Has anyone here actually had success getting the GPO removed or reduced?? I read somewhere that if you work your last 5 years in a job covered by Social Security the GPO doesn't apply?? Is that true??

As a fellow educator who's been navigating these waters, I want to emphasize what others have said - your children's benefits are completely safe from any GPO or WEP reductions. That's the most important thing right now. I'd also suggest creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. While it won't show GPO calculations, you can see your earnings history and get benefit estimates. This will help you prepare for future decisions about when to claim benefits and whether your own retirement benefit might be better than the GPO-reduced widow's benefit. One thing I learned from my own research: some states have modified their teacher retirement systems in recent years. Depending on when you started teaching and which state you're in, you might be in a "hybrid" system where you DO pay Social Security taxes on part of your earnings. This could affect your GPO calculation, so it's worth verifying with your pension administrator exactly what type of system you're in. The key is getting accurate information now so you can plan ahead. Don't let the confusing phone calls discourage you - your situation is manageable once you understand the rules.

One last important point: Make sure you both have continuous earnings records with Social Security. If either of you has years with zero or low earnings, working a bit longer could potentially increase your benefit amounts by replacing those lower-earning years in the calculation. SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings (indexed for inflation) to calculate benefits. This might be particularly relevant for your wife if she had years out of the workforce.

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who recently went through this process. Based on everyone's responses, it sounds like you've got the right understanding now - your wife should file at her FRA since she won't get any spousal benefits anyway. But here's something to consider: even though she won't get spousal benefits now, if your circumstances change (like if you become disabled or pass away), the survivor benefits could be significantly higher since you're waiting until 70. So your strategy of her filing at FRA and you waiting until 70 makes sense from both a cash flow and long-term planning perspective. Also, I'd recommend calling SSA about 3-4 months before her FRA to start the application process. Even though online is easier, sometimes it helps to have a phone conversation to confirm all the details, especially with the birth date quirk (being born on the 1st). Good luck with your planning!

One thing that hasnt been mentioned - you should bring your marriage certificate, his death certificate, and your birth certificate to your SSA appointment. They'll need these to process any survivor benefit claim if you haven't already filed. And get there first thing in the morning when they open - the wait times get crazy after about 10am!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is such a stressful situation to navigate while you're grieving. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like you're in a much better position than you might have feared! From what I understand reading through all these responses, the key points are: - Your survivor benefits shouldn't be hit with any additional WEP reduction beyond what already affected your husband's benefits - Your own Social Security from your retail work won't be touched by WEP or GPO since you didn't work in government - You have some strategic options about when to claim which benefit I'd definitely recommend getting that appointment with a WEP/GPO specialist at SSA like others suggested. And maybe check if your husband actually had 30+ years of substantial SS earnings total - that could eliminate WEP entirely if he worked other jobs before or after his police career. The fact that you got three different answers from SSA is unfortunately pretty typical with these complex cases. Don't let that discourage you - you deserve accurate information to make the best decisions for your financial future.

I want to thank everyone for all the helpful information! I'm feeling much more confident about my decision to wait until 70 now. The points about the COLA being calculated on the larger amount, the potential tax benefits, and how my current work might further increase my benefit were all things I hadn't considered. I'll make sure to contact SSA a few months before my 70th birthday to make the switch, and I'll keep that Claimyr service in mind when the time comes. This community has been so helpful!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the impact on Medicare premiums. When you switch to your higher benefit at 70, your Medicare Part B premiums might increase if your income pushes you into a higher IRMAA bracket. The good news is that Medicare looks at your income from 2 years prior, so there's usually a delay before any premium increases kick in. Also, if you're married and file jointly, the combined income thresholds are higher. Just something to factor into your calculations when comparing the net benefit of waiting versus switching earlier. The extra monthly amount usually far outweighs any Medicare premium increases, but it's worth running the numbers with your specific situation.

Great to see so many helpful responses here! As someone who works with seniors on benefit planning, I can confirm everything that's been said - you absolutely get COLAs regardless of when you claim. Just wanted to add one more resource: the SSA's official publication "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10147) explicitly states this if you want documentation to show your neighbor. You can download it from ssa.gov. Making the decision to claim early is very personal and depends on your financial situation, health, and other factors. Sounds like you've thought it through carefully. Best of luck with your application process!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! I'm 63 and have been getting conflicting advice from friends and family about Social Security timing. Reading through all these responses has really clarified things for me. It's reassuring to know that COLAs apply to everyone regardless of when they start benefits - that's one less thing to worry about when making this important decision. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!