Just want to add one more thing about taxation that no one's mentioned yet. If you're worried about inflation in your later years, remember that survivor benefits are taxed the same way as regular Social Security benefits. Up to 85% could be taxable depending on your other income. So as you tap into 401ks/IRAs, be mindful of how that impacts the taxation of your benefits. Sometimes it makes sense to draw from Roth accounts to keep your taxable income lower once you're receiving Social Security.

One strategy worth considering given your situation is the "claim and invest" approach. Since you mentioned you have pensions covering basic expenses and are viewing SS as inflation protection, you might want to run the numbers on having your husband claim at 62 and investing that monthly benefit in a conservative portfolio. Over 8 years (from age 62 to 70), that could potentially grow to offset some of the reduction from early claiming. Meanwhile, your delayed benefit at 70 maximizes the survivor benefit for whichever of you lives longer. This works especially well when you don't immediately need the money for living expenses. Just make sure to factor in taxes on both the SS benefits and any investment gains when doing your calculations!

I'm a retired teacher from Texas who went through this process last month. Applied online on February 3rd and received my first payment on March 7th - so about 5 weeks total. The key thing that helped me was creating a detailed timeline of my previous GPO denial with dates and reference numbers. One tip: when you apply, ask specifically about the "GPO repeal expedited review" - apparently there's a special code they can put on your application that prioritizes it. My local SSA office didn't mention this initially, but when I called back and asked about it, they were able to add it to my case. Also, make sure to ask for a receipt or confirmation number when you submit everything. I had to follow up twice because they initially couldn't locate my application in their system. Having that confirmation number saved me from having to start over completely. The retroactive payments back to January were included in my first payment, which was a nice surprise! Hang in there - it's worth the wait after all these years of getting nothing due to GPO.

I'm also a retired teacher dealing with the same situation! Lost my husband two years ago and was devastated to learn I'd get zero survivor benefits due to GPO. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope. Based on what I'm seeing from all your posts, it sounds like the key factors for faster processing are: 1) applying in person if possible, 2) having all documentation ready, 3) asking about that "GPO repeal expedited review" code that StarStrider mentioned, and 4) getting a confirmation number. I'm planning to apply next week and will definitely ask about those special WEP/GPO appointment slots that Natalie mentioned. After years of getting nothing, I'm cautiously optimistic that this repeal will finally give us the benefits we deserve. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community support means everything during such a difficult process!

my neighbor got her exs ss when he died but she had to wait till she was 60 even tho they were married for like 30 years... the whole thing is confusing

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I wanted to add that it's also worth keeping copies of all your important documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) in a safe place where you can easily access them if needed. One thing I learned from helping my mom navigate Social Security issues is that having everything organized beforehand makes the process much smoother when you're already dealing with the stress of a loss. You might also want to consider reaching out to your local Social Security office to get familiar with their procedures now, rather than waiting until you actually need to file a claim. It sounds like you have a good understanding of your situation now thanks to all the helpful responses here. The fact that your marriage lasted 22 years definitely works in your favor, and being on SSDI shouldn't prevent you from receiving the higher benefit if your ex-husband's amount exceeds yours.

The whole system is needlessly complicated. When I filed for benefits on my ex's record, the SSA agent told me I should have waited until FRA but by then it was too late - once you file early, you're stuck with the reduced amount forever. Just make sure you understand all the implications before you submit that application!

Didn't they also change it so if your ex dies you can switch to survivor benefits? Those work differently I think. My aunt did that and got more money when her ex passed away even though she started regular benefits early.

I want to thank everyone for the helpful responses! Based on what you've all shared, I'm going to apply for benefits to start in January 2025 so I can get the COLA increase right away. I'll make sure to submit my application a few months in advance as suggested. I'm also going to check out that Claimyr service for getting through to SSA - sounds much better than waiting on hold for hours. Really appreciate all the insights!

One more thing to consider - since you're already past your FRA, you might want to double-check what your exact FRA was. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67, not 66. I see a lot of people get confused about this and think they can start full benefits earlier than they actually can. Also, if you do decide to start in January, your first payment won't actually arrive until February since Social Security pays benefits the month after they're earned. Just wanted to make sure you're planning your finances accordingly!