i got so confused about all this that i paid for a consultation with a financial advisor who specializes in social security. cost me $300 but honestly it was worth it because this stuff is COMPLICATED!! especially with the survivor stuff and working while collecting. might be worth looking into?

I'm in a similar boat as a newcomer to all this - lost my husband last year and I'm 62 working full time. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the key things to understand are: 1) The earnings test will likely eliminate your benefits completely if you're significantly over the $23,400 limit, 2) You should still apply to establish eligibility even if you can't collect right now, and 3) Consider whether your own retirement benefit at 70 might be higher than the survivor benefit. One question I have after reading all this - if I apply now but can't collect due to earnings, do I still get the delayed retirement credits on my own record if I wait until 70 to switch? Or does applying for survivor benefits affect that somehow? This is all so confusing but everyone's experiences here are really helpful!

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! Based on everything you've shared, I feel much more confident about moving forward with wedding plans. I'm definitely past 60 now, so timing should be fine, but I'll keep all the documentation organized and make reporting the marriage to SSA a priority right after the ceremony. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

Congratulations on your engagement! Just wanted to add another perspective - I work at a local SSA field office and see this situation fairly regularly. The key points everyone has shared are correct: you must be 60 or older on your actual wedding date, and you need to report the marriage promptly after the ceremony. One tip from the administrative side - when you call or visit to report your marriage, have your Social Security number, your new spouse's Social Security number, and your marriage certificate ready. This will make the process much smoother. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for a copy of your late husband's death certificate again - it's part of their verification process. The agents are usually very helpful with survivor benefit cases, so don't hesitate to ask questions during the reporting process. Best wishes for your upcoming wedding!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! To summarize what I've learned: 1) My rental income (both US and Portugal) won't reduce my Social Security benefits 2) Since I'll be at FRA (67), the earnings test won't apply to me anyway 3) I need to watch out for the taxation thresholds since rental income could make more of my SS benefits taxable 4) I should look into the tax treaty between US and Portugal 5) I need to be aware of FBAR requirements for the foreign account This is such a relief! I'll talk to my tax advisor about the taxation issues, but I'm glad my actual benefit amount won't be reduced. Thanks again to everyone who responded!

Great summary Carmen! You've got all the key points covered. Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - since you mentioned you're turning 67 next year, make sure to apply for your Social Security benefits about 3 months before you want them to start. The application process can take some time, and you don't want any delays in getting your first payment. Also, regarding the Portugal rental income - you'll want to convert those euros to dollars using the average exchange rate for the tax year when reporting on your US tax return. Your tax advisor should be able to help with that, but it's good to keep records of the exchange rates you use. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

I'm really sorry you're going through this Carmen. The combination of WEP and GPO can be devastating for educators and other public servants. Just to add to what others have said - when you do get that appointment at SSA, make sure to bring all your documentation: your teacher's pension award letter, your complete work history, and any W-2s or 1099s from your covered employment years. One small thing that might help - if you have any years where you worked both teaching and a covered job simultaneously, those earnings might count differently in the WEP calculation. Also, some teachers worked summer jobs or substitute taught in districts that DID pay into Social Security, which could add to your covered quarters. The system really is unfair to people who dedicated their careers to public service. I hope the appointment gives you at least some clarity, even if the outcome isn't what you're hoping for. Hang in there!

Carmen, I feel your frustration - the WEP/GPO rules are incredibly complex and can be devastating for educators. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: when you visit the SSA office, ask them to show you exactly how they calculated your WEP reduction on your own benefit. Sometimes there are errors in how they apply the formula, especially if you have a mix of covered and non-covered years. Also, since you mentioned working some covered jobs before teaching, make sure they're using the correct "substantial earnings" years in the WEP calculation. The threshold changes annually, and jobs from decades ago might qualify as "substantial" even if they seemed small at the time. I know it's a long shot given your pension amount, but sometimes there are nuances in the GPO calculation that aren't immediately obvious. The 2/3 reduction isn't always straightforward, especially if there were any periods where you paid into Social Security while teaching. Keep advocating for yourself - you paid into the system during those 15 covered years and deserve to have every detail reviewed carefully. Good luck with your appointment!

congratulations! glad it went smooth for you. my mom did this same thing last year (survivor to own benefits at 70) and she had no problems either. i think people mostly post when things go wrong not when they go right lol

I'm so glad to hear about your positive experience! As someone who will likely face a similar transition in a few years (currently 67 and on survivor benefits), this gives me hope. I've been dreading the process after reading so many horror stories here. Quick question - did you need to provide any additional documentation during the call, or did they have everything they needed from your previous survivor benefits application? I'm wondering if I should start gathering paperwork now or if the transition is more straightforward than I'm expecting. Also, did they explain how the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) would work during the transition? I'm curious if there's any timing issue with getting the full COLA increase when switching benefit types.