did u try calling ur congressperson? my aunt had a problem with SS and she called her congressmans office and they fixed it in like 2 days

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation to be in. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you have several good options to pursue simultaneously: 1. File the formal appeals (SSA-561 and SSA-632 forms) as soon as possible - these seem to be the most direct path to getting your benefits restored while you're dealing with the overpayment issue. 2. Try that Claimyr service that Ethan mentioned to actually get through to a Claims Specialist who has the authority to adjust your withholding rate. The regular phone reps clearly don't have the same level of knowledge about these policies. 3. Request the detailed breakdown of how they calculated your overpayment amount - if there are any errors, that could significantly reduce what you owe. 4. Consider reaching out to your congressional representative's office for help - it's free and they have direct contacts at SSA who can often resolve these issues quickly. The key thing seems to be that you absolutely DO have the right to a reduced payment plan, but you need to get to the right person who knows the proper procedures. Don't let them tell you otherwise - the policy is clearly written that you can request reduced withholding for financial hardship. Stay strong and keep advocating for yourself. This sounds like a bureaucratic mistake that can be fixed once you get to someone who knows what they're doing.

Just a warning - even when you get this fixed, be prepared for a mess. When they finally fixed my brother's case, they issued back payments for the months they had incorrectly reduced his benefits, but then sent ANOTHER letter a month later claiming those back payments were issued in error!!! It took another 3 months to sort that out. Save EVERY letter they send you.

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my disabled nephew's SSI. The coordination between wage reporting and living arrangement changes is absolutely terrible at SSA. Here's what finally worked for us: 1. File Form SSA-561 (Request for Reconsideration) immediately - this stops collection while they review 2. Submit everything via certified mail with return receipt - faxes get lost constantly 3. In your reconsideration letter, explicitly state that the fair share arrangement should have been processed BEFORE applying wage deductions 4. Request a "chronological review" of all your submissions since October The key phrase to use is "failure to process living arrangement change resulted in incorrect overpayment calculation." Make them prove they processed your fair share documentation correctly before demanding repayment. Also, if you have any family members who are veterans, try contacting the VA - they sometimes have backdoor contacts at SSA that can expedite complex cases like this. It's worth a shot when you're dealing with this level of bureaucratic nightmare. Document everything and don't give up. The system is broken but your case is definitely fixable with persistence.

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!