when is your birthday? if your turning 64 soon maybe wait? the earnings limit goes up when you hit your FRA year

The GPO can be really devastating - I've seen cases where people's spousal benefits are completely wiped out. Since you worked 18 years in California without paying Social Security taxes, you'll likely face the full GPO reduction. Before you apply, try to get an estimate of what your spousal benefit would be without GPO, then subtract 2/3 of your monthly pension amount. If that number is zero or negative, you won't receive any spousal benefits at all. It's harsh, but better to know upfront than be surprised later.

One last thing about the SSDI application - make sure your doctor includes detailed notes about your physical limitations and how the cancer and treatment affect your ability to work. Mention specific job requirements you can no longer meet (standing/walking requirements, lifting restrictions, cognitive issues from chemo, etc). This strengthens your case tremendously. Wishing you the best with your treatment and hoping for a full recovery.

I'm really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. As someone who went through the SSDI process with my late husband, I wanted to add that you should also gather all your medical records now while you have the energy. The SSA will request them anyway, but having copies ready speeds things up. Also, don't be discouraged if your initial application gets denied - that's unfortunately common even with serious conditions like cancer. If that happens, request a hearing immediately. The approval rates are much higher at the hearing level. Your wife is smart to think ahead about this. The survivor benefits will definitely help her financially when the time comes. Take care of yourself and focus on your treatment.

Update: I called our local office this morning and got some answers. They confirmed my wife needs to call to apply for the spousal benefit. It won't be retroactive to when I applied unless she applies within 6 months of my benefit approval (not application date). And yes, the calculation is her benefit plus the difference to get her to the reduced spousal amount. Thanks everyone for your help with this!

Thanks for sharing that update! That's really helpful information about the 6-month window from your benefit APPROVAL date, not the application date. That's an important distinction I didn't know about. Good luck with getting your wife's spousal benefits sorted out - hopefully the process goes smoothly once your own application is fully approved!

To follow up on my earlier comment - I received confirmation that my application was processed yesterday. The representative said I should expect to receive my first payment in about 30-45 days, and they'll send me a detailed breakdown of how the WEP/GPO reduction was calculated. One important thing to note: they asked very specific questions about my non-covered employment (the teaching job with a pension). They wanted exact start and end dates for each position, and information about any breaks in service. I wasn't prepared for this level of detail, so I had to estimate some dates, which could delay processing. The rep also mentioned that they're prioritizing spousal benefit applications for people affected by WEP/GPO right now, which might be why I got through relatively quickly once I reached the right department.

I'm a newly retired federal employee (30 years with USPS) and my wife has been collecting her SS retirement for about 6 months now. I've been lurking on this forum for weeks trying to figure out the best approach for applying for spousal benefits under WEP/GPO rules. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like calling first thing in the morning and using the specific script that QuantumQuasar provided might be the way to go. I'm going to give it a try next week once I get all my employment documentation organized. One question though - for those who have successfully applied by phone recently, did they ask for any documentation to be mailed or faxed in afterward, or were they able to complete everything verbally over the phone? I'm wondering if I should have my pension statement and marriage certificate ready to scan and email if needed. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's impossible to find on the official SSA website!

Thank you all so much for your help! We just submitted his application online yesterday. The hardest part was gathering all the medical documentation, but we made sure to include everything from his neurologist, physical therapist, and rehabilitation specialists. I'll update this thread once we hear back about his application. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!

Good luck with the application! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - make sure to keep copies of everything you submitted. If they request additional information (which they often do), having organized records will make it much easier to respond quickly. Also, don't be discouraged if you get an initial denial - many legitimate claims get approved on appeal. The stroke documentation sounds thorough, which is exactly what they need to see. Wishing your brother-in-law the best outcome!