To address your follow-up question: Yes, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) would likely affect your own retirement benefits based on your SS-covered work. However, since you mentioned working 15 years in jobs that paid into Social Security, you might qualify for the "substantial earnings" exception that reduces the WEP penalty. The formula is complex, but the good news is that having 20+ years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security can significantly reduce the WEP reduction, and having 30+ years eliminates it entirely. Your best approach is to: 1. Create a my.ssa.gov account if you haven't already 2. Download your complete earnings record 3. Schedule a consultation with SSA to calculate your potential benefits under all scenarios (own record with WEP, survivor benefits with GPO, ex-spouse benefits with GPO) 4. Compare these options to determine the best filing strategy The timing of when you claim each type of benefit can make a significant difference in your lifetime total.

Just wondering did ur government job let u pay into medicare? Sometimes people with government pensions still have to figure out medicare separately which is another headache

No personal info needed except for payment. They just connect you directly to SSA's phone system but get you past the hold times. You still talk directly to official SSA representatives. I was skeptical too but it worked as advertised. The video on their site shows exactly how it works.

Coming back to your original question: In Iowa specifically, there are no state-specific rules that would make POA arrangements affect Social Security or Medicare differently than federal guidelines. The same federal rules apply in all states. As long as your father's own income and resources haven't changed, his benefits should remain the same regardless of the POA arrangement.

One thing to note: if your father-in-law is approaching Full Retirement Age (FRA), which varies based on birth year but is around 66-67, he might want to wait until then to maximize his benefit amount. Filing at 63 or 64 would result in permanently reduced benefits. Also, green card holders should be aware that certain Social Security benefits have different requirements. While retirement benefits require the 40 credits (approximately 10 years of work), disability benefits (SSDI) may be available with fewer credits depending on age. For the application, I would recommend gathering these documents in advance: - Green card - Birth certificate (with translation if not in English) - Most recent W-2 forms or tax returns - Employment history for the past 10 years - Bank account information for direct deposit

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! I've taken notes and will discuss everything with my father-in-law this weekend. It's a relief to know he's entitled to the benefits he's been paying into. We'll make sure to have all the right documentation ready before applying. Really appreciate everyone's advice!

DONT TRUST THE WEBSITE!!! When I retired last year my ACTUAL benefit was $310 more than what SS.gov showed for THREE YEARS!!! The website is USELESS for planning!!

When you make your appointment in April, bring your most recent W-2s or tax returns for the past 3 years. This will help ensure all your recent earnings are properly credited. In the meantime, you can get a rough idea of your benefit by taking the current estimate and adding the COLA increases: - 2023 COLA: 8.7% - 2024 COLA: 3.2% - 2025 COLA: Not yet announced So if your current estimate is $2,650, it might be closer to $2,960 after accounting for recent COLAs and earnings (depending on your specific situation). I recommend applying 3 months before you want benefits to begin, so your April timeline sounds perfect for a July start date.

my husband died in january and im STILL waiting for survivors benefit to start!!! applied right away and its been complete chaos. SS kept saying they needed more documents even after i sent everything. so frustrating! make sure they keep copies of EVERYTHING they submit and get names of anyone they talk to!!!

they both qualify BUT tell them to check if they get more from their OWN ss benefits. survivor benefits only make sense if your dad's amount is bigger than their own. my mom got widows benefits for 2 months until ssa realized her own benefit was $47 more. they switched her automatically

heres a tip nobody tells you: ask for a receipt next time you submit paperwork at the SS office!!! they are required to give you one if you ask but they never offer.

The refund for overpayment will happen automatically once your IRMAA appeal is approved. If your Social Security benefits are being reduced to pay for Medicare premiums, the adjustment will show in your next benefit payment after processing. If you pay Medicare premiums directly, they'll either issue a credit to your account or send a refund check. For those asking about receipts: Local offices should provide a date-stamped copy of your submission if you specifically request it. For mailed forms, always use certified mail with a return receipt.

I remember when i was working part time at walmart and collecting early SS i was so scared about going over the limit that i asked my manager to cut my hours in december lol. turns out i was way under anyway and could have worked more. dont be like me and panic too early!

One important thing to remember is that the earnings limit rule changes in the year you reach Full Retirement Age. For the months before your FRA in that year, the limit is higher ($59,520 for 2025) and the withholding is only $1 for every $3 over the limit. Then once you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit at all. So if you're concerned about working and earning too much, this might be something to plan for as you get closer to your FRA.

i went through this whole process last yr and found out my ex was actually getting SSDI too not retirement! apparently you cant get ex-spouse benefits if theyre on disability only if theyre getting retirement? nobody told me this until after i waited 2 months for them to process everything... make sure you find out exactly what benefits your ex is receiving before you go through all this trouble!!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've made notes of everything and will gather my documents (including birth certificate!) before applying. I'll probably use that Claimyr service to help get through to someone at SSA since making an appointment sounds like the best approach. I'm feeling much more confident now - at least I know I won't lose my current benefits if the ex-spouse amount turns out to be lower. I'll update here after I've gone through the process in case it helps someone else in a similar situation.

dont forget that if ur still working when u claim at 62 you'll be subject to the earnings test! if you make over the limit (about $21k in 2023, probably higher in 2025) they'll withhold $1 for every $2 you earn over that. so many people dont realize this and get a nasty surprise

Based on your follow-up comments, it seems you've reached the right conclusion - there's no advantage for your husband to apply for spousal benefits since his SSDI is higher than what he'd receive as a spouse. One additional consideration: While your husband's benefit automatically converts at FRA with no change in amount, you might want to reconsider your own claiming strategy. By claiming at 62, you're accepting a permanent reduction of around 30% compared to your FRA benefit. Since you mentioned continuing to work part-time, you might be subject to the earnings test as another commenter noted. The earnings limit for 2025 will likely be around $23,000-24,000 (it adjusts with inflation), and benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above that limit until the year you reach FRA. If your earnings will be substantially above the limit, it might be worth reconsidering claiming early, as you'd essentially be filing for a reduced benefit that you may not even fully receive due to the earnings test.

Looking at your situation more specifically: 1. If you were born in the mid-60s, your FRA is 67, so taking survivor benefits at 60 means a reduction to about 71.5% of the full amount 2. Since your husband died before claiming benefits, your survivor benefit would be based on what he would have received at his FRA (100% of his PIA) 3. If you stop working at 60 or 62, the printout you received is no longer accurate for your OWN benefit, as it assumes continued earnings 4. SSA's benefit estimates are just that - estimates. They can change based on future earnings or corrections to earnings records The most common mistake widows make is not understanding they can claim survivor benefits and their own retirement benefit separately at different times. This dual entitlement creates planning opportunities that don't exist for most other beneficiaries. In your position, I'd recommend getting the complete projections through 70, verifying your deceased husband's earnings record accuracy, and potentially consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning for widows.

After getting the projections, make sure you understand the earnings test if you plan to work while collecting survivor benefits before FRA. In 2023, if you earn over $21,240 while receiving benefits before your FRA, SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Many people don't realize this and get surprised by benefit reductions or overpayment notices later. When I was trying to understand all these complex rules, I spent weeks trying to get clear answers from SSA. Eventually I used that Claimyr service I mentioned and finally got a knowledgeable agent who explained everything clearly. If you're still having trouble getting through to someone helpful at SSA, it might be worth trying.