my cousin did somthing smart, he worked jan-oct full time then retired in nov and got 2 SS checks that yr becuz he didnt go over monthly limit for those 2 months even tho the yearly total was over

Just wanted to add something important about working for your brother's landscaping business - make sure you're clear on whether you'll be classified as an employee or independent contractor. If you're doing regular landscaping work and he controls when/how you work, you're likely an employee even if it's family. This affects how your earnings count toward the limit and how taxes are handled. Also, since landscaping can be seasonal, you might want to plan your work schedule around the earnings limit - maybe work more hours in months when you're under the limit rather than spreading it evenly throughout the year.

I'm a newcomer to this community and found this discussion incredibly informative as I'm facing a similar situation. My husband passed away two years ago, and we have a disabled adult son who receives DAC benefits based on his father's record. I've been so anxious about how my eventual retirement filing might affect his benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here has been tremendously reassuring. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's real-world experiences have been - in every case shared here, the DAC benefits remained unchanged when the surviving spouse filed for retirement. It's also eye-opening to learn about the distinction between DAC survivor benefits versus regular disability benefits, and how important it is to use the correct terminology when speaking with SSA representatives. I'm particularly grateful for the suggestions about widow's benefits and working with a Social Security specialist. Like many of you, I've struggled with the SSA phone system and gotten conflicting information, so having these community insights and professional resources to explore gives me a much clearer path forward. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it's made navigating this complex system feel much less overwhelming.

I'm new to this community and want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with DAC benefits and retirement planning. As someone who recently lost my spouse and is trying to navigate the Social Security system for the first time, this discussion has been incredibly valuable. What really stands out to me is how universally consistent everyone's real-world experiences have been - every person who shared their story confirmed that DAC benefits remained completely unchanged when they or their family members filed for retirement. This consistency across different situations gives me much more confidence than the conflicting information I've gotten from multiple SSA phone calls. I'm also grateful for learning about the precise terminology to use. The distinction between "DAC survivor benefits" versus other types of disability benefits seems crucial for getting accurate information from representatives. The suggestions about widow's benefits and working with Social Security specialists have opened up planning options I hadn't considered. For newcomers like myself who are dealing with loss while trying to understand complex benefit rules, finding this supportive community where people share actual experiences rather than speculation has been incredibly reassuring. Thank you all for your willingness to help others navigate this challenging system.

my father in law got burnt by GPO so bad... worked 40 years for the county and gets zero ss even though he paid in for 10 years at a second job. this whole system is garbage

I'm in a very similar situation as a newer CSRS retiree! Filed for spousal benefits at 62 but they were immediately suspended due to GPO. I've been following the GPO reform closely and from what I understand, the new law creates a more favorable calculation but doesn't change your original month of entitlement. However, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA in early 2025 to specifically ask about your case since you never received actual payments. Some field offices are more knowledgeable about complex CSRS cases than others - if the first person doesn't seem to understand GPO thoroughly, ask to speak with someone who specializes in government pension cases. Also keep detailed notes of who you speak with and when, as you may need to reference previous conversations. The reform should at least get you some benefit instead of zero, which is progress!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share something that might help. I work at a local SSA field office and we've been getting tons of questions about the WEP/GPO changes lately. A few things I've noticed that might save your ex-husband some time: 1. Make an appointment online if possible rather than walking in - the wait times for WEP/GPO questions have been really long lately 2. Bring a copy of his most recent CSRS pension statement, his Social Security award letter, AND your divorce decree showing the marriage lasted 20+ years 3. Ask specifically to speak with someone trained on the WEP/GPO reform - not all representatives have gotten the updated training yet Given his current $320 benefit, there's definitely potential for improvement. The GPO reduction that would have knocked out most ex-spousal benefits is being phased down, so he should absolutely explore this option. Even if the initial increase is small, as others mentioned, getting the claim established now is important for future years as the reform continues. Good luck to both of you navigating this!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share what I learned from a similar situation with my aunt. She was FERS and her ex-husband was CSRS - almost identical to your case. When the WEP/GPO reforms went into effect, we discovered a few things that might help: First, the timing really matters. Even though the benefits increase gradually over the 20-year phase-in, filing sooner rather than later can lock in his rights to future increases. Her ex waited 6 months and ended up missing out on some retroactive payments. Second, don't just rely on the SSA website calculators - they haven't been updated for all the WEP/GPO changes yet. The representatives at the local office had access to newer calculation tools that showed a much different (and better) result. One thing that surprised us was that his ex-spousal benefit calculation was actually higher than expected because the GPO reduction was smaller under the new rules. With his current $320 benefit being so low, there's definitely room for improvement. I'd suggest having him contact SSA within the next month or two. The offices are busy with these cases, but the sooner he gets in the system, the better. Best of luck with this - the new rules really can make a difference for CSRS retirees in situations like his!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I filed for SSDI in October 2023 for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and I'm still waiting for a decision 16 months later. I ended up taking early retirement at 62 in January because I just couldn't make it financially anymore. Reading all these responses has been such a relief! I was also worried about having to pay back benefits, especially after the person at my local SSA office seemed confused about how it all works. It sounds like the offset system is pretty straightforward once you understand it. The part about getting Medicare 24 months after SSDI approval is huge for me too - my current health insurance premiums are brutal and don't cover much. And knowing that the early retirement penalty essentially gets erased if I'm approved for disability makes me feel so much better about the decision to file early. @Landon Morgan - have you tried checking your case status online through your my Social Security account? Sometimes that shows updates before you get anything in the mail. Also, if it helps at all, my disability attorney said that cases involving autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis often have better approval rates, especially with strong medical documentation. Hang in there!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who just went through this exact situation! I filed for SSDI in March 2023 for multiple sclerosis and took early retirement at 62 in September 2024 after waiting 18 months with no decision. I was terrified about the repayment issue too - my local SSA office gave me conflicting information and I lost sleep worrying about it. But I got approved for disability in January 2025, and everything everyone here is saying is absolutely correct. SSA handled the adjustment automatically through their offset system. No repayment required! My monthly benefit went from $1,743 in reduced retirement to $2,480 in disability benefits, and I received a lump sum backpay for the difference. The relief was incredible, both financially and emotionally. What really struck me reading through this thread is how common this situation is, yet how little clear information is available upfront. The SSA representatives seem to give different answers depending on who you talk to, which just adds to the stress when you're already dealing with health issues and financial pressure. @Landon Morgan - you absolutely made the right choice taking early retirement while waiting. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. The system is designed to handle these concurrent situations, and you won't be penalized for making a smart financial decision during an impossibly long wait. Hoping your approval comes through soon!