Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I can't believe I misunderstood such a basic rule. I'm actually PAST my FRA (reached it in November 2024), so the earnings limit doesn't even apply to me anymore. This whole time I've been worrying and trying to budget for a reduction that wasn't going to happen! I'm still going to try reaching SSA just to confirm everything is correct in their system. Thanks again for all the information and advice!

This is such a great example of why it's worth double-checking the SSA rules! I see this confusion a lot - people think the earnings limit applies until age 70, but it actually stops at Full Retirement Age. The age 70 thing is about delayed retirement credits (where your benefit increases if you wait to claim past FRA), which is completely different from the earnings test. Since you're already past your FRA, you're golden. Just make sure when you do contact SSA that they have your correct birth date and FRA on file. Sometimes there can be clerical errors that cause unnecessary complications. Congrats on being able to work and collect your full benefits without any reductions!

Thank you for laying everything out so clearly. I've made a checklist from your suggestions and will start working through them tomorrow. I'm especially going to look into the Medicare ESRD program and connecting with the dialysis center social worker. I really appreciate everyone's help!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help your dad's situation. My elderly neighbor went through a similar experience with dialysis and financial struggles. One thing that really helped her was applying for the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) program through Medicare - it's different from the Extra Help program others mentioned and can cover almost all prescription drug costs. Also, many dialysis centers have their own financial assistance funds that patients don't know about. It's worth asking the billing department directly about hardship programs or charity care options. The American Kidney Fund also has emergency financial assistance grants specifically for dialysis patients - they helped my neighbor with several months of treatment costs when she was struggling. Wishing your father the best during this difficult time.

After using that service I mentioned to reach SSA, they explained to me that my husband's PIA was the key number I needed to know. Once I had that, I could calculate 50% of it and compare to my own benefit. Has your husband ever received a Social Security statement that might show his PIA? That could save you some time.

I'm in a similar situation as a retired teacher dealing with WEP! One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all the different benefit amounts people mentioned to me. I listed my own WEP-reduced benefit, the estimated spousal benefit (50% of husband's PIA), and factored in GPO reductions where applicable. It made it much easier when I finally got through to SSA to have all the numbers organized. Also, if you do decide to visit your local office like Zainab mentioned, I'd recommend calling ahead to make an appointment - it saves a lot of waiting time. The staff there were much more knowledgeable about the teacher pension interactions than the phone representatives I spoke with.

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively. Here's what I've learned that might help: The Medicare angle is HUGE - without 40 quarters, you'll pay around $505/month for Part A (over $6,000/year). That alone makes getting those 4 quarters worth it financially. For 2025, you need $1,740 in covered earnings per quarter, so about $7,000 total. You could potentially earn this in just a few months of part-time work. Regarding your ex-spouse benefits - you're already eligible since you were married 16 years, but GPO will likely reduce them significantly. However, having your own 40 quarters gives you options and Medicare eligibility regardless. I'd suggest: 1) Use the SSA calculators to estimate your exact GPO impact, 2) Consider the Medicare savings as the primary benefit, not Social Security payments, 3) Maybe look into seasonal work or consulting that you'd actually enjoy. The system is definitely confusing, but the Medicare piece makes it a clearer decision in my opinion.

As someone who went through a similar CSRS/Social Security situation, I'd strongly recommend focusing on the Medicare benefits rather than the Social Security payments. The $6,000+ annual savings on Medicare Part A premiums alone makes those 4 quarters worthwhile. I ended up taking a part-time job at a local library for about 6 months - earned just over the $7,000 needed and actually enjoyed the work. My Social Security benefit is minimal due to WEP, and GPO eliminated most of my spousal benefits, but having Medicare Part A premium-free has saved me thousands. One tip: You can create a my Social Security account online to see your current earnings record and get benefit estimates. This might give you a clearer picture before you decide whether to pursue those additional quarters.

To answer your question about WEP applying to disability: Yes, WEP applies to both Social Security retirement and disability benefits (SSDI). Unfortunately, there's no way to completely avoid the WEP reduction if you receive a non-covered pension and don't have 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. However, for your appeal, make sure they correctly applied the guarantee provision, which ensures your benefit won't be reduced by more than half of your pension amount. You should also verify they counted all your years of covered employment correctly, as sometimes earnings records have errors that affect the WEP calculation.

I've been dealing with SSA paperwork for years and found that creating your own personal glossary can be really helpful. I keep a simple document where I write down each acronym as I encounter it, along with the definition in my own words. It's saved me so much time! Also, when you're reviewing your denial letter, pay special attention to any calculations they show - sometimes they'll use multiple acronyms in one formula (like PIA = f(AIME) adjusted for WEP) and breaking it down step by step makes it much clearer. Don't feel bad about being confused - even some SSA employees I've spoken with have admitted the terminology is unnecessarily complex!