Thank you! I'll definitely look into this and talk to my tax person. I hadn't even thought about the tax implications until now - just been focused on getting the calculation fixed.

Wow, reading your story gives me hope! I've been dealing with a similar WEP mess for 3 years now. My situation is a bit different - I taught in a state where teachers didn't pay into SS for the first 10 years of my career, then moved to a state where we do pay in. SSA has been calculating my WEP reduction based on the full pension amount instead of just the non-covered portion, which is completely wrong. I've been getting the runaround with reconsideration and they keep sending me form letters saying my calculation is correct when it's obviously not. The most frustrating part is that I have all the documentation showing exactly which years were covered vs non-covered, but they seem to just ignore it. Your tip about asking for a Technical Expert is golden - I didn't even know that was a thing! I'm definitely going to try that on my next call. And I'll check out that Claimyr service too because I'm so tired of spending hours on hold just to get disconnected. Fingers crossed your correction goes through quickly! Please keep us updated on how it goes. Stories like yours remind me not to give up fighting this.

One more important point: If your husband is a veteran, check with the VA as well. There may be additional survivor benefits available through them that are separate from Social Security. Also, once you're on survivor benefits, you'll still get the annual Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) that Social Security provides. And if you're not already enrolled in Medicare, that's something else to consider as you approach 65.

I want to add something that might be helpful - consider contacting your local Area Agency on Aging. They often have Social Security experts who can help you understand your benefits and even assist with applications at no cost. They're usually much easier to reach than SSA directly and can provide personalized guidance for your situation. Many also offer grief counseling and other support services that might be valuable during this difficult time. You can find your local agency at eldercare.acl.gov. Wishing you and your husband strength during this challenging period.

Regarding preparing your daughter for the hearing: 1. Request accommodations in advance - your attorney should file this request 2. Practice simple questions about daily activities but don't over-rehearse (judges can tell) 3. If possible, show the judge documentation of her communication difficulties from a psychologist or doctor 4. Consider requesting a video hearing if in-person would be too stressful 5. You can request a female judge, though this may further delay your hearing date Remember that the judge will likely have a medical expert and vocational expert present who will do much of the technical testimony. Your daughter will primarily need to answer questions about her daily life and limitations. One important tip: make sure your attorney emphasizes that your daughter's presentation on her 'best day' is not representative of her typical functioning. People with intellectual disabilities often mask their difficulties in formal settings through learned coping mechanisms.

The national average wait time for an ALJ hearing is currently around 8-10 months, though some offices are faster and others significantly slower. You can check the average processing time for your specific hearing office on SSA's website. Regarding the DAC benefits: This is actually a common misunderstanding. If your daughter meets the criteria for disability under SSA rules, and her disability began before age 22, she may be eligible for DAC benefits on her father's record regardless of whether she qualifies for SSDI on her own record (which would require sufficient work credits). Since her father is already receiving SSDI, she could potentially receive up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount as a DAC benefit. For the hearing preparation, your attorney should request specific accommodations based on your daughter's condition. The judge is required to make reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This might include: 1. Having you present to help explain or rephrase questions 2. Allowing written responses if verbal communication is difficult 3. Scheduling breaks during the hearing if needed 4. Using simple, direct language and questions Make sure all medical records clearly document her communication difficulties so these accommodation requests are supported by evidence.

One more thing to consider - if you're eligible for both your own retirement benefit AND survivor benefits, you have additional options. You could take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62 and then switch to the full survivor benefit at your survivor FRA (66+8mo). Or take the reduced survivor benefit early and switch to your own benefit at 70 if it would be higher with delayed retirement credits. This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 law changes.

I went through this exact calculation with my mom when my dad passed in 2019. She was born in 1957 so her survivor FRA was 66 and 6 months. What really helped us was creating a spreadsheet to compare the monthly benefit amounts at different claiming ages. Don't forget that once you start receiving survivor benefits, you'll also get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), so starting a bit earlier might make sense depending on your financial situation. Also, survivor benefits aren't subject to the earnings test once you reach your survivor FRA, which is different from regular retirement benefits. The SSA representatives can run benefit estimates for you at different ages if you call with your husband's Social Security number and death certificate information.

Update: I finally got through to SSA this morning after trying for days! They confirmed that yes, my February payment (for January) WILL include the 2025 COLA. The representative explained that what I'm seeing online is my base amount before the COLA adjustment. She said the online portal won't display the updated amount until my claim is fully processed in January. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help.

That's fantastic that you got confirmation directly from SSA! This is such a common source of confusion for new retirees. Your experience really highlights why it's worth the effort to call and get official confirmation rather than relying on the online estimates during the transition period. Hopefully your post helps other people in similar situations understand that the COLA will automatically be included in their 2025 payments, even if they're just starting benefits. Enjoy your retirement!