Just wanted to add that GPO is so frustrating for those of us affected by it. I worked as a teacher for 28 years and get a pension, but my husband had a great career with high SS earnings. When he passes, I'll only get a tiny fraction of what most widows would get from his record because of GPO. It feels so unfair that I'm punished for choosing a public service career!

As a newcomer trying to understand all this, it's really helpful to see everyone's explanations! From what I'm gathering, the key distinction is that GPO only affects Social Security benefits you'd receive based on someone ELSE'S work record (like spousal or survivor benefits), but it doesn't touch the Social Security you earned from your own work history. So @Carter Holmes, your $2,304/month Social Security benefit that you earned yourself should be completely safe - GPO won't reduce it at all, even when you start receiving your wife's CalSTRS pension as a survivor benefit. The confusing part seems to be that there are two separate government pension rules (GPO and WEP) that people often mix up, plus SSA's own explanations aren't always clear. But everyone here seems to agree on the basic principle: your own earned SS benefits = protected from GPO. I'd definitely follow the advice about getting an official determination from SSA though, just to have it in writing for your peace of mind!

One more thing I forgot to mention: many SSA offices are offering dedicated appointment slots specifically for people affected by the WEP/GPO repeal. Call your local office and specifically ask about these special appointment times - could save you weeks of waiting.

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.

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!