ive been on SS for 15 yrs now and one thing i learned is always double check their math! my check was wrong for 3 yrs before i figured it out. they did give me backpay for their mistake tho so thats good.

Just wanted to add one more practical tip for your aunt's appointment: If possible, try to schedule it for early morning or right when the office opens. SSA offices tend to get busier as the day goes on, and the staff are usually more patient and thorough in the morning. Also, if the first representative seems unsure about the restricted application strategy, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or claims specialist. This strategy isn't commonly used anymore since the rules changed in 2016, so some newer staff might not be familiar with it. Your aunt's situation (never having filed for her own benefits and being past FRA) is one of the rare cases where it still applies. One last thing - have her write down all the key numbers they give her during the appointment. It's easy to forget the exact benefit amounts when you're processing a lot of information, and you'll want to compare the survivor benefit amount to what her own benefit would be at age 70.

I think everyone is overthinking this lol. Your friend just needs to wait till she's fully retired age (November) and she'll be fine. All this talk about earnings limits is just confusing everyone. SSA doesn't care what you make before you start taking money from them!

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in retirement planning - your sister's strategy is spot-on! Waiting until her exact FRA is often the optimal approach when you can afford to do so. Not only does she avoid the earnings test entirely, but she'll also receive her full Primary Insurance Amount without any early retirement reductions. Since she's earning good income ($78k), she's also maximizing her Social Security earnings record right up until retirement, which could potentially increase her benefit calculation if 2025 becomes one of her highest 35 earning years. The peace of mind of not having to worry about complex earnings test calculations is just an added bonus!

Update: I finally got through to someone at SSA after using that Claimyr service (which worked surprisingly well). The agent confirmed that since my benefits were suspended and not denied, I AM eligible for retroactive payments back to January 2024 when the GPO repeal took effect. They're reactivating my claim and said I should see payments within 3-4 weeks, including the backpay. She also mentioned they're getting thousands of similar cases right now, so they're quite backed up. Thank you everyone for your help and advice! I'll update again when I actually receive the payments.

Congratulations on getting through and getting confirmation! This is such helpful information for others in similar situations. I'm dealing with a comparable issue - my mom passed in 2023 and I was denied survivor benefits due to GPO (I'm a retired postal worker). My benefits also show as "suspended" rather than denied in my account. Based on your experience, it sounds like I should definitely call and specifically mention the GPO repeal and ask for my claim to be reviewed. Did the agent give you any specific reference number or case status to track the reactivation process? And thanks for mentioning Claimyr - I had never heard of that service before this thread but it sounds like it could save a lot of frustration trying to get through!

Has anyone else noticed how RIDICULOUS it is that we have to figure all this out ourselves?? The rules are so complicated and then they make it impossible to get help understanding them. My dad paid into the system for 45 years and when mom tried to claim his benefits after he died, it was like pulling teeth to get straight answers from SSA. The whole system needs to be simplified!

This is such valuable information for so many people! I'm a benefits counselor and I see this exact situation come up frequently. One additional tip - when you apply next month, ask specifically about "deemed filing" rules too. Since you'll be under your full retirement age when you apply for survivor benefits, SSA will automatically consider you to be filing for any other benefits you're eligible for (like your own retirement benefit if you're 62+). Make sure they explain how this affects your options, especially given the great strategy advice from NebulaNomad and Javier about potentially switching between benefits later. The SSA representatives don't always volunteer this information, so you have to ask directly. Good luck with your application!

Update: I finally got through to Social Security today! The representative confirmed I am eligible for divorced spouse benefits from my first husband. She calculated that I would receive an additional $275 per month on top of my current benefit. She also said I could only get 6 months of retroactive payments, which is disappointing but better than nothing. Thank you all so much for your help and for encouraging me to pursue this. I never would have known to question what I was told initially. The rep is sending me some forms to fill out, and I need to locate my marriage certificate and divorce decree to submit with my application.

Congratulations Emma! This is such a great outcome and really shows why it's so important to advocate for yourself with Social Security. An extra $275/month will make a real difference in your monthly budget. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - this is a perfect example of why you should always get a second opinion if something doesn't sound right. The SSA representatives are human and can make mistakes or may not be fully informed about all the rules. A few tips for others: Always ask to speak with a supervisor if you're not satisfied with the answer you get, keep detailed notes of every conversation including the date and representative's name, and don't be afraid to call back if you need clarification. The rules around divorced spouse benefits are complex, but you deserve to get every benefit you're entitled to! Emma, make sure to follow up if there are any delays in processing your application. Sometimes these things can take a while to get fully resolved.