So sorry about both your husbands passing away. That must be really hard. Sending hugs!

I work as a benefits specialist and want to emphasize something important that might affect your planning: when you remarry, make sure your new husband understands that life insurance or other private retirement accounts might be crucial to supplement what would be a much lower Social Security survivor benefit based on your earnings record. Since you mentioned your earnings history is much lower than your deceased husbands', this gap could be significant. You might want to consider term life insurance or other financial products to help bridge that difference for his financial security. It's wonderful that you're thinking ahead about these issues - many people don't realize how remarriage affects survivor benefit calculations until it's too late.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Everett. It's encouraging to see your update that the Claimyr service worked so well for you! As someone new to this community, I've been learning so much from everyone's shared experiences with navigating SSA services. The phone wait times really are ridiculous - it's frustrating that people dealing with difficult life situations like losing a spouse have to jump through so many hoops just to speak with someone. Thank you for sharing what worked for you, and I hope the rest of your application process goes smoothly. It's clear this community really looks out for each other!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Everett. It's really heartwarming to see how this community came together to help you find a solution! As someone new here, I'm impressed by all the practical advice everyone shared - from the scheduling tips to the Spanish line workaround to the Claimyr service that ultimately worked for you. It's frustrating that dealing with government services has to be so difficult during an already challenging time, but it's encouraging to know there are resources and workarounds available. Thank you for updating us with what worked - that kind of follow-up is so valuable for other members who might face similar situations. Wishing you all the best with the rest of your application process!

I wanted to share my experience as someone who went through almost the exact same situation two years ago. I was 62, my husband had already been collecting SS for health reasons, and I was caring for my elderly father while helping with grandkids. The spousal benefit really was a lifesaver - I went from expecting about $400 on my own record to receiving $750 monthly. The application process was smoother than I expected once I got through to someone at SSA who could walk me through the numbers. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple monthly budget before applying so I knew exactly how that extra income would impact our situation. It made such a difference being able to reduce my work hours and focus more on family care without constantly worrying about money. You're absolutely making the right decision given your circumstances. The "sandwich generation" caregiving role is incredibly demanding, both physically and emotionally. Having that steady income will give you the flexibility to prioritize what really matters - your health and your family's wellbeing. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about claiming early when you genuinely need the support. That's exactly what Social Security is designed for.

Reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how much helpful information everyone has shared! As someone who recently went through the Social Security application process myself, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be useful. The decision to take benefits at 62 when you're in a caregiving situation like yours is really about quality of life, not just finances. Yes, you'll have a permanent reduction in benefits, but you'll also have 5 years of payments that you wouldn't get if you waited until full retirement age. Over time, it often works out to be a reasonable trade-off, especially when you factor in the reduced stress of having steady income during such a demanding period. I also wanted to mention that once you're receiving Social Security, you'll automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65, which can simplify that process during what will likely still be a busy caregiving period. Your situation with caring for your mom with dementia while helping with grandchildren is incredibly challenging. The fact that you're planning ahead and asking the right questions shows you're handling this with real wisdom. The extra income from spousal benefits will give you options and flexibility that you wouldn't have otherwise. That peace of mind is worth a lot when you're juggling so many responsibilities. Best of luck with your application in September - it sounds like you have a solid plan and a great community here to support you!

I went through this exact situation with my parents a few years ago. One thing that might be worth considering is whether your wife could potentially delay claiming her state pension if that's an option. Some state retirement systems allow you to defer the pension start date, which would eliminate the GPO reduction during the period she's not receiving the pension. She could then claim Social Security spousal benefits during that time. Of course, this only makes sense if the spousal benefit amount exceeds what she'd lose by delaying her pension, and you'd need to check if her state system even allows this flexibility. Most don't, but it's worth investigating since the GPO only applies when she's actually receiving the government pension.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding WEP/GPO impacts! As someone new to navigating Social Security, I'm curious about one aspect that hasn't been discussed much - are there any other government benefits or programs that might help supplement retirement income for couples affected by these provisions? I know some states have additional retirement assistance programs, and I'm wondering if there are resources specifically designed to help public sector workers who get hit hard by WEP/GPO reductions. It seems like such a common situation that there might be other safety nets available.

After reading everyone's responses, I'm feeling much better about this situation. It sounds like the process is pretty straightforward - they'll catch the overage through my tax return, send me a letter explaining the situation, and then make small deductions from my payments until the $350 is recovered. I'll make sure to budget for slightly smaller payments for a few months next year. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise!

I'm in a similar situation - turned 62 last month and just started collecting benefits. I've been so worried about accidentally going over the limit! Reading through everyone's responses really helps calm my nerves. It sounds like SSA has a pretty reasonable process for handling overages, and the fact that they spread the repayment over several months instead of taking it all at once makes it much more manageable. Thanks for asking this question Paolo - I'm sure there are lots of us early retirees who needed to hear these answers!