefit, she could switch to the higher survivor benefit immediately after your death (assuming she's past FRA). Also, make sure to keep good records of your benefit statements - it helps speed up the application process when the time comes. The SSA should have everything on file, but having your own documentation never hurts.

Update: I finally got through to SSA after using the Claimyr service that someone suggested. The agent confirmed that with my projected pension of $4,200, I'll get zero spousal benefits (the GPO reduction exceeds what I would receive). However, she explained that if my husband passes away, I might still get some survivor benefits since those can be up to 100% of his benefit (before GPO reduction) instead of the 50% for spousal benefits. She also clarified that if I work a job with Social Security coverage for 5 more years (to get to at least 20 credits), it still won't help me get my own retirement benefit (need 40 credits), but it might slightly improve my situation with survivor benefits later. Knowing the real numbers is frustrating but at least now we can plan appropriately. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for sharing your update! It's really helpful to see how this played out with actual numbers. I'm a teacher in California facing a similar situation - my husband has a strong SS record but I've only paid into CalSTRS for 18 years. Your experience confirms what I've been dreading about GPO completely eliminating spousal benefits when you have a decent pension. The survivor benefit angle is interesting though - I hadn't considered that the higher benefit amount (100% vs 50%) might still leave something after the GPO reduction even when spousal benefits get wiped out completely. Did the SSA agent give you any rough numbers on what survivor benefits might look like after GPO in your case? This whole system really does penalize teachers whose spouses contributed to SS their whole careers. But like you said, at least having real numbers lets you plan accordingly instead of hoping for benefits that won't materialize.

If you're still working, this is definitely the right move. Not only will your benefit amount increase by approximately 8% for each year you delay (between FRA and 70), but continuing to work might increase your Primary Insurance Amount by replacing lower-earning years in your calculation. Double benefit! Once you've handled the withdrawal paperwork, I'd recommend scheduling a benefits planning session with SSA when you're about 6 months from your actual retirement date. They can help you coordinate everything properly.

I work at a local SSA field office and see this situation fairly regularly. Here's what you need to know: 1. **Act fast** - You have 12 months from your entitlement date to withdraw, but don't wait 2. **Form SSA-521** - You can download it from ssa.gov or pick it up at any office 3. **Don't return money yet** - Wait for SSA's instructions on how they want repayment 4. **Visit in person if possible** - This ensures proper processing and you get a receipt The good news is that once your withdrawal is processed, your Medicare Part B enrollment will automatically terminate, and since you have employer coverage, you won't face any penalties when you eventually enroll. One important note: Make sure you understand that this is your ONE lifetime withdrawal opportunity. If you're not absolutely certain about your retirement timing, you might want to consider benefit suspension instead (available at Full Retirement Age), which preserves your withdrawal option for true emergencies. The process typically takes 4-6 weeks once all paperwork and repayment are complete.

Do you actually NEED to withdraw the application? Can't you just tell them to pause it or something? Seems like a lot of paperwork just to delay things a bit.

Just wanted to add that you can submit the SSA-521 form by mail, fax, or in person at your local SSA office. Given your time constraints and the fact that you're working 80 hours a week, mailing it might be your best option - just make sure to send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. Also, regarding the disability angle that Aaliyah mentioned - if your disc issues are severe enough to require multiple surgeries and are affecting your ability to work, you might want to explore filing for SSDI separately. The medical requirements are strict, but degenerative disc disease can qualify if it significantly limits your functional capacity. Unlike retirement benefits, SSDI comes with Medicare after 24 months, which could be valuable for your ongoing medical needs. One last tip: document everything about your withdrawal decision and keep copies of all forms. This will be helpful if you decide to reapply later and need to show the timeline of your previous application.

That's an important point about the child support implications. Our divorce agreement doesn't specifically address what happens if Social Security benefits become available, so we'd probably need to consult with our attorneys about modifying the child support calculation.

I'm a newcomer to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just approved for SSI at $943/month and had no idea about SSDI potentially being available too. I worked for about 16 years before my disability (chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia made full-time work impossible). Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should definitely contact SSA to inquire about SSDI eligibility. The information about Claimyr for getting through to SSA representatives is also really valuable - I've been dreading trying to call them. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!