Wait so I just checked my account and my 2023 income is wrong!!! It's showing about $7000 less than what my W-2 said. What do I do??

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! It sounds like this is totally normal and I was worried for nothing. I'll check again early next year to make sure my 2024 earnings show up correctly. And I'll definitely be more diligent about reviewing my SS records annually going forward.

For those interested in current legislative efforts, there are two main bills that have been introduced to address WEP: The Social Security Fairness Act (which would fully repeal both WEP and GPO) and the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act (which would modify WEP with a new formula). The fairness act has more cosponsors but the Protection act is seen as more fiscally feasible. Neither has passed yet, but you can contact your representatives to express support.

ive heard that if you work after you start getting your pension like a parttime job that pays into ss it can help reduce the wep penalty over time is that true??

my cousin had this problem and she just kept calling the 800 number until she got someone helpful. said it took like 8 tries but finally got a rep who knew what to do. good luck!!

Something to consider - have you calculated what your spousal benefit will be at FRA versus what your own benefit will grow to with delayed retirement credits if you wait until 70? If your own benefit plus delayed credits would be higher than your spousal benefit at FRA, this whole issue might be moot. For example, if your own benefit at FRA would be $1,500 and could grow to $1,860 at age 70, but your spousal benefit at FRA would only be $1,700, you'd be better off focusing on maximizing your own benefit rather than worrying about the spousal component. Do you know both those numbers? If not, I'd recommend calling SSA to get an estimate of both scenarios before proceeding with any withdrawal.

Has anyone noticed that the amounts on these 1099s are sometimes WRONG?? Last year mine showed $425 less than I actually received! I had to spend 3 weeks going back and forth with SSA to get it fixed. Check your payment records carefully against what the form says!!

Update: I just checked my mail and my paper 1099 arrived today! Seems like they really are sending them out already. For anyone else waiting, keep checking your mailbox. Now I don't have to worry about accessing it online.

wait isnt 65 early for SS now?? i thought full age was like 67 or something? my sister took it at 65 last year and said she got less money than waiting

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! So to summarize what I've learned: If my wife turns 65 in late March 2026 and wants to start benefits in April 2026, we should: 1. Apply around December 2025 or January 2026 (3-4 months before) 2. Understand her first payment will arrive in May 2026 (for April benefits) 3. Be aware she's taking benefits before her Full Retirement Age (67), so they'll be reduced 4. Keep track of her earnings if she works part-time to stay under limits 5. Make sure to also apply for Medicare during her initial enrollment period This has been really helpful for our planning. We'll definitely be budgeting for that one-month gap now that we understand the payment schedule better.

Yes, the GPO calculation is the same for survivor benefits (2/3 of your government pension), but as mentioned, the survivor benefit amount is higher to begin with (potentially up to 100% of your husband's benefit if you claim at your FRA, versus 50% for spousal benefits). I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to discuss both your current options and future planning. They can provide benefit estimates specific to your situation.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'll definitely apply and see what happens, but I won't count on receiving anything given the GPO reduction. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr for reaching SS - might try that instead of spending hours on hold. And I'll make sure to ask specifically about both spousal and potential future survivor benefits when I speak with them. This forum has been so much more helpful than trying to figure it out on my own!

I just went through this EXACT sitution!!! The overpayment thing is SO frustrating. I retired from Florida schools with FRS pension and they hit me with a $4200 overpayment on my husbands survivor benefits. Heres what worked for me: I filed a "Request for Reconsideration" (not just a waiver) and specifically argued that I had reported my pension timely and accurately. I sent in proof of all my communications with SSA about the pension. It took 3 months but they eventually reversed 80% of the overpayment because they agreed their processing delay wasn't my fault. Don't just accept what they initially tell you! Also I found calling them impossible until I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. After struggling for weeks to get anyone on the phone, it was a huge relief.

After reading through this whole discussion, here's what I recommend for your situation based on the information you've shared: 1. File a Request for Reconsideration for the overpayment as suggested above, not just a waiver. Focus on the fact you provided information timely. 2. Continue receiving your survivor benefits for now while you gather more information. 3. Get a detailed WEP calculation for your own benefits. This is crucial for making an informed decision. 4. Based on the estimates you shared: - Your survivor benefit after GPO: $1,320/month - Your own benefit at FRA before WEP: $1,450/month - Your own benefit at 70 before WEP: ~$1,798/month If your WEP reduction is more than $130/month (which is likely with 15 years of substantial earnings), then waiting until 70 to switch to your own benefits probably makes the most sense financially. This is a very common situation for Texas teachers with TRS pensions. The GPO and WEP reductions are significant, but proper planning can help maximize what you receive despite these penalties.

Regarding your question about waiting until 65 instead of claiming at 62: Your own benefit would be approximately $150-200 higher per month if you wait until 65 vs. 62. But as others have pointed out, this won't affect what you'd receive as a survivor benefit later. However, those extra dollars could be significant if: 1. Your husband lives a long life and you never need to claim survivor benefits 2. You have other income that might make your Social Security taxable 3. You're still working between 62-65 and might face the earnings test I'd recommend using the calculators on SSA.gov to get exact figures for your situation.

One additional tip - when you're ready to apply, you can schedule an appointment at your local SSA office to discuss all these options. They can run calculations specific to your situation and help you understand all the implications. Just be aware that getting an appointment might take several weeks. Start that process well before you plan to claim benefits.

Just want to add something important - make sure you're VERY clear about which funds are yours and which are your son's. My neighbor got in trouble because she was using her daughter's disability money to pay household bills without documenting how it benefited her daughter specifically. The representative payee funds must be used EXCLUSIVELY for your son's needs and benefit.

To address your latest question - yes, using your son's benefits for his food, clothing, portion of utilities and medical expenses is appropriate. You can also use it for his recreation, education, and personal items. Just document everything. As for the Representative Payee Report (Form SSA-623), the SSA will mail this to you annually. You'll report how much of his benefits you saved and how much you spent on different categories. Keep all bank statements and major receipts for at least 2 years in case of an audit. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet with categories like: - Housing (his portion of rent/mortgage) - Food - Utilities (his portion) - Medical expenses - Clothing - Personal items - Recreation/entertainment - Education - Savings This makes completing the annual form much easier.

To address your original question more specifically - if you're earning $275 weekly, those two 3-paycheck months would total $825, which is likely still under the current SGA threshold (which is around $1,550 for 2025 for non-blind individuals). So you might actually be okay even with those 3-paycheck months, depending on your exact earnings.

Update: I called my local office this morning (actually got through somehow!) and spoke with a claims representative. She said they do recognize this issue and suggested I send in a letter explaining my work schedule and which months will have 3 paychecks. She also recommended I keep a work diary with my hours and pay info. She said if I'm flagged, I should immediately request a reconsideration with this documentation. Feeling a bit more prepared now!