I'm in a very similar situation - also a retired teacher from Texas who was affected by GPO. I applied for spousal benefits about 3 weeks ago after the repeal and completely forgot about retroactive benefits until I saw your post! I called SSA this morning using the regular 1-800-772-1213 number and surprisingly got through after only about 45 minutes on hold (maybe I got lucky with the timing). The representative was very helpful and said they could absolutely add the retroactive benefits request to my existing application since it hasn't been finalized yet. She added a note to my file requesting 6 months retroactive benefits and gave me a confirmation number. The whole process took less than 10 minutes once I got through to someone. She also mentioned that since the GPO repeal is recent, my retroactive benefits would only go back to the effective date of the repeal, not the full 6 months, but that's still a decent amount of money! Don't give up on calling - maybe try early morning or late afternoon when call volume might be lower. Good luck!

As someone who just went through this exact process last month, I can confirm that you absolutely can still request retroactive benefits! I was also a teacher (in Michigan) affected by GPO and forgot to mention retroactive benefits during my initial application. I ended up going to my local SSA office in person because I couldn't get through on the phone after trying for a week. The wait was about 2 hours, but the representative was able to add the retroactive benefits request to my pending application immediately. She explained that since I was past FRA, I was eligible for up to 6 months retroactive, but due to the timing of the GPO repeal, mine would only go back to the repeal effective date. The key is getting to them BEFORE they finalize processing your application. Since you just applied last week, you should have plenty of time. I'd recommend trying both the phone and in-person options - whichever you can access first. Make sure to ask for a confirmation number and written documentation of the request. The retroactive amount ended up being substantial for me - definitely worth the effort to pursue it! Good luck!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! This makes a lot more sense now. I was expecting the same pattern of increases I saw before, but I didn't understand all the factors involved. Sounds like: 1. The recalculation only helps if my current earnings are replacing much lower earnings years 2. At my income level, additional earnings only impact benefits at 15% of the value 3. The October 2024 recalculation might still show a small increase from my 2023 earnings I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this. The Social Security system is so much more complicated than I realized!

You've got a really good grasp of it now! Just to add one more piece that might be helpful - you can actually estimate whether your current earnings will make a difference by looking at your Social Security statement. If you have the annual earnings history, find your 35th highest year (after adjusting for wage indexing, which is complex). If your current salary is significantly higher than that 35th year, you'll see some increase. If it's only moderately higher, the impact will be minimal due to those bend points everyone mentioned. Also, since you're still working full-time, don't forget that you're still paying into the system and building up credits that could help with future Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs). Even if the recalculation doesn't boost your benefit much, you're still contributing to the overall stability of your retirement income.

Just wanted to add that you might also want to consider the timing of when you apply within your birth month. If you're born early in the month, you can actually start receiving benefits the month you turn 70. But if you're born later in the month, you might want to apply the month before to avoid any delays in processing. Also, make sure to keep receiving your survivor benefits right up until your retirement benefits kick in - don't stop the survivor payments early thinking you need to "make room" for the new benefit. SSA will handle the transition automatically once your retirement benefit application is approved.

One more thing to keep in mind - when you apply for your retirement benefits at 70, you'll want to specify that you want to switch from survivor benefits to retirement benefits. Sometimes people accidentally apply for both or don't make it clear they want to switch, which can cause processing delays. I'd recommend being very explicit about this when you submit your application. Also, if you're still working when you turn 70, make sure SSA has your most recent earnings information, as this could potentially increase your benefit amount even further. The earnings from your 69th year might not be fully reflected in the online estimate yet.

i keep hearing SSA is RAISING the min age for survivor benefits to 61 or 62 soon!!!!! anyone else hear this??

I'm so sorry for your loss, Fatima. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and the financial stress on top of grief makes it even harder. While others have covered the main eligibility requirements well, I wanted to mention a few additional resources that might help you get through these next two years: 1. **SNAP benefits (food stamps)** - With reduced income, you may qualify for food assistance 2. **LIHEAP** - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help with utility bills 3. **Local food banks and churches** - Many offer emergency financial assistance for widows 4. **Mortgage assistance programs** - Some lenders have hardship programs for surviving spouses Also, when you go to your SSA appointment, ask specifically about: - Whether your husband had any unpaid benefits that might be due to you - If there are any other SSA programs you might qualify for temporarily - Getting an estimate of what your survivor benefits will be at 60 vs waiting longer The waiting period is incredibly difficult, but you're not alone in this struggle. Many communities have widow support groups that can provide both emotional support and practical financial advice from others who've been through similar situations. Take care of yourself during this challenging time.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusing situation! As someone new to navigating Social Security rules, I'm learning a lot from reading everyone's responses here. It's really frustrating that these important rules aren't more widely known or easily accessible. From what I'm understanding, the key takeaway is that remarriage before age 60 basically eliminates your ability to claim on any ex-spouse's record, even if you were married to them for the required 10+ years. That seems like such an arbitrary cutoff that could really impact people's retirement security. I'm wondering - is there any advocacy happening to change these rules or at least make them more transparent? It seems like a lot of people are making major life decisions without understanding the long-term financial implications. Maybe there should be some kind of mandatory disclosure or counseling before remarriage for people who might be affected? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really eye-opening for those of us who are still learning about all this!

This thread has been incredibly educational for someone like me who's just starting to learn about Social Security rules! I had no idea about the remarriage restrictions and how they differ between divorced spouse benefits and survivor benefits. What strikes me most is how these complex rules seem to disproportionately affect women, who are more likely to have gaps in their work history due to caregiving responsibilities and may rely more heavily on spousal/ex-spousal benefits for retirement security. The fact that so many people are discovering these restrictions after major life decisions have already been made suggests a real problem with how this information is communicated. @Mohamed Anderson - I'm sorry you're in this situation, but thank you for posting about it. Your question and everyone's responses have taught me so much about planning ahead. It sounds like focusing on optimizing your strategy with your current husband, especially given the 5-year age gap, will be important. Has anyone found good resources for understanding all these different Social Security scenarios before making major life decisions? It seems like there should be better tools or counseling available to help people navigate these choices.