Does anyone know when these changes actually start? I heard 2025 but not sure exactly when during the year?

I just remembered something IMPORTANT! If you have 30+ years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security, you might be COMPLETELY EXEMPT from WEP even under the current rules!!!! You should check if your 35 years of SS work all count as "substantial earnings" - the threshold changes each year. For 2023 it was around $28,050 I think?? If you have 30+ substantial years you might not even need to worry about WEP at all!!!!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much clearer on what to do now. I'll wait until after my husband receives his first payment in 3 months, then call SSA to make sure my spousal benefits are being processed correctly. I'll have our marriage certificate ready just in case they need it. The deemed filing information was particularly helpful - I didn't realize that would automatically tie everything together.

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I went through this process - keep detailed records of every phone call you make to SSA, including the date, time, and the name of the representative you spoke with (if they give it). Also write down any reference numbers they provide. I had to call back twice because of conflicting information from different reps, and having those details helped me get everything sorted out more quickly. The system can be frustrating, but most of the SSA staff really do want to help once you get through to them. Good luck with everything, and congratulations again on starting your retirement benefits!

my cousin did somthing smart, he worked jan-oct full time then retired in nov and got 2 SS checks that yr becuz he didnt go over monthly limit for those 2 months even tho the yearly total was over

Just wanted to add something important about working for your brother's landscaping business - make sure you're clear on whether you'll be classified as an employee or independent contractor. If you're doing regular landscaping work and he controls when/how you work, you're likely an employee even if it's family. This affects how your earnings count toward the limit and how taxes are handled. Also, since landscaping can be seasonal, you might want to plan your work schedule around the earnings limit - maybe work more hours in months when you're under the limit rather than spreading it evenly throughout the year.

When I claimed my SS at 66, my disabled son's benefits stayed exactly the same. They're completely separate. But I got really confused because there's DAC benefits and then there's also SSI which has different rules entirely and I kept mixing them up when talking to the representatives. Make sure you're clear about which benefit type your stepchild receives when you speak with them. The terminology gets so confusing sometimes!

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I filed for my retirement benefits at 66. My stepson receives DAC benefits from his deceased father's record, and I was terrified that my filing would somehow mess up his payments. I called SSA multiple times and got different answers each time, which made me even more anxious. The good news is that absolutely nothing changed with his DAC benefits when I claimed my own retirement. His monthly payment stayed exactly the same and continued to be based on his father's earnings record. The SSA representative who finally gave me the correct information explained that DAC benefits are "locked in" to the original parent's record and won't switch or be affected by a stepparent's retirement filing. One tip: when you do call SSA, be very specific that you're asking about DAC survivor benefits, not regular disability benefits. I found that being precise with the terminology helped me get more accurate answers. Good luck with your planning!

my father in law got burnt by GPO so bad... worked 40 years for the county and gets zero ss even though he paid in for 10 years at a second job. this whole system is garbage

I'm in a very similar situation as a newer CSRS retiree! Filed for spousal benefits at 62 but they were immediately suspended due to GPO. I've been following the GPO reform closely and from what I understand, the new law creates a more favorable calculation but doesn't change your original month of entitlement. However, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA in early 2025 to specifically ask about your case since you never received actual payments. Some field offices are more knowledgeable about complex CSRS cases than others - if the first person doesn't seem to understand GPO thoroughly, ask to speak with someone who specializes in government pension cases. Also keep detailed notes of who you speak with and when, as you may need to reference previous conversations. The reform should at least get you some benefit instead of zero, which is progress!