Just wanted to follow up - did you get this resolved? What did your attorney say?

That's fantastic news! So glad to hear your accommodation was approved. Your experience really reinforces what others have said here - having proper medical documentation makes all the difference. This thread will be really helpful for other people facing the same situation. Best of luck with your hearing in May!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, they will count years with zero earnings if you don't have 35 years of work. If you have more than 35 years of earnings, they'll use your highest 35 years and ignore the lowest years. With 33 years of work history, if you work 2 more years, you'll have exactly 35 years. But if you don't, they'll include 2 zero-earning years in your calculation, which will bring down your average. And yes, if you're turning 62 in 2027, the 2025 AWI will be your indexing base year. The SSA's calculations always use the AWI from the year you turn 60.

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to be confusing on purpose!!! They don't want us to understand how our benefits are calculated because then we might realize we're not getting what we deserve after paying in our whole lives!!!!

Just wanted to add - when we did our spousal benefit application, they told us my husband would still receive his original SS benefit plus a supplemental amount to bring the total up to 50% of mine (minus his WEP reduction). Then later when the WEP reduction changes, his base benefit will increase which might reduce the supplemental spousal portion, but the total will stay the same or increase. It's confusing but worked out fine for us.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my retired teacher spouse, I can confirm what others have said - the spousal benefit application and WEP adjustments are handled separately by SSA's systems. We were initially hesitant too, but our local SSA office assured us that applying for spousal benefits wouldn't interfere with the upcoming Fairness Act changes. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have a backup copy of your marriage certificate before mailing it to them. While they do mail it back, it can take several weeks and you might need it for other purposes. Also, during your March appointment, ask them to estimate what your spousal benefit amount would be - this will help you understand the potential impact when your WEP reduction is eliminated later. The peace of mind from getting the higher monthly payment now while waiting for the WEP relief is worth it, especially since you're not risking anything by applying.

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I called SSA again today and specifically asked for a Technical Expert as suggested. I explained the difference between withdrawal and non-claim (which the first rep didn't seem to understand). After being transferred, the TE confirmed that since I hadn't received any payments yet, I could indeed file for a non-claim! I'll be sending a written statement to make it official. Such a relief. I plan to maximize my LTD until October and then reassess my options. This forum has been incredibly helpful - I was getting nowhere with the standard SSA phone line. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge!

That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. Your experience really highlights how important it is to know the right terminology when dealing with SSA - the difference between "withdrawal" and "non-claim" seems to be something many reps don't fully understand. Your story will definitely help others who might find themselves in similar situations. It's a good reminder that persistence pays off, and sometimes you just need to find the right person who knows the system. Best of luck with your LTD benefits through October!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sadie. I'm glad your appointment went well and you got the clarity you needed! Your experience really highlights how confusing the timing can be - I think the key takeaway for others reading this is that if the deceased spouse already received their payment for the month they died, survivor benefits typically start the following month. It's also great that you mentioned the $255 death benefit - that's something that often gets overlooked but every bit helps during such a difficult time. Thanks for sharing your update, it will definitely help others in similar situations know what to expect.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sadie. What a difficult time to have to navigate all these bureaucratic details. I went through something similar when my father passed, and the Social Security timing rules can be so confusing. It sounds like you got great clarity from your appointment - the key point being that since your husband already received his September payment before passing, your survivor benefits start with October (paid in November). I'm glad you asked about the $255 death benefit too. One small tip that helped me: if you haven't already, consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Once your benefits start, you can track your payments, get benefit statements, and handle some routine business online without having to call. The phone lines can be brutal when you need to make changes later. Wishing you strength as you work through all of this.