Thank you all for the amazingly helpful responses! I'm leaning toward claiming at 62 based on our specific situation with the age gap and eventual spousal boost. I'll make sure to discuss with my husband about him possibly delaying until 70 for the survivor benefit protection. I'm going to try contacting SSA directly before making my final decision - hopefully I can get through without hours of waiting (thanks for the Claimyr suggestion). The earnings test information was also really valuable since I do plan to continue part-time work. I'll need to keep an eye on those limits.This has been incredibly helpful - I feel much more confident about making this decision now!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly thorough. One thing I'd add from my recent experience - when you do contact SSA, ask them to run scenarios for both claiming at 62 vs waiting until FRA using your actual earnings record. Sometimes the online calculators don't capture everything, especially if you have gaps in earnings or pension offsets that could affect your benefits. Also, since you mentioned potentially working part-time, make sure to understand how the earnings test works in practice - some people get surprised when their checks are reduced temporarily. The community here seems really knowledgeable and supportive for navigating these complex decisions!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - widow at 58, married for 12 years before my husband passed. One thing I'd add that helped me tremendously was creating a Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can see your estimated benefits and your late spouse's earnings record (if you were married when he passed). This gave me a clearer picture of what to expect before I even contacted them. Also, for those worried about the reduced benefit at 60 - remember that you're getting 7 years of payments that you wouldn't get if you waited until FRA. Sometimes the total lifetime benefit works out to be similar, especially if you invest those early payments. It really depends on your health, other income, and financial needs. One last tip: if you do decide to claim early, make sure you understand how it affects Medicare eligibility. You don't automatically get Medicare at 60 just because you're getting Social Security survivor benefits - you still have to wait until 65 (unless you qualify for disability). This caught me off guard in my planning!

I'm new to this community but going through something similar - my husband passed away two years ago and I'm trying to understand my options. This thread has been so educational! I had no idea about the difference between divorced spouse benefits (10-year requirement) and survivor benefits (9-month requirement). One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any special considerations for government employees? My late husband worked for the postal service for most of his career, and I've heard conflicting information about whether federal employment affects Social Security benefits differently. I'm wondering if this might impact survivor benefits too. Also, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences and actual dollar amounts. It helps so much more than just reading the official SSA website! The tip about applying 4 months early is gold - I'm still a few years away from 60 but I'm definitely going to remember that.

wait how do u report a death to SS anyway? i need to know for my parents (they're getting older

Just wanted to add that if your mother-in-law runs into any issues with the SSA-1724 form or the process, she might want to consider visiting her local Social Security office in person rather than trying to handle everything over the phone. Sometimes the in-person staff can be more helpful and can walk through the paperwork with her. Also, bring multiple copies of the death certificate since they often need to keep one for their records. I had to do this when my grandmother passed and the local office was much more efficient than the phone system.

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was switching to a completely different device - I was trying on my laptop and it kept failing, but when I used my phone it went through no problem. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere. If you're still stuck, you can also try going to your local SSA office - they can help you submit the application in person and sometimes that's actually faster than dealing with the website headaches.

I work in IT and see this kind of issue a lot with government sites. One thing that might help is checking if JavaScript is enabled in your browser - some SSA forms won't submit properly without it. Also, if you're using a VPN, try disconnecting it temporarily as government sites sometimes block VPN traffic. Another trick is to fill out the form completely but don't submit it right away - let it sit for a minute or two, then try submitting. Sometimes the session needs time to fully establish. Good luck!

Isabella, I'm so sorry for your loss and the added stress of navigating this complex system during such a difficult time. As someone who has helped many people through similar GPO situations, I want to emphasize a few key points that others have touched on: 1. The GPO reduction is calculated based on what your Illinois pension WOULD have paid monthly, not what your annuity pays now. SSA has actuarial tables to figure this out even after conversions. 2. Make sure to get a written GPO determination letter from SSA explaining exactly how they calculated your reduction. This is crucial for any future appeals or if the Fairness Act passes. 3. Don't forget to consider the tax implications too - survivor benefits may be taxed differently than your annuity payments, which could affect your overall financial picture. 4. If you have any documentation showing you paid Social Security taxes during ANY part of your Illinois employment (even briefly), make sure SSA has those records. Some state positions did transition in and out of SS coverage over the years. The system is definitely unfair, but understanding exactly how your benefits are being calculated will help you make the best decisions going forward. Hang in there - this community is here to support you through this process.

Isabella, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is heartbreaking enough without having to navigate these confusing Social Security rules during your grief. What you're experiencing is absolutely the Government Pension Offset (GPO), and unfortunately, rolling your Illinois pension into an annuity doesn't protect you from it. The SSA will still calculate the reduction based on what your original monthly pension amount would have been - they have ways to track the money back to its source. Here's my suggestion for moving forward: Start by calling SSA and specifically requesting Form SSA-150 (the Government Pension Questionnaire) and ask for a detailed written explanation of how they're calculating your GPO reduction. Don't accept vague answers - you deserve to understand exactly how they're arriving at these numbers. Also, dig up all your Illinois employment records. Look for ANY periods where you might have paid Social Security taxes, even briefly. Some state positions transitioned in and out of SS coverage over the years, and those periods could potentially reduce your GPO offset. The Social Security Fairness Act would eliminate GPO entirely if it passes, but we can't count on that timeline. In the meantime, make sure you're getting every penny you're entitled to under the current (unfair) rules. Consider consulting with a Social Security specialist who understands these offset provisions - the regular SSA phone reps often don't fully grasp the complexities. You and your husband both worked hard and contributed to your systems. This penalty shouldn't exist, but we'll help you navigate it.