One more important point: If you find you are eligible for a small survivor benefit after the GPO reduction, you should know that you would receive your own benefit PLUS the additional survivor amount. You don't have to choose one or the other - if your survivor benefit after GPO would be higher than your current benefit, you'd receive your current benefit plus the difference. This is why it's definitely worth having SSA do the calculation.

I'm so glad you're looking into this now! As someone who went through a similar situation with my late spouse's benefits, I can tell you that the initial advice you received was unfortunately not uncommon - SSA representatives sometimes give oversimplified answers about WEP/GPO without doing the detailed calculations. Here's what I'd recommend for your appointment: 1. Bring certified copies of all documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, your pension award letter) 2. Ask them to calculate BOTH scenarios - your current benefit vs. potential survivor benefit after GPO 3. Request they show you the math on paper so you can understand exactly how they arrived at their conclusion 4. If there's any benefit due, ask about retroactive payments (even if limited to 6 months) Given that your numbers are so close to the GPO threshold, even small differences in the actual calculations versus your rounded estimates could make you eligible for some monthly benefit. The worst they can say is no, but you'll have peace of mind knowing you explored every option. Good luck!

When I called Claimyr to get connected to Social Security for my situation, the agent I spoke to mentioned that hospital social workers can help file something called a "dire need" request to expedite SSDI processing. Has anyone done this successfully? Might be worth asking about given the hospitalization.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this difficult situation. As someone who has navigated SSDI with a family member, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help his kids right now: 1. **Document everything** - Keep a detailed log of his symptoms, medications, hospitalizations, and how the condition affects his daily activities. This will be crucial for the SSDI application. 2. **Contact his previous employers** - They'll need his work history and earnings records. The trade show company might have documentation of any work limitations he experienced before hospitalization. 3. **Ask hospital staff about discharge planning** - They should be coordinating with social workers about his ability to return to work and live independently. Get copies of all these assessments. 4. **Consider getting help from a disability attorney** - Many work on contingency (no fee unless you win) and can navigate the complex process while the family focuses on his health. The combination of his age, documented mental health crisis, and inability to work creates a potentially strong SSDI case. The key is getting all the paperwork and medical evidence organized while he's still receiving treatment. Wishing your family strength during this challenging time.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - you should also check if your ex-husband has filed for his benefits yet. Since you mentioned he started collecting at 65, this shouldn't be an issue, but it's worth confirming. You can only claim ex-spouse benefits if your ex has already filed for his own benefits (unless you've been divorced for at least 2 years). Also, when you do your calculations, remember that the ex-spouse benefit is based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not what he's actually receiving. So even if he took a reduced benefit by claiming early, your potential ex-spouse benefit would still be calculated from his full benefit amount at FRA. One last tip: if you do decide to wait until 70, make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're not taking Social Security yet. You don't want to face late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part B!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. Everything mentioned here about the deemed filing rules is correct - those of us born after January 2, 1954 can't use the old "claim now, switch later" strategy. However, I want to emphasize something that might help with your decision: make sure you get your actual benefit estimates from SSA, not just rough calculations. When I finally got through to them (took forever!), I discovered my own projected benefit at 70 was significantly higher than I expected, making the wait much more worthwhile than the ex-spouse benefit. Also, don't forget that if you do wait until 70, you'll miss out on 5 years of payments. So even though the monthly amount is 24% higher, you need to live long enough for that higher amount to make up for the missed years. The breakeven point is usually around age 82-83, but it varies based on your specific numbers. One more thing - if you're still working and have decent earnings, those high-earning years could boost your benefit calculation even more, making the wait until 70 even more attractive. Good luck with whatever you decide!

my sister waited til she was 66 and 8 months (her FRA) and her application was approved in like 2 weeks!! seems like they prioritize people at full retirement age, so early filers like us wait longer. not fair but thats how they do it i guess

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed online in December for benefits starting in April when I turn 64, and the waiting is nerve-wracking. Like you, I haven't heard anything yet and keep obsessively checking my account. One thing that's helped my anxiety is setting up text alerts through my mySocialSecurity account - that way I'll get notified immediately if there are any updates or messages. Also, I've been keeping copies of all my important documents (birth certificate, tax returns, bank info) in one folder so I'm ready to respond quickly when they do contact me. The silence really is the worst part! But reading these responses makes me feel better that this seems to be normal. We both applied with plenty of time before our start dates, so hopefully we'll both be fine.

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. My ex's age doesn't matter for my benefit amount 2. MY age when I file is what matters - 62 for reduced or my FRA for full 50% 3. SSA will give me whichever is higher - my own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit 4. I need to watch out for the earnings limit if I'm working I think I'll wait until my FRA to avoid the reduction, unless my financial situation changes. I appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add to all this great advice - you might want to request your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits. It will show you what your own retirement benefit would be at different ages, which helps you compare it to the potential divorced spouse benefit (50% of your ex's PIA). Also, since you mentioned your ex earned substantially more, there's a good chance the divorced spouse benefit will be higher than your own, but it's worth confirming the numbers. The online statement is updated annually and gives you a clearer picture for planning purposes.