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 want to add that if you're looking for a really detailed breakdown of how AWI indexing works, SSA Publication 05-10070 "How Work Affects Your Benefits" has some good examples with actual numbers. You can download it from their website. Also, one thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're checking your earnings record on your my Social Security account regularly. I found errors in mine from jobs I had in the 1990s that would have affected my indexing calculation. You have limited time to correct these, so don't wait until you're ready to retire! For planning purposes, the online estimator is pretty accurate if your earnings record is correct. But if you want to really understand the math behind it, those AWI tables and the PIA formula are worth studying.

I'm in a very similar boat as a retired teacher from California! I worked 28 years in public schools but also had about 12 years of Social Security-covered employment before and during my teaching career. My WEP reduction cut my SS benefit to about $520/month when it should have been around $1,400. After reading all these responses, I'm convinced that applying for spousal benefits now is the right move. My spouse gets $2,100/month from SS, so even with my WEP reduction, the spousal benefit should bump me up significantly while we wait for the Fairness Act changes to kick in. One thing I learned from calling SSA multiple times is that they said the WEP relief will be retroactive to January 2024, so there should be a nice lump sum back payment coming eventually. But like others mentioned, their systems are really backed up right now, so who knows how long that will take. Go ahead with your March appointment - you've got nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of dollars per month to gain while waiting for the bigger WEP relief!

I'm a retired teacher from Ohio dealing with a very similar WEP situation. My husband and I went through this decision process just last month, and I wanted to share what we learned from our SSA representative. The key thing they explained to us is that the Social Security Fairness Act relief will be processed automatically for ALL affected beneficiaries - meaning you don't need to apply for it separately, and it doesn't matter what other benefits you're currently receiving. Your WEP adjustment will happen based on your primary earnings record regardless of whether you're also getting spousal benefits. What really helped us decide was when the rep calculated the numbers during our call. My reduced WEP benefit was around $380/month, but switching to spousal benefits (50% of my husband's $2,200 benefit) immediately jumped me to $1,100/month. That extra $720 per month while waiting for WEP relief was too significant to pass up. When the Fairness Act changes eventually kick in and my primary benefit increases above the spousal amount, I'll automatically be switched back to my own higher benefit plus any back payments owed. The system is designed to always pay you the highest amount you qualify for. Definitely keep that March appointment - the financial benefit of starting spousal payments now far outweighs any theoretical complications.

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 sorry for your loss, Sadie. Reading through this thread has been really educational - there's so much conflicting information out there about survivor benefits timing! It's great that you got direct clarification from SSA during your appointment. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't see covered here is that you might want to ask about potentially switching to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher than your survivor benefits. Since you're 61 now, you could potentially file for your own reduced benefits at 62 and then switch strategies later. The SSA representative should be able to run some projections for you to see what makes the most sense long-term. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to a local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor - they can help navigate Medicare decisions when you become eligible, especially since survivor benefits can affect those choices too.

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.

As someone who went through this exact situation with my spouse, I can confirm what others have said - definitely keep the SSDI going until FRA! We made the mistake of overthinking it initially and almost considered having my husband switch to early retirement at 62 (thankfully we didn't). One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do get to the point of potentially claiming spousal benefits for your husband, make sure SSA calculates it correctly. The spousal benefit is based on 50% of YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (not your actual benefit if you delay past FRA). So if you wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be higher due to delayed retirement credits, but his potential spousal benefit is still calculated from your PIA at FRA. Also, since you mentioned you're almost 60, you might want to start thinking about whether you can afford to delay your own benefits. The extra years of delayed credits can really add up, especially as the higher earner. But I know that's easier said than done depending on your work situation!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration (though not specifically for SSA). The advice you've received here is really solid, especially about not switching from SSDI to early retirement at 62. I see people make that mistake fairly often and it's heartbreaking because it can't be undone. One additional consideration for your planning: since you're the higher earner and likely to have survivor benefits implications down the road, maximizing YOUR benefit through delayed retirement credits becomes even more important. If something were to happen to you first, your husband would potentially be eligible for survivor benefits based on your record (including any delayed retirement credits you earned). Conversely, if he passes first, your survivor benefit would be based on his SSDI/retirement amount, which won't grow beyond FRA. I'd also suggest documenting everything when you do speak with SSA representatives. Get names, dates, and reference numbers for any advice given. The rules around SSDI transitions and spousal benefits can be complex, and having a paper trail helps if you get conflicting information from different agents. You're being smart to research this thoroughly ahead of time rather than making rushed decisions at 62!