Social Security specialist here. There's some confusion in some of these responses. Let me clarify: 1. WEP affects your own retirement benefits if you have a pension from non-covered work. 2. GPO affects spousal or survivor benefits if you have a pension from non-covered work. In your case, since your husband has a teacher's pension from work not covered by Social Security AND only has 20 years of substantial earnings under Social Security, he: - Already sees his own SS retirement benefit reduced by WEP - Would likely have any survivor benefits from your record reduced by GPO The GPO reduction is 2/3 of his gross monthly pension. So if his teacher's pension is $3,200, the GPO reduction would be about $2,133. If your SS benefit is $2,650, after the GPO reduction, he would receive about $517 in survivor benefits. Here's the official SSA fact sheet on GPO: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf

I'm going through something similar with my own family planning. My wife is a retired teacher with a state pension, and we've been trying to understand these rules for months. One thing that might help is to request a detailed benefit estimate from SSA that shows exactly how WEP and GPO would affect your specific situation. You can do this online through your my Social Security account or by calling them directly. Also, I've heard that some financial planners who specialize in public employee benefits can help you model different scenarios and plan accordingly. Given that your husband would still receive around $517 in survivor benefits (based on the calculation above), plus his teacher's pension, it might not be as dire as it first seemed. The key is getting the official numbers from SSA so you can plan with certainty rather than estimates. Have you considered reaching out to your husband's teacher retirement system too? They sometimes have resources or counselors who understand how their pensions interact with Social Security benefits.

If ur still caring for ur husband u might want to look into hospice if u haven't already. They helped us so much and medicare covers it. Not SS related but just wanted to mention it.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult time with your husband. The advice you've received here is really solid - you absolutely can claim survivor benefits without being forced to take your own retirement benefits early. One additional thing I'd suggest is requesting a Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you compare what you might receive as a survivor versus what your own benefit would be at FRA or age 70, so you can make the most informed decision about when to switch. Also, when the time comes to apply for survivor benefits, you can actually apply up to 3 months before you want the benefits to start. This can help avoid any processing delays. The benefits can begin as early as the month after your husband passes away. Take care of yourself during this incredibly challenging time. Having a plan for the financial aspects can be one less thing to worry about.

dont botter waiting, go to your local ss office its WAY faster

I'm so sorry for your loss, Astrid. I went through something similar when my father passed last year. One thing that helped me was calling the SSA main number (1-800-772-1213) very early in the morning - around 8 AM when they open - or later in the evening before they close. The wait times tend to be shorter then. Also, if you have a my Social Security account online, you can check there to see if any payments have been processed recently. While you can't report the death online, it gives you a better picture of what's happening with her account. Don't worry too much about the timing - as long as you report it promptly and return any payments received after her death date, you won't be penalized. The SSA understands that families need time to handle these situations.

Yes, that's exactly right. You're not missing any money - it's just the payment schedule adjusting. Your September benefit was paid in September (on the 27th), and your October benefit will be paid in early November according to your portal. Then after that, you should start receiving payments on your regular schedule based on your birth date. The SSA systems are old and sometimes take a cycle or two to get everything flowing smoothly for new beneficiaries. Rest assured that all your entitled benefits will be paid.

I went through something very similar when I started my Social Security benefits earlier this year! The initial payment schedule can definitely be confusing. What helped me was calling SSA's main number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning around 8 AM - the wait times are usually shorter then. When I spoke to them, they were able to pull up my payment schedule and explain exactly when I could expect each payment. They also confirmed that the irregular timing in the first couple months is totally normal as they sync up your account with the regular payment schedule. Once everything stabilizes, you'll get your payments like clockwork based on your birth date. The peace of mind from that phone call was worth the wait!

btw did anyone else notice that SSA has different processing times in different states?? my cousin in florida got her survivors in like 3 weeks but my mom in california waited almost 3 months for hers even tho they applied like the same week! so unfair!!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when my husband passed. From my experience, it took about 5 weeks from application to receiving my first increased payment. The SSA processed it as a "top-up" to my existing benefit rather than completely switching me to survivor benefits, which meant less disruption overall. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through my online SSA account - I got notified immediately when there were any updates to my case. Also, make sure to keep copies of everything you submitted. The back pay was included in my first increased payment, so you should receive everything you're owed once it processes. Hang in there - I know how stressful the waiting is when you're already dealing with so much.