I'm really sorry you're going through this Carmen. The combination of WEP and GPO can be devastating for educators and other public servants. Just to add to what others have said - when you do get that appointment at SSA, make sure to bring all your documentation: your teacher's pension award letter, your complete work history, and any W-2s or 1099s from your covered employment years. One small thing that might help - if you have any years where you worked both teaching and a covered job simultaneously, those earnings might count differently in the WEP calculation. Also, some teachers worked summer jobs or substitute taught in districts that DID pay into Social Security, which could add to your covered quarters. The system really is unfair to people who dedicated their careers to public service. I hope the appointment gives you at least some clarity, even if the outcome isn't what you're hoping for. Hang in there!

Carmen, I feel your frustration - the WEP/GPO rules are incredibly complex and can be devastating for educators. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: when you visit the SSA office, ask them to show you exactly how they calculated your WEP reduction on your own benefit. Sometimes there are errors in how they apply the formula, especially if you have a mix of covered and non-covered years. Also, since you mentioned working some covered jobs before teaching, make sure they're using the correct "substantial earnings" years in the WEP calculation. The threshold changes annually, and jobs from decades ago might qualify as "substantial" even if they seemed small at the time. I know it's a long shot given your pension amount, but sometimes there are nuances in the GPO calculation that aren't immediately obvious. The 2/3 reduction isn't always straightforward, especially if there were any periods where you paid into Social Security while teaching. Keep advocating for yourself - you paid into the system during those 15 covered years and deserve to have every detail reviewed carefully. Good luck with your appointment!

Just wanted to add that you should also consider getting an estimate of your own retirement benefit at 70 versus the survivor benefit amount to make sure the switch will actually be worth it. You can create a my Social Security account online to see your projected benefits at different ages. Sometimes people assume their own benefit will be higher but it's not always the case, especially if your ex-spouse had significantly higher earnings. Also, don't forget that your survivor benefit may include a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year, so factor that into your calculations too. The online calculator tools can help you run different scenarios before you commit to the strategy.

This is such valuable information! I'm 61 and in a similar situation - divorced after 15 years, ex-spouse passed away 8 years ago. I've been wondering about this exact strategy but wasn't sure if it was allowed. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I especially appreciate the tips about using specific terminology like "restricted application for survivor benefits only" and the reminder about gathering all the necessary documents early. One question I have - has anyone here actually gone through this process recently? I'm curious about how long it takes from application to receiving the first benefit payment. Also, does SSA automatically send you reminders when you're approaching 70 to switch to your own benefits, or is it really up to you to remember and initiate that change?

congratulations! glad it went smooth for you. my mom did this same thing last year (survivor to own benefits at 70) and she had no problems either. i think people mostly post when things go wrong not when they go right lol

I'm so glad to hear about your positive experience! As someone who will likely face a similar transition in a few years (currently 67 and on survivor benefits), this gives me hope. I've been dreading the process after reading so many horror stories here. Quick question - did you need to provide any additional documentation during the call, or did they have everything they needed from your previous survivor benefits application? I'm wondering if I should start gathering paperwork now or if the transition is more straightforward than I'm expecting. Also, did they explain how the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) would work during the transition? I'm curious if there's any timing issue with getting the full COLA increase when switching benefit types.

Yup, Christmas Eve deposit. Happens with any federal holiday. SSA is actually pretty good about this - they never make you wait longer than scheduled.

Just to add some additional context for anyone who might be wondering - this early payment policy has been in place for decades and is actually written into federal regulations. The SSA payment schedule is published annually and clearly shows all the adjusted dates for holidays. You can find the official 2024 payment calendar on the SSA website under "When to expect your Social Security payment" which lists December 24th for payments that would normally be issued on December 25th. It's really convenient that they handle this automatically so we don't have to worry about it!

Thank you all SO much for these insights. I'm learning toward waiting until my FRA now to avoid the headache of documentation and possible disputes with SSA. But if I do decide to claim early, I'll definitely: 1. Get professional advice about structuring my practice 2. Set up meticulous documentation of all work hours 3. Create clear boundaries showing reduced work schedule 4. Use that Claimyr service to actually speak with someone at SSA before making my decision Never realized what a complicated mess this would be as a self-employed person. The SSA publications make it seem much simpler than it actually is in practice!

As someone who's been through the self-employment SS claiming process, I'd strongly recommend creating a detailed work log NOW, even if you don't claim for another year or two. I wish I had started documenting earlier - SSA wanted records going back months when I applied. For your therapy practice specifically, track: actual client session hours, documentation/notes time, insurance billing hours, and any administrative work. Also note when you're genuinely "off" - weekends, evenings, vacation days. This creates a clear picture of reduced work activity that SSA looks for. One thing that helped me was establishing set office hours (like 9-3, M-Th only) and sticking to them religiously. It shows intentional retirement from full-time work, not just temporary reduced income. Your gradual client reduction plan over 4-5 years could work well if properly documented as a retirement transition rather than just business fluctuation. The burnout factor is real - sometimes the peace of mind from claiming early (even with reduced benefits) outweighs the financial optimization of waiting. Just make sure you understand exactly what you're getting into with the earnings test compliance.