i thought WEP only applies if you retire from that non SS job? my friend said if you leave the teacher job and work somewhere else with SS for 5 years you dont get the WEP penalty?? is that true?

One more thing to keep in mind - if your pension payment amount ever changes (like with cost of living adjustments), you should contact Social Security to update your WEP information. Otherwise, you could end up with an overpayment that they'll want back later. I learned this the hard way when my pension got a 3% increase and I didn't report it. SSA discovered it during their annual verification and I had to pay back $420 in SS benefits!

have u checked ur mysocialsecurity acct online? sometimes u can see benefit estimates there

I work as a customer service representative for SSA (though I can't provide official advice here). From my experience, when agents quote survivor benefit amounts over the phone, they SHOULD be giving you the reduced amount based on the age you mentioned. However, mistakes do happen, and some agents might quote the full retirement age amount by accident. Given that you're 61 and mentioned wanting to claim at that age, the $1,768 is most likely already reduced by about 28.5%. But I'd definitely recommend calling back and asking them to clarify exactly what that figure represents. One tip: when you call, ask to speak with a Claims Specialist rather than just any representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about benefit calculations and can walk you through the math. Also, if possible, try calling right when they open (8am local time) - you'll usually get through faster. Don't feel bad about calling multiple times to confirm this - it's a huge financial decision and you have every right to understand exactly what you'll be receiving.

This is such valuable information! I wish I had known about local office direct numbers years ago. I've been dealing with Social Security issues for my elderly parents and have spent countless hours on hold with the 800 number. It's incredibly frustrating when you're trying to help someone who depends on these benefits and you can't get through to anyone who can actually help. I'm definitely going to try visiting our local office to get their direct number - even if it means driving there just to ask the security guard. The fact that these numbers aren't publicly available seems deliberately obstructive. Thank you for sharing this tip, it could save so many people from the endless hold times and runaround!

This is incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with my disability review for months and getting nowhere with the 800 number. They keep telling me my case is "under review" but can't give me any specifics about what documents they need or when it might be completed. The uncertainty is driving me crazy because I'm worried they might cut off my benefits while I'm waiting. I had no idea local offices had direct numbers - I always assumed everything went through the national system. I'm definitely going to drive to my local office this week to get their direct number. Even if it takes 25-30 minutes to get through like some people mentioned, that's still way better than the 2-3 hour waits on the 800 number that often end in disconnections. Thanks for sharing this - it gives me hope that I can actually get some real answers about my case status!

One important thing everyone's missing: if you do claim early and lose some benefits to the earnings test, Social Security will recalculate your benefit when you reach FRA to give you credit for the months they withheld benefits. This partially offsets the reduction for claiming early. For example, if you claimed 6 months early but lost 2 months to the earnings test, at FRA they would recalculate your benefit as if you'd only claimed 4 months early. It doesn't make you whole, but it helps.

Smart decision to wait until July! You've gotten excellent advice here. Just to summarize the key points that helped you decide: 1) Since 2025 is your FRA year, you'd be subject to the higher earnings limit (~$60K+ for 2025) with the 1-for-3 reduction, so your $28K earnings wouldn't trigger any benefit withholding anyway, 2) But you'd still face the permanent 3.3% reduction for claiming 6 months early, and 3) Waiting those extra 6 months until your FRA means you get your full benefit amount with no earnings restrictions ever again. The math clearly favors waiting in your situation, especially if you expect to live into your 80s or beyond. Good luck with your retirement planning!