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Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've decided to: 1) File the SSA-632 waiver form TODAY, 2) Contact legal aid in my county tomorrow morning, 3) Submit a FOIA request for my file, and 4) Try to make an in-person appointment at my local office. If legal aid can't help, I'll look for an attorney who specializes in Social Security and works on contingency. I feel so much better having a plan now. Will update once I have news!
That sounds like an excellent plan. One final suggestion - keep a detailed log of every contact you have with SSA. Note the date, time, who you spoke with (get names if possible), and what was discussed. This documentation can be extremely valuable if your case goes to a hearing.
Good luck Emily! You have a really solid plan there. I went through something similar a few years ago and keeping that detailed log like Amara mentioned was crucial - I had to reference it multiple times during my hearing. Also, when you go in person to the SSA office, bring copies of EVERYTHING and ask them to put a note in your file about what documents you showed them. Sometimes things get "lost" in the system and having that paper trail saved me. Rooting for you!
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I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out after reading your story, Beatrice. First, I'm so sorry for your loss - dealing with Social Security terminology while grieving sounds incredibly overwhelming. Your "windexing" mix-up actually made me feel better about my own confusion with these acronyms! I've been trying to understand WEP and GPO myself as a newcomer here, and everyone's explanations have been so helpful. The way Dallas and Melina broke down the calculations really clarifies how these provisions work. From what I'm learning from all the responses, it sounds like getting those comparative calculations from SSA will be crucial for your decision. The fact that you have both private sector work history AND a teaching pension creates multiple scenarios to evaluate - that's actually potentially good news even if the GPO reduction seems harsh at first glance. Thank you for posting this question. As someone just starting to navigate similar territory, seeing this supportive community help work through real situations like yours is invaluable. The knowledge sharing here is amazing!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sophia! Welcome to the community - I'm glad my question and everyone's responses are helping you navigate similar territory. It's been such a relief to find this supportive group of people who truly understand both the emotional and practical challenges we're facing. The way everyone has patiently explained WEP and GPO has made me feel so much less alone in this confusing process. I never imagined when I made that embarrassing "windexing" phone call that it would lead to such valuable learning for both myself and others in similar situations. Wishing you clarity and support as you work through your own Social Security journey!
Hi Beatrice, I'm so sorry for your loss. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the helpful responses here and learning so much about these confusing Social Security provisions. Your "windexing" story actually made me feel less embarrassed about my own recent call to Social Security where I asked about "spousal windfall benefits" when I meant survivor benefits! It seems like we all struggle with these acronyms at first. What I'm gathering from everyone's excellent explanations is that you're dealing with two separate provisions: - WEP might affect your own retirement benefit calculation - GPO will likely reduce your survivor benefits based on your teaching pension The community's advice to get both scenarios calculated by SSA seems really smart. Given your 12 years in private sector work, your own retirement benefit (even with potential WEP reduction) might end up being competitive with the GPO-reduced survivor benefit. Thank you for asking this question - it's helping newcomers like me understand what we might face. This community's knowledge and patience with complex situations like yours is incredible!
Hi QuantumQuest! Welcome to the community, and thank you for your thoughtful response. It's so reassuring to know that others are making similar mistakes with these confusing terms - "spousal windfall benefits" is actually quite logical when you think about it! You've summarized the WEP vs GPO distinction really well. I'm feeling much more confident about approaching SSA now that I understand what questions to ask and what calculations to request. The fact that multiple people here have emphasized comparing both scenarios gives me hope that there might be a better option than the very low survivor benefit my rough GPO calculation suggested. This community has been such a blessing during what felt like an impossible maze of acronyms and regulations. I'm grateful that sharing my "windexing" confusion is helping other newcomers feel less alone in navigating these complex rules. Thank you again for your kind words and support!
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wait i just realized something - if ur ex passed away recently shouldn't you be getting more money not less? my aunt got survivor benefits and it was way more than her own SS check
This is a good point, but it depends on several factors. Since the original poster is taking survivor benefits before FRA, they'll be reduced. At their current age, they'd receive approximately 79-82% of the deceased ex-spouse's full benefit. Also, if their own retirement benefit is higher than the reduced survivor benefit, they won't see an increase. Additionally, if they were receiving retirement benefits early and switch to reduced survivor benefits, there's a separate calculation called the RIB-LIM that might further affect the amount. This is definitely something they should clarify with SSA.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone new to Social Security, this thread has been really eye-opening about how complex these overpayment situations can be. From what everyone is saying, it sounds like you have several options to explore. The suggestion about Form SSA-634 to request a lower recovery rate seems particularly promising, especially since you can demonstrate financial hardship. I also think the idea of requesting a temporary reduction until your FRA next year is brilliant - that shows you're willing to work with them while acknowledging your current financial constraints. One thing that struck me from reading all these responses is how important it is to get everything documented in writing going forward. It seems like verbal agreements with SSA aren't reliable, unfortunately. I hope you're able to get this resolved quickly and get back to the $145 amount you originally agreed to. Please keep us posted on how it goes - your experience could really help others who might face similar situations!
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Thanks everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I've got this straight: 1. Apply 3-4 months before August 2025 2. I'll be eligible for full benefits for the entire month of August even though I turn FRA on the 14th 3. My first payment will arrive in September (3rd Wednesday) 4. The earnings test won't apply to me at all once I reach FRA in August This is all much clearer now. The SSA website is so confusing with all the different rules!
You've got it exactly right! And don't worry about the confusion - the Social Security rules are complicated even for people who work with them regularly. Good luck with your retirement!
One small clarification on the timing - when you apply 3-4 months early (around April/May 2025), you'll select August 2025 as your benefit start date on the application. This is important because if you don't specify, they might default to starting benefits immediately when you apply, which could result in a reduction if you're not yet at FRA. Also, make sure you have your documents ready when you apply online: birth certificate, W-2 forms or tax returns, and bank account info for direct deposit. The online application will walk you through exactly what you need. Much easier than trying to gather everything while on a phone call with SSA!
Nia Johnson
Something important to consider - even though the child receives these benefits, they technically belong to the parent/guardian to use for the child's benefit. For tax purposes, if the benefits exceed certain thresholds, they may be taxable. Your client should keep this in mind for future tax planning. The child should have received a separate SSA-1099 for his benefits, which would need to be reported if they exceed the taxable thresholds.
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ShadowHunter
•That's great to know about the SSA-1099 for the child. I'll make sure to ask them for that document when I prepare their taxes next year. So ultimately the benefits are considered the child's income for tax purposes, not the parent's, correct?
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Isabella Oliveira
•Yes, that's correct! The child's Social Security benefits are considered the child's income for tax purposes, even though the parent/guardian manages the funds. The child would file their own tax return if their total income (including the SS benefits) exceeds the filing threshold. However, many minor children receiving these benefits don't earn enough from other sources to require filing. Just make sure you're aware of the "kiddie tax" rules if the child has significant unearned income from other sources too.
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Brady Clean
This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to this community, I had no idea dependent children could receive Social Security benefits when a parent retires. I'm 35 with young kids and always assumed Social Security was just for retirees and survivors. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like this could be relevant for families where parents have children later in life. A few questions for the group: Is there any difference in benefit amounts if the child is adopted vs biological? And does the timing of when the parent files for retirement benefits affect the child's eligibility at all? Thanks for sharing all this knowledge - I'm learning so much!
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LunarEclipse
•Welcome to the community! Great questions. For your first question - there's no difference between adopted and biological children for Social Security purposes. As long as the adoption is legal, adopted children have the same rights to dependent benefits as biological children. For your second question - the child's eligibility is tied to when the parent actually starts collecting retirement benefits, not just when they become eligible. So if a parent waits until 70 to file (like the original poster's client), the child can't get benefits during those delayed years, even if the parent was eligible at 62 or their full retirement age. That's why timing can be important for families with young children - waiting to maximize your own benefit might cost the child several years of potential benefits.
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