Just wanted to say - make SURE you don't spend that extra money! My husband had almost the same situation (but with $412 SSDI) and we spent the overpayment not realizing it was a mistake. Six months later we got hit with a $3,600+ bill from SSA. We're still paying it back three years later. The stress isn't worth it. Put it in a separate account if you can.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just started getting SSDI ($280/month) in November while I've been on SSI for about 2 years. December was my first month getting both full amounts and I immediately knew something was wrong. I called SSA three times and got three different stories - one rep said it was normal for the first month, another said they'd "put in a request to fix it" (whatever that means), and the third one basically had no idea what I was talking about. Reading through everyone's responses here, I think I need to follow the advice about going to the local office in person and getting that receipt showing I reported it. The last thing I want is to get hit with a huge overpayment bill later. Has anyone had luck getting the adjustment made faster by going to the office instead of calling? The phone wait times are absolutely ridiculous and half the time they just hang up on me after an hour on hold.

my cousin works for ssa (not saying where) and she says the workers comp offset errors are super common. they have different people handling different parts of your case and the left hand doesnt know what the right hand is doing half the time. that $3400 was probably processed by someone who saw part of the error but not all of it. keep pushing!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now - SSA claimed I had a $5,200 overpayment from workers' comp offset issues, and I've been fighting it for over a year. The whole system seems designed to confuse people into just accepting whatever they say you owe. One thing that helped me was getting a copy of my earnings record (Form SSA-7050-F4) to verify they had my pre-disability wages correct. Turns out they were missing an entire year of earnings that would have increased my ACE calculation significantly. Also, if you haven't already, document EVERYTHING - dates of all your workers' comp payments, the exact amounts, and when they started/stopped. The burden is on them to prove the overpayment is correct, not on you to prove it's wrong. That partial $3,400 refund is actually great evidence that their original calculation was flawed. Don't let them wear you down. The fact that you're still waiting for your ALJ hearing after 18 months is ridiculous, but it's unfortunately typical. Stay strong and keep all your documentation organized for when that hearing finally happens.

To summarize your options since there's some confusion in the comments: 1. If within 12 months of filing: You can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits, and it's like you never filed. You can refile later for a higher amount. 2. If it's been more than 12 months since filing: You cannot suspend benefits until you reach Full Retirement Age (likely 67). 3. Working while receiving benefits: Subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) until you reach FRA. Excess earnings result in withholding of benefits. The decision should be based on your short and long-term financial needs, life expectancy, and employment plans. There's no single right answer - it depends on your circumstances.

One thing to add that might help with your decision - you could also consider doing a "break-even analysis" to see if taking benefits early makes sense for your situation. Calculate how much total money you'd receive by taking benefits at 62 versus waiting until your Full Retirement Age or even age 70. For example, if you take $1,200/month at 62 versus $1,600/month at 67, you'd need to live past about age 77-78 for waiting to pay off. If you're in good health and expect to live well into your 80s or 90s, waiting could mean tens of thousands more in lifetime benefits. But if you really need the income now for basic expenses, that changes the calculation. Also worth noting - if you have a spouse, your decision affects their potential survivor benefits too. The higher earner's benefit amount at death becomes the survivor benefit, so starting early permanently reduces what your spouse might receive later.

Based on your comments, here's what I recommend: 1. Get an appointment with SSA to calculate your specific WEP reduction based on your earnings history. This will give you a clear picture of what to expect. 2. Since you're at FRA, you can collect full SS benefits (minus WEP reduction) while continuing to work at your government job with no earnings limit penalties. 3. Consider your strategy after leaving your government job - even part-time work in the private sector could help reduce your WEP penalty over time. 4. Request a PEBES (Benefit Estimate) statement from SSA that accounts for the WEP, as the standard statements online don't always factor this in. The combination of your reduced SS benefit and your government pension may still provide good retirement security, especially with the government health benefits you mentioned.

Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you do get that SSA appointment, bring documentation of ALL your earnings history if you have it. I brought my old W-2s and tax returns from my private sector years, and it helped the agent verify my substantial earnings years more quickly. Also, don't be discouraged if the first agent you speak with seems unsure about WEP calculations. I had to speak with a supervisor to get accurate numbers. The calculation is complex and not all front-line staff are equally familiar with it. One last thing - if you're married, make sure to ask about how WEP might affect any spousal benefits your spouse might be eligible for. The rules are different than for your own retirement benefit. Good luck with your appointment! It sounds like you're being very thorough in your planning, which will serve you well.

wait does she get any of his benefit if he passes away? or does gpo still apply to widow benefits to?

Based on the detailed discussion here, it sounds like your mom's situation is unfortunately common but there are definitely some avenues worth exploring! The math that Omar laid out is spot-on - with her $2,200 state pension creating a $1,467 GPO reduction, she wouldn't get additional spousal benefits since her own $480 is higher than the remaining $413. However, I'd really encourage you to dig into those exceptions that Ravi and others mentioned. The 60-month rule could be a game-changer if she paid SS taxes during her final years of state employment. Many teachers and state employees don't realize their districts sometimes switched to SS-covered positions near retirement. Also, that service Astrid mentioned (claimyr) might be worth the investment if you keep hitting dead ends with SSA phone calls. Sometimes paying a small fee to skip the phone queue nightmare is worth your sanity and time. Good luck, and don't give up - these rules are complex but there are people out there who can help navigate them!