This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to this community but I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my ex-husband who has both a federal pension and Social Security. I've been hesitant to apply for ex-spousal benefits because I assumed his government pension would drastically reduce what I could receive. After reading through everyone's experiences, I realize I may have been completely wrong about how this works. It sounds like his WEP reduction doesn't affect my potential ex-spousal benefits at all - only whether I have my own government pension would trigger GPO for me. I'm definitely going to contact SSA to have my case reviewed. Has anyone had success getting through to SSA recently, or should I try that Claimyr service that was mentioned? I'm 68 and have been collecting my own benefits for 2 years, but now I'm wondering if I've been leaving money on the table this whole time!

Welcome to the community! I'm relatively new here too but have been following this discussion closely since I'm in a somewhat similar boat. What I'm finding really valuable about this thread is how it's cleared up so many misconceptions about WEP and GPO. Like you, I had always assumed that if an ex-spouse has government pensions, it would somehow limit what I could get in ex-spousal benefits. But it sounds like that's completely backwards - it's only YOUR own government pension that would trigger GPO and reduce your spousal/ex-spousal benefits. The WEP just reduces HIS Social Security benefit based on HIS government pension, but doesn't touch what you might be eligible for as an ex-spouse. I'm 67 and have been collecting my own SS for a year, but now I'm second-guessing whether I should have explored ex-spousal benefits more thoroughly. My ex also had military service plus a state job afterward. Reading about Justin getting an extra $400/month and others finding they were eligible for more than they thought is really motivating me to get my situation reviewed too. It's frustrating that we have to become detective investigators just to understand what we're entitled to, but threads like this are so helpful for sharing real experiences!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my SSA appointment last month. Like you, I'm on SSDI and was considering remarriage but needed to understand the financial implications first. The key thing that helped me was getting actual dollar amounts rather than just general rules. When I met with SSA, they were able to pull up my ex-spouse's earnings record and show me exactly what my divorced spouse benefit would be at different ages (62 with reduction vs. full retirement age). In my case, it turned out my SSDI was actually higher than what I'd get from my ex-spouse, so remarriage wouldn't cost me anything financially. One tip: when you call or visit SSA, ask them to run the numbers for both scenarios - your current SSDI converting to retirement benefits vs. potential divorced spouse benefits from your first husband. They can usually do this calculation on the spot if they have both records available. Also, don't forget that if you do decide to remarry later and that marriage ends, you could still potentially claim on your first husband's record at that point since those rights don't disappear permanently. Good luck with getting your answers - I know how stressful this kind of uncertainty can be when you're trying to plan your future!

I'm a Social Security representative and want to clarify a few important points that have come up in this discussion. First, you're correct that being divorced at the time of your second husband's death disqualifies you from survivor benefits from him - there are no exceptions for timing of the divorce. However, I want to emphasize something crucial: at age 60, you're actually already eligible to apply for divorced spouse benefits from your first husband (since that marriage lasted over 10 years), but they would be reduced. You don't have to wait until 62 or full retirement age. The benefit would be reduced to about 32.5% of his full benefit amount at age 60, increasing each month until you reach full retirement age. Since you're currently receiving $1,875 in SSDI, we would need to compare that to what your divorced spouse benefit would be. If the divorced spouse benefit is higher, you could potentially switch now rather than waiting. I'd strongly recommend scheduling an in-person appointment at your local SSA office rather than trying to handle this over the phone. Bring documentation of both marriages and we can run exact calculations for your specific situation. This is too important a financial decision to leave to estimates or general advice.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Carmen. Losing a spouse so young is devastating, and trying to navigate all these financial decisions while grieving is incredibly difficult. From what everyone has shared, it sounds like you have a few strategic options to consider: 1. **Apply now at 63**: You'd get about $370/month after the earnings test reduction, but you'd be locked into that reduced survivor benefit percentage (around 81%). 2. **Wait until you're closer to retirement**: At 65, you'd get ~92% of her benefit, and if you reduce your work hours, less would be lost to the earnings test. 3. **Wait until your FRA at 67**: You'd get 100% of her benefit with no earnings test reduction. The key insight from the discussion is that survivor benefits are unique - you can switch between your own retirement and survivor benefits to maximize your total lifetime benefits. Many financial advisors recommend taking the lower benefit first, then switching to the higher one at age 70 if applicable. Given your situation, I'd strongly recommend getting a personalized benefit estimate from SSA (using that Claimyr service someone mentioned might help you actually reach them). They can run the numbers for your specific case and help you understand exactly what your survivor benefit would be versus your own retirement benefit at different ages. You don't have to make this decision alone, and there's no rush - take time to get all the information you need.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Carmen. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, and it's completely understandable that all these benefit rules feel overwhelming right now. From everything discussed here, it sounds like you have solid advice about the earnings test and timing strategies. One thing I'd add is to also consider your wife's earnings history when making this decision. If she had significantly higher lifetime earnings than you, the survivor benefit strategy becomes even more valuable. Also, don't forget that when you do apply (whenever that is), you'll want to ask SSA about any potential benefits your wife may have been entitled to but hadn't claimed yet - sometimes there can be small retroactive amounts available. The emotional toll of these decisions while grieving is real. Consider reaching out to a nonprofit credit counseling service or AARP if you need help organizing all your financial planning. They often have counselors who specialize in helping widows and widowers navigate these transitions. Take your time with this decision - as others have noted, you have flexibility with survivor benefits that doesn't exist with other Social Security benefits. Focus on taking care of yourself first.

wait how do u report a death to SS anyway? i need to know for my parents (they're getting older

Just wanted to add that if your mother-in-law runs into any issues with the SSA-1724 form or the process, she might want to consider visiting her local Social Security office in person rather than trying to handle everything over the phone. Sometimes the in-person staff can be more helpful and can walk through the paperwork with her. Also, bring multiple copies of the death certificate since they often need to keep one for their records. I had to do this when my grandmother passed and the local office was much more efficient than the phone system.

What a wonderful example of community support! I'm new here but wanted to chime in with one additional tip - when you go to the SSA office, try to arrive early (like 15-30 minutes before they open) if possible. The earlier appointment slots tend to move faster, and with your neighbor's memory concerns, avoiding the afternoon rush when she might be more tired could be really helpful. Also, bringing a small snack and water bottle for the wait can make a big difference for elderly folks. You're doing such a kind thing by helping organize this for her!

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation with my elderly father who also has memory issues and outdated address information with SSA. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has given me a much clearer roadmap for what to expect. The distinction between representative payee, appointed representative, and informal assistance was particularly enlightening - I had no idea there were different levels of authorization available. It's so encouraging to see neighbors like Maggie stepping up to help, and I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their real-world experiences navigating these complex government processes. Thank you all for being so generous with your time and knowledge!