Since it hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand that Social Security benefits might be partially taxable depending on your combined income. If your provisional income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + 1/2 of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits could be subject to federal income tax.With your unemployment benefits, any part-time work, and your husband's income, you might hit these thresholds, so it's worth factoring that into your calculations.

Just want to add a perspective as someone who's been through this recently - I filed for SS at 64 after being laid off, similar to your situation. The key thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet comparing my monthly cash flow under different scenarios (unemployment only vs unemployment + reduced SS vs waiting for FRA). Given that your husband is still working and has multiple pensions coming, you have more flexibility than someone who's completely on their own. The 12% reduction sounds scary, but if you need the income now and your husband will likely have good benefits later, it might be worth the peace of mind. Plus, unemployment benefits are temporary - only 26 weeks in most states. One thing I wish I'd known: even though you can withdraw your SS application within 12 months, it's not as simple as just changing your mind. You have to repay EVERYTHING including any Medicare premiums that were deducted, and the paperwork takes time. So really think through your decision before filing. Good luck with whatever you decide! Being laid off at our age is stressful enough without having to navigate all these government systems.

Just to add some specific numbers that might help you visualize this situation: Let's say your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - the amount you'd get at your Full Retirement Age - is $3,000. At age 70, with delayed retirement credits, you'd receive approximately $3,720. If your wife's PIA is $2,400, at age 68 she would receive about $2,688 on her own record. The spousal benefit would be 50% of your PIA, so $1,500. In this scenario, when your wife files at age 68, she would automatically receive her own benefit of $2,688 since it's higher than the spousal benefit of $1,500. If she waited until 70, her own benefit would grow to about $2,976. Everyone's numbers are different, but this illustrates why many couples with similar earnings histories often find that spousal benefits aren't relevant - both spouses' own benefits are higher.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of Medicare premiums on your decision. If your wife has higher income from waiting until 70, she might face higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums due to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) thresholds. Also, don't forget about the "earnings test" if either of you plan to work at all before Full Retirement Age. Since your wife is already 68, this probably doesn't apply, but it's worth checking if she has any earned income. You might want to use the SSA's online calculators or consider getting a personalized benefit statement to run the exact numbers for your situation. Every couple's circumstances are unique, and small differences in birth dates, earnings history, and life expectancy can significantly impact the optimal claiming strategy.

my aunt got widow benefits and she said they backpay from when u first become eligible not from when u apply so you should get money back to when u turned 60 maybe?

I'm in a very similar situation - also a retired teacher with a pension, and I lost my husband in 2010. I've been following this GPO/WEP repeal closely because like you, I was told years ago that I'd get $0 in survivor benefits. Reading through all these responses, especially from Jamal who says he's with SSA, gives me hope that those of us who called before the effective date will be protected. I'm planning to call SSA next week to start my application process. Thank you for posting this - it's so helpful to see others going through the same thing. Please update us after your February appointment to let us know how it goes!

I just wanted to update and thank everyone for the helpful responses. I've created an account on ssa.gov to verify my earnings history (thankfully it's accurate). We've decided my husband will hold off claiming his own benefits for now. If I pass away before he reaches his FRA, he'll apply for survivor benefits even though they'll be reduced, then switch to his own benefits at 70 when they'll be maximized. The percentage chart was especially helpful in understanding how this works. I'm also going to suggest we meet with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning to make sure we're making the best choices for our specific situation.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it's encouraging that you're responding well to treatment. Your forward-thinking approach to planning is admirable during such a difficult time. Just to add another perspective to the excellent advice already given - there's also something called the "widow's limit" that can come into play. If your husband claims his own retirement benefits early (before FRA), it could potentially limit his survivor benefits later to a percentage of what you were receiving. This is why many experts recommend the strategy you've outlined - waiting on his own benefits and potentially taking reduced survivor benefits first if needed. Another thing to consider: survivor benefits can start as early as age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), so your husband would have options even if something happened sooner than expected. The reduction is steeper at younger ages, but it's still available. The meeting with a Social Security specialist sounds like a great idea. They can help you model different scenarios and make sure you're not missing any nuances in the rules. Take care of yourself, and I hope your treatment continues to go well.

Did anyone mention that theres income limits if shes under full retirement age? My friend got widows benefits and she had to stay under some earnings limit or they took back money. Does that apply to disability too?

I want to add something that might help with timing - if your sister's ex-husband died 5-6 years ago and she's been eligible this whole time, she could potentially receive retroactive benefits. However, there are strict limits on how far back they'll pay. For survivor benefits, SSA typically only pays retroactively for up to 6 months from the application date, BUT there's an exception if the person was disabled and didn't know they were eligible. In some cases, they can go back up to 12 months. Given that she's been on SSDI this whole time and meets all the requirements, this could mean a significant lump sum payment in addition to ongoing monthly benefits. The sooner she applies, the better - every month of delay is potentially money lost. Also, make sure she emphasizes that she's currently receiving SSDI when she contacts them. This immediately signals to the representative that she falls under the special disabled widow provisions rather than the standard age 60+ survivor rules.