Based on what you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. First, verify your husband's claiming history by contacting SSA (whether through regular channels or using a service to help you get through) 2. Ask specifically about: - When your husband began collecting benefits - What his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) was - How the RIB-LIM rule affects your specific situation 3. Request a benefit calculation for these scenarios: - Taking your survivor benefits now (reduced amount) - Taking your own retirement benefit now, then switching to survivor benefits at your FRA Once you have these specific numbers, you can make an informed decision. The difference could potentially be thousands of dollars over your lifetime, so it's worth doing this research.

I went through this exact situation 3 years ago when I was 64. The misinformation is unfortunately very common - even some SSA representatives don't always have the details right. Here's what I learned the hard way: survivor benefits ARE reduced if you take them before your FRA, period. The reduction is permanent too, so you can't "undo" it later. What saved me financially was doing exactly what Justin suggested - I took my own smaller retirement benefit at 64, then switched to the full survivor benefit when I hit my FRA at 66. This gave me income for those 2 years while preserving the higher survivor benefit amount. The key is getting YOUR specific numbers from SSA because everyone's situation is different based on earnings history and when benefits were claimed. Don't rely on general advice (including mine!) - get your actual benefit estimates in writing before deciding.

I'm also new to this whole process and just learning about all these rules for self-employed people! This thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea there was both an earnings test AND a services test for us. One question I have after reading all these responses: if I'm working as a freelance graphic designer and some months I might work 50+ hours but other months only 20 hours (due to project cycles), how does SSA handle that kind of variation? Do they average it out over the year, or does going over 45 hours in any single month automatically trigger issues? Also, for those of you who've been through this - how detailed do the hour records need to be? Is it enough to track daily totals, or do they want specifics like "2 hours on client A, 3 hours on client B, 1 hour administrative tasks" etc.? Thanks for all the great information everyone is sharing here. This is definitely more complicated than I initially thought it would be!

This entire thread has been such an education for me as someone who's about to start this process myself! I'm a freelance wedding photographer turning 62 next month and planning to start taking Social Security benefits while continuing to work part-time. What's really concerning me after reading all of this is how the seasonal nature of my work might affect things. Wedding season means I could easily work 60+ hours some months (May through October) but then virtually nothing in the winter months. It sounds like those busy months could be a real problem even if my annual average stays reasonable. Has anyone dealt with highly seasonal self-employment like this? I'm wondering if I should consider restructuring my business model - maybe referring overflow work to other photographers during peak season to keep my hours down, or only booking smaller weddings that require fewer hours. The whole situation feels like we're being penalized for the flexibility that comes with self-employment, which was supposed to be one of the benefits of working for ourselves! Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this has definitely changed how I'm approaching my retirement planning.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider the timing of when you apply for Social Security. Since you're planning to start collecting at 62, you'll be taking a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit amount (around 25-30% less than your full retirement age benefit). With WEP potentially reducing your benefit even further, it might be worth running the numbers to see if delaying your claim by even a year or two could significantly improve your monthly income, especially since your part-time job and pension are covering your current expenses. Every year you delay past 62 increases your benefit by about 6-8% until you reach full retirement age. Just something to consider as part of your overall planning - sometimes the math works out better to wait even if you're eligible early.

I don't think there are any free online calculators that accurately handle WEP calculations with different claiming ages - it's one of those complex scenarios where the SSA's own systems are really your best bet. However, you can get a good sense of the trade-offs by requesting a detailed benefit estimate from SSA that shows your projected benefits at different claiming ages, then asking them to apply the WEP reduction to each scenario. Another approach is to use the SSA's own retirement estimator and then manually subtract the WEP reduction amount (which they should be able to calculate for you) from each age scenario. Since you mentioned having 15 years of substantial earnings under Social Security, your WEP reduction might be in the $300-400 range rather than the maximum $578, but definitely get the exact number from them. Given that you're financially stable now, running those numbers could be really valuable. Even a year or two of delay could potentially offset a significant portion of the WEP reduction through the delayed retirement credits.

I'm sorry for your loss and want to share what I learned when helping my aunt with a similar WEP situation last year (though she was still living at the time). One thing that really helped was getting everything organized before the SSA visit. Create a folder with: death certificate, executor documentation, her complete SSA payment history for Dec 2023-Dec 2024, and documentation of her government pension amounts. Having it all in one place made the appointment much smoother. Also, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, try calling right when they open (8 AM local time) on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mondays and Fridays tend to be busier. When you do get through, ask them to put notes in her file about your call so future representatives can see the history. The SSA-1724 form that others mentioned is definitely the right starting point. You can download it from ssa.gov and fill most of it out ahead of time. Just be prepared that the first person you speak with might not be familiar with how the WEP/GPO repeal affects deceased beneficiaries - it's still pretty new territory for many SSA employees. Based on what others have shared here about the timeline, I'd recommend getting this filed as soon as possible even if processing takes a while. Better to be in the queue early than risk missing any deadlines. Good luck with everything!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I work as a paralegal and have helped several clients navigate posthumous Social Security claims, including some recent WEP/GPO cases. A few additional points that might help: 1. **Timeline is critical** - You generally have 2 years from the date of death to file for underpayments, but with the WEP/GPO repeal being so recent, I'd recommend filing within the next few months to avoid any complications. 2. **Bank statements can help** - If you have her bank statements showing the actual SSA deposits from Dec 2023-Dec 2024, bring those too. It creates a clear paper trail of what she actually received versus what she should have received. 3. **Consider a local Congressional office** - If you hit roadblocks with SSA, your mother's Congressional representative's office often has staff who specialize in Social Security issues and can help expedite cases or get answers when the regular process stalls. 4. **Estate tax implications** - Depending on the size of her estate, these retroactive payments might have tax implications, so you may want to consult with the estate's tax preparer about how to handle this additional income. The advice others have given about the SSA-1724 form and being persistent is spot-on. Don't let the first "no" or "I don't know" stop you. This is a legitimate claim under the new law, and you have every right to pursue it for her estate.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been navigating VA benefits for a few years now, I want to echo what everyone has said - this thread is incredibly comprehensive and helpful. @Giovanni, one thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider creating that my Social Security account online sooner rather than later, not just to check your estimated benefits, but also to make sure all your earnings history is accurate. Sometimes there are errors or missing years that can affect your benefit calculation, and it's much easier to get those corrected before you apply rather than after. Also, since you mentioned your granddaughter's college expenses, you might want to factor in the timing of when she'll need the money most. If she's starting college soon and you need immediate help with costs, the reduced benefit at 65 might make sense. But if she has a few years before college or you have other ways to cover the initial costs, waiting for your FRA could mean significantly more money available for her later college years or graduate school. The consistency of everyone's experiences here really shows how reliable these dual benefits are. It's great to see such a supportive community helping each other navigate these important decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful and comprehensive this discussion has been! I'm not personally in this situation yet, but I'm learning so much from everyone's real-world experiences. What really strikes me is how consistent the message has been from multiple veterans who have actually gone through this process - you absolutely CAN receive both VA TDIU and Social Security retirement benefits without any reduction to either. That kind of firsthand confirmation is invaluable when dealing with government benefit systems that can seem so complex and confusing. The practical advice shared here goes way beyond just answering the basic question too. Tips about timing applications 3-4 months early, the Medicare Part B considerations, checking earnings history for accuracy, requesting paper applications as backup, scheduling in-person appointments at local SSA offices - these are exactly the kinds of details that can make the difference between a smooth process and a frustrating one. @Giovanni, it sounds like you have some great options to consider, especially with your granddaughter's college timeline giving you some flexibility in timing. The suggestion about looking into potential VA education benefits for her is brilliant too - that could really change the whole financial equation. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating these important decisions so much easier!