Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm definitely going to try to get through to a Technical Expert since it seems like they're the only ones who really understand these complicated cases. I'll plan on getting some increase but not the full 50% I was hoping for. At least I know now why I was getting such different answers. I'll update after I speak with someone who can do the actual calculations for my specific situation.

I'm a Social Security Administration representative and want to clarify the correct information about divorced spousal benefits since there's been some confusion in this thread. When you file for divorced spousal benefits after your Full Retirement Age (which you will be at 69), the divorced spousal portion itself won't be reduced for age. However, since you took your own retirement benefit early at 62, that portion remains permanently reduced. Here's how it works: You'll receive the HIGHER of either (1) your current reduced benefit, or (2) up to 50% of your ex-husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). You don't get both benefits - it's not additive. The key calculation is comparing 50% of his PIA to your current reduced benefit amount. If 50% of his PIA is higher than what you're currently receiving, you'll get that higher amount. If your current benefit is already close to or exceeds 50% of his PIA, you may see little to no increase. For accurate calculations specific to your situation, I recommend scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office or requesting to speak with a Technical Expert who can access your earnings records and provide exact figures. The online my Social Security account at ssa.gov can also provide benefit estimates.

Just to follow up on your question about penalties or waiting periods - there are NO penalties for withdrawing before payments begin. He can reapply at any time. The only limitation is that if he had started receiving payments, he would only get one withdrawal opportunity in his lifetime. But since he's still in processing and hasn't received any money, this withdrawal won't count against that limit.

So glad to hear your brother was able to get through to SSA and get this sorted out! This is actually a really valuable thread for anyone else who might find themselves in a similar situation. Just wanted to add one more tip - if anyone else is considering Social Security timing, the SSA website has a really helpful "Retirement Estimator" tool that can show you exactly how much your monthly benefit would be at different ages (62, full retirement age, 70, etc.). It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html and can help you make a more informed decision upfront. Your brother is smart to wait until his FRA - that extra $450/month really adds up over time!

To summarize what you should do: 1. Continue receiving your current benefit until your husband retires 2. When your husband files for his benefits, contact SSA (ideally make an appointment) to apply for your spousal benefit 3. Bring your marriage certificate, both birth certificates, and both Social Security cards to the appointment 4. You'll then receive your own $980 benefit plus a spousal add-on of approximately $570 (assuming your husband's benefit is $3,100) 5. The total will be $1,550, which is exactly 50% of your husband's benefit And just to be clear - this isn't SSI, this is regular Social Security retirement with a spousal benefit component.

One thing I'd add is to keep track of your husband's exact filing date because your spousal benefit increase should start the month after he files. Sometimes there can be a delay in processing, so if you don't see the adjustment in your payment within 2-3 months, follow up with SSA. Also, when you do contact them to apply for the spousal benefit, ask them to confirm the exact amount you'll receive - it's always good to have that in writing so you know what to expect in your monthly payment.

One more important thing to check during your appointment: make sure they've properly accounted for any Social Security-covered work you might have done in addition to your non-covered government job. Sometimes people have mixed employment histories with both covered and non-covered work, which can affect how the GPO is applied. If you have at least 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security in addition to your government work, you might be exempt from GPO entirely. This is rare but worth confirming.

I'm dealing with a similar GPO situation with my teacher's pension. One thing I learned from my local SSA office is that even if you're denied spousal benefits now, it's worth keeping track of any changes that might affect your eligibility later. For example, if your wife's Social Security benefit increases significantly due to future COLA adjustments, or if your pension amount changes, the GPO calculation could shift in your favor. Also, when you reach your own full retirement age, you might want to compare whether your own Social Security benefit (if you have one from those 7 years of private sector work) would be better than continuing to pursue spousal benefits. The appointment is definitely worth keeping - they can run all these scenarios for you.

This is extremely helpful - I had no idea about the representative payee responsibilities. I'll definitely keep detailed records if we're approved. We'd probably use some for her current expenses and save the rest for college. Thank you!

As someone who works with families navigating Social Security benefits, I want to emphasize how important it is to gather ALL the documentation before your appointment. In addition to what others have mentioned, you'll also want to bring any school records showing your daughter lived with her grandfather, any medical records that list him as guardian, and if possible, any financial records showing he supported her (like tax returns where she was claimed as a dependent). The key thing SSA looks for is proof that the grandparent was actually providing support and the child was dependent on them. Also, don't be discouraged if your first application gets denied - this happens frequently with grandchild survivor benefits because the criteria can be complex. If that happens, you have 60 days to appeal and it's often worth getting help from a Social Security attorney who specializes in survivor benefits. Good luck with the process!