just remembr that any years of zero income will pull your amount down! i had 3 yrs when i stayed home w/kids and those zeros really hurt my final number

One last tip: If you're married, be sure to also look into spousal benefit strategies. Depending on your and your spouse's earnings records, sometimes it makes sense to coordinate when each of you files to maximize your household's total benefits. The SSA calculators don't automatically show you optimal filing strategies for couples.

To answer your follow-up question: Once you've earned your 40 credits, you're eligible for benefits regardless of your immigration status later on. Your green card status doesn't need to remain valid after you leave the US to collect retirement benefits. However, non-citizens who received their Social Security numbers after 2004 must have work authorization at some point to receive benefits based on that work. Also, be aware that different rules apply for different benefit types. For example, SSI benefits generally cannot be received outside the US, while retirement benefits can (with the country restrictions others have mentioned).

ANOTHER THING they don't tell you - some countries have AGREEMENTS with the US so you don't LOSE benefits, but other countries DON'T! If your country doesn't have an agreement you might lose some of your benefits after 6 months abroad!! Look up "totalization agreements" on the SSA website!!!

did u try just showing up? sometimes thats easier then the phone runaround

UPDATE: I called back this morning and specifically mentioned my international work history and previous marriage complicating my application. The second representative was much more helpful and said that while they're limiting in-person appointments, my situation does qualify. I have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday! Thanks everyone for your advice - especially the tip to specifically mention the complexity of my case rather than just asking for an in-person appointment generally.

To directly answer your question: Unless your mother qualifies for one of the GPO exceptions, she likely won't receive additional spousal benefits. The calculation works like this: 1. Calculate potential spousal benefit: 50% of your father's PIA = $1,880 2. Calculate GPO reduction: 2/3 of government pension = $1,467 3. Subtract GPO reduction from spousal benefit: $1,880 - $1,467 = $413 4. Compare to her own benefit: $480 > $413 Since her own reduced benefit is higher than what she'd get as a spouse after GPO, she'll continue receiving just her own benefit. I'd recommend requesting a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA to verify all calculations and check if she might qualify for any exceptions.

wait does she get any of his benefit if he passes away? or does gpo still apply to widow benefits to?

Update: I called the SSA today and after an hour and 45 minutes on hold, I got through to someone who confirmed what you all said. They're going to adjust my benefits for November and December to help offset some of the overpayment. The representative said they'll still probably need to recover some money next year once my W-2 is processed, but it won't be as much. She also gave me the option to voluntarily suspend my benefits for the rest of the year if I wanted to minimize the overpayment even more. I decided not to do that since I need the income right now. Thanks everyone for your help! I feel much less anxious now that I know what to expect.

NOBODY mentioned that survivor benefits taken at 60 are reduced by 28.5% FOREVER!!! she's only getting 71.5% of what she would get if she waited till her FRA!!! i hope the counseling job pays well because that's a big hit to take on lifetime benefits!!!

My grandma says shes getting a 2.45 COLA and she only started SS in august so yeah u qualify

To add some additional context: The 2025 COLA of 2.45% will first appear in the January payment that most beneficiaries receive on the 3rd of the month (or the banking day before if the 3rd falls on a weekend). If you have a birthday between the 1st-10th of the month, your payment comes on the 2nd Wednesday; 11th-20th, it's the 3rd Wednesday; and 21st-31st, it's the 4th Wednesday. The COLA increase is prorated – you get the full annual percentage regardless of when you started receiving benefits. Hope this helps with your planning!

Another thing nobody mentioned - if you create a new MySocialSecurity account, it might not show your latest earnings right away even if they're in the system. Sometimes it takes a few days for all the data to appear in a new account. When did you create your account?

Just to follow up on this thread - it's also worth noting that your Annual Social Security Statement (which you can view or download from your MySocialSecurity account) will specifically state that your most recent earnings may not be shown. This is completely normal and affects everyone. The important thing is ensuring accuracy over the long term. I recommend checking your earnings record annually to make sure previous years are correct. If you find discrepancies after the normal processing time (9-12 months after year-end), that's when you should contact SSA with your documentation.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you have ANY benefit based on your own work record, even a small one, they will pay that first and then add enough of the spousal benefit to bring you up to the spousal amount. You said you don't have enough quarters, but if you have some work history, you might want to check if you qualify for even a small benefit on your own record.

You actually only need 40 quarters (10 years) to qualify for your own retirement benefit. With 15 years of even part-time work, you might qualify! Definitely check your my Social Security account online. If you do have your own benefit, you'll receive the higher of: 1) your own reduced retirement benefit, or 2) your reduced spousal benefit. They don't stack - you get the larger of the two.

my sister inlaw kept working after she started ss and they took back 7 months of payments from her the next year. be careful!

One more important thing to understand: if they do withhold some of your benefits because you exceed the earnings limit, it's not lost forever. They'll recalculate and increase your monthly benefit when you reach your Full Retirement Age to account for the months they withheld benefits. And remember, the earnings limit only applies to wages or self-employment income. It doesn't apply to investment income, pension payments, or other non-work income. Good luck with your seasonal work pattern - sounds like you've got a good handle on it now!

This is completely normal. Your own benefit is called your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The spousal benefit is a supplement that ensures you get the higher of: your own benefit OR up to 50% of your spouse's PIA (reduced for early claiming). The adjustment happens automatically when your own benefit changes. Nothing to worry about!

Based on your situation, here's what likely happened: 1. When you initially filed, you received your reduced retirement benefit plus a spousal add-on to reach your total entitled amount 2. Those 6 years of part-time work were recently added to your earnings record during an automatic recomputation 3. This increased your own benefit amount based on those additional earnings 4. Since your total entitlement remained the same, the spousal portion decreased accordingly This is working correctly. The formula ensures you receive the correct total amount you're entitled to, regardless of how it's divided between your own benefit and the spousal supplement.