The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to be confusing on purpose!!! They don't want us to understand how our benefits are calculated because then we might realize we're not getting what we deserve after paying in our whole lives!!!!

Just want to add that if you're looking for a really detailed breakdown of how AWI indexing works, SSA Publication 05-10070 "How Work Affects Your Benefits" has some good examples with actual numbers. You can download it from their website. Also, one thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're checking your earnings record on your my Social Security account regularly. I found errors in mine from jobs I had in the 1990s that would have affected my indexing calculation. You have limited time to correct these, so don't wait until you're ready to retire! For planning purposes, the online estimator is pretty accurate if your earnings record is correct. But if you want to really understand the math behind it, those AWI tables and the PIA formula are worth studying.

I'm in a very similar boat as a retired teacher from California! I worked 28 years in public schools but also had about 12 years of Social Security-covered employment before and during my teaching career. My WEP reduction cut my SS benefit to about $520/month when it should have been around $1,400. After reading all these responses, I'm convinced that applying for spousal benefits now is the right move. My spouse gets $2,100/month from SS, so even with my WEP reduction, the spousal benefit should bump me up significantly while we wait for the Fairness Act changes to kick in. One thing I learned from calling SSA multiple times is that they said the WEP relief will be retroactive to January 2024, so there should be a nice lump sum back payment coming eventually. But like others mentioned, their systems are really backed up right now, so who knows how long that will take. Go ahead with your March appointment - you've got nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of dollars per month to gain while waiting for the bigger WEP relief!

I'm a retired teacher from Ohio dealing with a very similar WEP situation. My husband and I went through this decision process just last month, and I wanted to share what we learned from our SSA representative. The key thing they explained to us is that the Social Security Fairness Act relief will be processed automatically for ALL affected beneficiaries - meaning you don't need to apply for it separately, and it doesn't matter what other benefits you're currently receiving. Your WEP adjustment will happen based on your primary earnings record regardless of whether you're also getting spousal benefits. What really helped us decide was when the rep calculated the numbers during our call. My reduced WEP benefit was around $380/month, but switching to spousal benefits (50% of my husband's $2,200 benefit) immediately jumped me to $1,100/month. That extra $720 per month while waiting for WEP relief was too significant to pass up. When the Fairness Act changes eventually kick in and my primary benefit increases above the spousal amount, I'll automatically be switched back to my own higher benefit plus any back payments owed. The system is designed to always pay you the highest amount you qualify for. Definitely keep that March appointment - the financial benefit of starting spousal payments now far outweighs any theoretical complications.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been receiving Social Security for about 12 years - these Medicare Part B premium adjustments happen more often than people realize, especially when there are significant changes to the projected vs. actual premium amounts. What's particularly frustrating is that SSA's communication about these adjustments is always delayed. The deposits usually hit accounts 1-2 weeks before any written explanation arrives in the mail. For future reference, if you ever get an unexpected deposit like this, the best approach is exactly what Malik did - wait a few days for the online account to update, then call if no explanation appears. It's also worth noting that these adjustments can work both ways - sometimes they collect additional premiums if the actual rate ends up higher than projected. Thanks for sharing the resolution, it'll definitely help others who see similar deposits!

As someone who just started receiving Social Security last year, this thread has been incredibly educational! I was initially panicked when I saw an unexpected $134 deposit this morning, but after reading through everyone's experiences and Malik's update about the Medicare Part B premium adjustment, I feel much more at ease. It's really unfortunate that SSA doesn't provide better upfront communication about these adjustments - a simple automated message explaining the deposit would save so many people from unnecessary stress. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference, and I really appreciate how this community comes together to help each other navigate these confusing situations. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I called SSA again today and specifically asked for a Technical Expert as suggested. I explained the difference between withdrawal and non-claim (which the first rep didn't seem to understand). After being transferred, the TE confirmed that since I hadn't received any payments yet, I could indeed file for a non-claim! I'll be sending a written statement to make it official. Such a relief. I plan to maximize my LTD until October and then reassess my options. This forum has been incredibly helpful - I was getting nowhere with the standard SSA phone line. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge!

That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. Your experience really highlights how important it is to know the right terminology when dealing with SSA - the difference between "withdrawal" and "non-claim" seems to be something many reps don't fully understand. Your story will definitely help others who might find themselves in similar situations. It's a good reminder that persistence pays off, and sometimes you just need to find the right person who knows the system. Best of luck with your LTD benefits through October!

That's wonderful news! I'm so glad you followed up and got the confirmation you needed. Your situation is actually a perfect example of how the Social Security system can work in favor of survivors when the deceased spouse maximized their benefits through delayed retirement credits. It's also great that you now understand your future options regarding switching to your own retirement benefit if circumstances change. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help others who might find themselves in similar situations!

I'm so glad you got the confirmation you needed, Zainab! Your experience really highlights how important it is to understand these complex benefit calculations. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, I'd recommend keeping detailed notes of all conversations with SSA representatives, including names and dates. It's also worth noting that if you ever need to appeal or clarify anything down the road, having documentation of these conversations can be incredibly helpful. Your ex-husband's decision to wait until 70 really ended up benefiting you in the long run - it's a great example of how delayed retirement credits can have lasting impact even for survivor benefits.