Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this process. I submitted my W-4V form about 3 weeks before my first payment was scheduled, and it worked perfectly. The key thing I learned is that you want your form to be in their system and processed BEFORE your first payment hits, but you don't necessarily need to wait until your status changes from "pending." I'd recommend calling your local SSA office first to ask about their current processing times for W-4V forms. Some offices are faster than others, and this will help you time it right. In my case, they told me it takes about 2-3 weeks to process, so I submitted mine accordingly. Also, definitely go in person if possible - I've heard too many stories about mailed forms getting lost. Good luck with your retirement benefits!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The confusion about timing is totally understandable. From my experience, you can absolutely submit your W-4V form now even while your application shows as "pending." I submitted mine about 2 weeks after getting my approval notification (while it still showed pending online) and everything worked smoothly. Here's what I'd suggest: Fill out your W-4V form completely, make several copies for your records, and take it directly to your local SSA office in person. When I went, they stamped my copy as received and told me it would be attached to my file so the withholding would automatically start with my first payment. Sure enough, my first check in had the correct tax withholding! The most important thing is getting it processed before your May payment, so you have plenty of time. Don't stress too much about the "pending" status online - that's just how their system works during the transition period. You've got this!

Wow, this entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually a federal employee (not state) and have been wondering about how my FERS pension might affect spousal benefits when my husband eventually applies for Social Security. I know federal pensions work differently than state pensions regarding Social Security, but reading about everyone's GPO experiences has me thinking I should get educated about this now rather than being surprised later. The advice about gathering documentation early and calling SSA to verify application status seems universally valuable, regardless of the specific pension system. And the tip about timing calls for shorter wait times is something I'm definitely going to remember. One question for the group - has anyone dealt with FERS pensions specifically, or is most of the GPO discussion here focused on state/local government pensions? I'm wondering if the calculation differences might affect the GPO impact differently. Thanks again to ApolloJackson for starting this conversation and to everyone who shared their experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world information that's so hard to find in official publications!

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm actually a newer federal employee (started with FERS about 3 years ago) and had no idea there were different rules for different pension systems. Julia's explanation about FERS employees generally not being subject to GPO because we do pay into Social Security makes sense, but I'm definitely going to call SSA to confirm this applies to my specific situation. What strikes me most about reading everyone's experiences is how much the system seems to rely on people figuring things out on their own rather than providing clear guidance upfront. The fact that so many of you received confusing letters or had documents disappear from your online accounts suggests this is a systemic communication issue, not just individual cases. I'm going to take the advice several people mentioned about starting to organize all my employment documentation now, even though I'm nowhere near retirement. It seems like having everything ready ahead of time is crucial for navigating these complex benefit interactions successfully. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - this is invaluable information that you just can't get from reading SSA publications alone!

my brother n his gf tried to claim they were common law for ss and got DENIED even tho they lived together 15+ years... ss said they needed MORE PROOF they were acting like married people. make sure u have tons of paperwork!!!

Just wanted to add my experience - I successfully got spousal benefits based on my common-law marriage in Texas after 25 years together. The key was having that Declaration of Informal Marriage from the county clerk like @Javier Gomez mentioned. We filed it about 6 months before I applied for SS benefits, and it made the whole process much smoother. The SSA agent told me that having that official declaration really helps because it shows the state of Texas recognizes your marriage. We also provided joint bank statements going back 10+ years, our mortgage documents showing both names, and affidavits from family members. One tip: when you go to file the Declaration, bring as much documentation as possible showing your relationship timeline. The county clerk can include some of that in the filing which strengthens your case with SSA later. Good luck!

Congratulations on getting through to SSA and getting that clarification! Your experience is a perfect example of why it's so important to push back when you get an initial denial - many people just accept the first "no" without realizing there might be exceptions or special rules that apply to their situation. The fact that you're in your FRA year makes a huge difference, and it sounds like the original reviewer may not have caught that detail. Keep us posted on how your reconsideration goes - your success story could help others in similar situations!

What a rollercoaster this must have been for you! Your story really highlights how important it is to get multiple opinions and keep pushing when dealing with SSA. I'm curious - when you submit your reconsideration request, are you including any specific documentation beyond just the severance paperwork? I'm wondering if there's a particular form or letter format that works best for these earnings test appeals. Also, do you know roughly how long the reconsideration process typically takes? I imagine there are others reading this who might find themselves in similar situations and could benefit from knowing the timeline. Really glad you didn't give up after that initial denial!

This is such great advice from everyone! I'm in a similar situation (retiring in August 2025) and was really worried about the timing. Reading through all these responses has cleared up so much confusion. One quick question for those who've been through this - after you applied online, how long did it typically take to hear back from SSA with confirmation that everything was processed correctly? I know Ethan mentioned planning to apply in April for July benefits, but I'm wondering if there's usually enough time to fix any issues that might come up during those 3 months. Also, has anyone here had experience with the automatic recalculation that happens after you stop working? I'm curious how long that takes and whether they notify you when your benefit amount gets adjusted for those final months of earnings. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually navigated this process!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been researching this exact scenario for months, I'm relieved to see so many people confirm that applying 3-4 months early while still working is the right approach. One thing I'd add from my research - when you apply online, there's actually a "remarks" section where you can add notes about your situation. I plan to write something like "Currently employed through June 30, 2025. Request benefits to begin July 2025 upon retirement." This gives SSA additional context about your timeline and intentions. Also, for anyone worried about the earnings calculation - I called SSA last month (waited 2+ hours!) and the representative confirmed that they routinely handle applications from people who are still working. It's completely normal and won't cause any delays or complications as long as you're clear about your intended benefit start date. The key is just being very explicit about when you want benefits to begin. SSA processes thousands of these applications every month from people in similar situations!