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i think ur all missing a strategy here. if the husband waits til 70 to file, the wife could file for just her spousal benefit at her FRA and then switch to her own higher benefit at 70. that way they get some money now and the max amount later.
That strategy (restricted application for spousal benefits only) is no longer available for people born after January 1, 1954. Based on the ages provided, the wife would have been born around 1960, so she would not be eligible to use this strategy. When she files, she'll automatically receive the higher of either her own benefit or the spousal benefit, but not both sequentially.
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much from this discussion. Just to summarize what I understand now: 1. My husband should go ahead and file for his own benefits when he turns 70. 2. He can't receive spousal benefits based on my record because his own benefit will be more than half of mine. 3. When I decide to file (likely at 70), I'll get my own benefit amount. 4. The higher benefit (mine) will become the survivor benefit if one of us passes away. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this. The Social Security rules can be so confusing!
Will my ex-spouse's SS benefit of $3000 continue to grow even while he's collecting early? Confused about my spousal top-up options
I'm really stressing about a decision I made and wondering if I should reverse it. I started collecting Social Security benefits this February at 63 with a spousal top-up based on my ex-husband's record (we were married 22+ years). My current income is pretty low (around $21,500/year), so my plan has been to save ALL of my SS payments until I hit 70, then start using part of those savings to supplement my monthly SS checks.But now I'm second-guessing myself. I keep wondering if I should stop collecting, pay back everything I've received, and wait until my Full Retirement Age to restart. Here's why I'm confused: My benefit would be 50% of my ex's maximum benefit, which is about $3000/month. He started collecting before his FRA though.My big question is: Does that $3000 base amount continue to grow with COLA even though he's already collecting? And am I actually losing money by collecting the spousal benefit early instead of waiting until my FRA? The difference in monthly payments seems significant, but I'm not sure if the long-term math works out in my favor either way. Help!
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Based on everything in this thread, here's what I would recommend:1. Verify the actual FRA benefit amount for your ex-spouse with SSA (this is crucial for accurate calculations)2. Since you have family longevity and you're primarily saving these funds anyway, the math suggests withdrawing your application might be favorable if you live beyond 793. However, if you decide to keep receiving benefits now, consider putting those funds into something with better returns than a savings account - perhaps a mix of I-bonds, short-term treasuries, or conservative ETFs depending on your risk tolerance4. Remember that once you reach your FRA, you can work and earn any amount without affecting your benefitsThe one certainty is that you should make a decision before your 12-month window closes, as that option disappears after that.
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SORRY but everyone is missing something important here!!! Even if/when the GPO gets repealed, you'll still be subject to the Dual Entitlement rule! This means your SS benefit will be reduced by your teacher's pension amount. So many people think repealing GPO means they'll get FULL spousal benefits + FULL pension, but that's NOT how it works! You'll only get the higher of the two in most cases.
That's not correct. The Dual Entitlement rule applies when someone is eligible for their OWN Social Security retirement benefits AND a spousal/survivor benefit. It does not apply to non-covered pensions (like teacher pensions from states where teachers don't pay into Social Security). GPO specifically affects government pensions from work not covered by Social Security. If GPO is repealed, someone with a non-covered government pension would indeed be able to receive their full pension AND potentially their full spousal/survivor Social Security benefits (assuming they meet all other eligibility requirements).
This is getting so complicated! Now I'm unsure again about what I might actually receive. Does anyone know if there's a benefits calculator that takes all these different rules into account?
To address your latest question - there isn't a perfect calculator for your specific situation because of the complexity with the potential GPO repeal. However, here's a step-by-step approach: 1. Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov 2. Look at your ex-spouse's earnings record (you'll need to request this from SSA) 3. Calculate 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) 4. Compare that to your own benefit (if you have one from work covered by Social Security) Without GPO, you would be eligible for the higher of your own benefit or up to 50% of your ex's benefit. Since you worked as a teacher in a state where you didn't pay into Social Security, you likely don't have your own SS benefit, so you'd get the 50% spousal benefit if GPO is repealed. And yes, you'll still need to meet that 2-year divorce requirement.
Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I worked as a teacher in Illinois for 28 years (we didn't pay into SS), but I also worked part-time jobs before teaching that did pay into SS, though not enough for 40 credits. I'll follow your steps and try to get a clearer picture of what I might be eligible for. I really appreciate everyone's help!
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When you submit the reconsideration, include a cover letter that clearly states: 1. You were specifically instructed by an SSA representative on [date] that medical records were not needed due to the long-term SSI status 2. You followed all instructions provided but were not told to submit medical documentation 3. You're now providing comprehensive medical history including: - Records establishing disability before age 22 - Continuous treatment records - Current medical status I'd also recommend trying to reach a supervisor at your local office to discuss the situation. The best way I've found to reach someone quickly at SSA is through Claimyr (claimyr.com). They've got a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. This saved me days of frustration when dealing with my mother's benefits issues. The DAC benefit approval should be straightforward since your daughter has been on SSI so long, but you do need to provide the right documentation.
Thank you for the detailed advice! I've started drafting the cover letter with all these points. I'll check out that service too - reaching SSA has been nearly impossible. Last time I called, I was on hold for over 2 hours before getting disconnected.
Quick update on my brother's situation that I mentioned earlier - we finally got approved after reconsideration and the monthly payment is $1,675 compared to the $943 he was getting on SSI. Plus, no more stressing about the $2,000 asset limit! The Medicare will kick in soon too. Definitely worth fighting for!
That's wonderful news! And a really significant increase in benefits. This gives me hope. I'm going to keep pursuing this because the financial difference would be substantial for my daughter too.
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My sister managed 2 get an appointment by using the online contact form on SSA website. She filled it out asking for an appointment & they called her back in like 3 days to schedule. Worth a try!
i tried that 2 and nobody ever called me back. depends on how busy ur local office is i guess
After you do get through and schedule your appointment, make sure you show up EARLY with all your documents. My appointment was for 2pm but they actually called me in at 1:40pm, and if I hadn't been there already, they would have moved on to the next person. The security line can take 15-20 minutes alone.
Good tip about arriving early - I hadn't thought about the security line. Did they specify exactly what documents you needed to bring when they made the appointment?
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To clarify for everyone: YES, the earnings test applies to ALL Social Security benefits taken before FRA - retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits. The 2025 limit is $22,320 if you're under FRA the whole year. They withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above that limit. For the original poster: Since you earned so little last year and presumably will earn a similar amount this year, this won't affect you. But the SSA needs to verify that with documentation, hence the Schedule C request. You should be able to call and explain you don't have the Schedule C yet. They may accept alternative documentation or place a note on your record. And yes, once approved, you'll receive retroactive benefits to your application date.
thx for explaining! wish the ssa website made this clearer!
Just out of curiosity, have you considered waiting until your FRA to claim spousal benefits? The reduction for claiming early can be substantial - up to 35% less if you claim at 62 vs. FRA. Each year you wait, the monthly amount increases. Of course, there's the trade-off of getting smaller checks sooner versus larger checks later.
We actually did the math on this. Even with the reduction, I'd need to live past 82 for waiting to be the better financial choice in my specific situation. Plus we have some short-term expenses coming up, so the immediate income helps more than a larger amount later would. But it's definitely something everyone should calculate for their own situation!
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Does anyone know if these child benefits count towards the earnings limit if I'm working part-time? I heard there's a limit of like $22,000 or something before they start reducing benefits?
No, the children's benefits do NOT count toward your earnings limit. The earnings test (which is $22,560 for 2025 if you're under Full Retirement Age the whole year) only applies to your work income, not to any benefits received. However, if YOU exceed the earnings limit, it affects both your benefit AND any benefits payable to others (like your children) on your record. For every $2 you earn above the limit, SSA withholds $1 in total family benefits.
Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! Based on all your advice, I'm going to: 1. Set up separate accounts for each child's benefits (seems like the safest approach) 2. Keep basic records of how the money is spent on their needs 3. Make sure I understand the annual reporting requirements It sounds like there's some variation in how strictly different SSA offices enforce things, so I'll err on the side of caution. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
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Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! I've decided to go with quarterly payments using Form 1040-ES. I like having more control and being able to use my exact 11.1% calculation. I'll set up a separate savings account as suggested and set calendar reminders for the payment dates. It seems like most of you have had frustrating experiences with the W-4V processing times, so I'm glad to avoid that headache. The Direct Pay system sounds much more convenient than I realized. Really appreciate all the tips and real-world experiences!
Good choice! And don't forget you can always adjust your quarterly payments if your situation changes during the year. That flexibility is the biggest advantage over the rigid SSA withholding system.
one more thing i forgot to mention - if you do the quarterly payments make sure you keep really good records cause the irs doesn't always give you credit right away for them. my daughter had this problem last year and had to send proof she paid
Great point! Always save the confirmation numbers from your payments and print/save the confirmation emails. The IRS has occasionally lost track of my quarterly payments too, especially the one due January 15th since it crosses tax years.
Angelina Farar
One additional point I should mention - while delaying to 70 is generally good for survivor benefits, there are some rare exceptions where it might not be the optimal strategy. If both you and your wife have serious health concerns or if your wife is significantly older than you, the calculation might be different. But in your situation as described, delaying to maximize her survivor benefit sounds like the right approach.
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Vincent Bimbach
•That's good to know. We're both in relatively good health, and she's the same age as me, so I think delaying still makes sense for us. I appreciate the additional context!
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Leo McDonald
just want 2 add - make sure u keep good records! my mom had issues proving my dads income when he passed & it took MONTHS to sort out with SS. keep copies of EVERYTHING
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Vincent Bimbach
•That's excellent advice. I'll make sure our important documents are organized and that my wife knows where everything is. Thank you!
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