Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned there's no "magic month" to file that increases benefits, but I should apply now for March benefits to give SSA enough processing time. I'm going to check my earnings record first, then submit my application. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr too - might use that if I run into problems reaching someone at SSA. I'll update once I get everything submitted!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision-making process. Since you mentioned being in a tough financial spot, you might want to look into whether your state offers any additional assistance programs that could bridge the gap between when your temporary disability ends and when your Social Security payments begin. Some states have emergency assistance programs or food assistance that can help during transitions like this. Also, if your wife isn't already working, she might want to consider part-time employment to help with the financial pressure while you're waiting for benefits to start. The stress of financial uncertainty can really impact your recovery from surgery, so having multiple backup plans in place might give you both some peace of mind during this transition period.

I'm new to this community but wanted to offer some support and additional thoughts. As someone who has helped family members navigate SSA claims, I'd suggest also looking into whether you have any old credit reports or loan applications from that time period where you might have listed each other as co-applicants or references. Sometimes people forget about these documents, but they can show financial interdependence during your common law period. Also, if you had any joint memberships (gym, Costco, etc.) or shared cell phone plans during those 2 years in Colorado, those records might still be available. The key is building a comprehensive picture of your life as a married couple before the legal ceremony. I know it's overwhelming to gather all this documentation while grieving, but Colorado's recognition of common law marriage really does give you a legitimate shot at meeting that 10-year requirement. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you - you have every right to pursue these benefits after an 11+ year relationship. Sending you strength for your upcoming appointment!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Felicity. What you're going through sounds incredibly stressful on top of an already difficult time. I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation really resonates with me. The advice about Colorado recognizing common law marriage seems really promising! One thing I wanted to add that might help - have you considered looking for any old correspondence between you two during that period? Things like emails, letters, or even text messages (if you still have old phones or backups) where you referred to each other as husband/wife or discussed shared future plans? Sometimes these personal communications can be powerful evidence of how you viewed your relationship. Also, if you had any shared subscriptions during those years - magazines, newspapers, streaming services - those records might show joint household management. I know it feels overwhelming to dig through old records while you're grieving, but the fact that so many people here have had success with similar cases in Colorado gives me hope for you. You've got this, and this community clearly has your back!

One important point for everyone following this discussion - while the Social Security Fairness Act would eliminate WEP/GPO for domestic public employees, international pension issues are typically governed by bilateral Social Security agreements (totalization agreements). These agreements are negotiated country-by-country and have their own unique provisions. If you have work history in multiple countries, it's essential to understand both the general WEP rules and the specific provisions of any applicable totalization agreement. These agreements help determine: 1. Whether you can combine work credits from both countries to qualify for benefits 2. How benefits are calculated when you have split work histories 3. Which country's benefits you're eligible to receive The US-UK agreement helps prevent double taxation and allows for totalizing credits, but it doesn't completely eliminate WEP reductions.

I'm in a similar boat with a pension from Australia! Been dealing with WEP reductions for 3 years now and it's so frustrating. From what I've researched, the Social Security Fairness Act unfortunately won't help us with foreign pensions - it's really focused on US government workers like teachers and police officers who didn't pay into Social Security during their government service. The international pension situation is handled under totally different rules through those totalization agreements everyone's mentioning. I've been told by multiple people that we're basically stuck with WEP unless we can somehow get to 30 years of substantial US earnings (which seems impossible for most of us who worked abroad). @Andre Laurent thanks for mentioning the Office of International Operations - I didn't know there was a specific department for this! Going to try calling and asking for OIO directly instead of getting bounced around to regular customer service.

As someone who works with disability cases, I want to emphasize that your sister should definitely pursue this now rather than assuming she has to wait until 62. The disabled divorced spouse benefit is a real provision that many people (including some SSA representatives) aren't familiar with. Since both she and her ex-husband are receiving disability benefits, the calculation can be tricky, but she may be entitled to the difference between her current SSDI amount and 50% of her ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - not his reduced disability amount, but what his full retirement benefit would be at his full retirement age. When she calls, she should specifically mention she's asking about "disabled divorced spouse benefits under Section 202(b)(4) of the Social Security Act" - using that specific legal reference might help get her to someone who knows these rules. The fact that they were married 20 years and divorced 12 years ago puts her in a strong position eligibility-wise. Also, don't let one "no" discourage you - these cases sometimes require persistence and speaking with multiple representatives to find one who understands the specialized rules for disabled divorced spouses.

I just wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar with my brother last year. He was 58, on SSDI for 4 years, and his ex-wife had just started receiving her own disability benefits. Initially, the SSA representative told him he'd have to wait until 62, but after we pushed back and specifically asked about disabled divorced spouse benefits, they connected us with a technical expert who confirmed he WAS eligible for additional benefits immediately. The key was getting to someone who actually understood these specialized rules. It took three phone calls and about 6 weeks to get it sorted out, but he ended up getting an additional $280/month retroactive to when his ex-wife first became eligible for benefits. Your sister's situation sounds even stronger since they were married for 20 years (vs my brother's 12 years). Definitely have her mention the specific legal provision that Zoey referenced - that really seemed to help get us to the right person. And don't give up if the first representative says no!

That makes PERFECT sense and explains the confusion! His benefit is right around $3,100 and she said the family max was about $5,200. So she was saying the family would get about 67% MORE in total, not that each dependent would get 67% of his benefit. Thank you for helping me make sense of this!

I'm glad you got that sorted out! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do call SSA back to confirm everything, ask them to mail you a written benefit estimate that shows the breakdown for each family member. Having it in writing can prevent any confusion later and gives you something to reference if there are discrepancies when payments start. I learned this the hard way when our family went through the SSDI process. The written estimates are usually pretty accurate and can save you a lot of headaches down the road.