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Looking at what you described, I think you're misinterpreting the calculator results. The Re-indexed Widow Amount (RIW) is part of a complex calculation called the RIB-LIM rule that SSA uses for survivor benefits. It's not the final amount you'll receive. Since you're only 62, your survivor benefit will be reduced because you're claiming before your FRA. The reduction is approximately 0.396% per month before your FRA. The $2,675 figure might represent the full PIA amount, but your actual benefit would be reduced for early claiming. I'd estimate you'd receive closer to $2,175-$2,225 if you claim now versus waiting until your FRA for the full amount. When you have your phone appointment, ask specifically about the difference between claiming now versus waiting, and make sure they're accounting for the WEP/GPO repeal in their calculations.
Thank you so much for explaining! That makes much more sense. I've been looking at the RIW amount thinking it was my actual benefit. I'll definitely ask about the difference between claiming now versus at my FRA during my appointment. Is there anything specific I should mention about the WEP/GPO repeal to make sure they're calculating it correctly? I've heard some people say the SSA reps are still figuring out how to implement the changes.
I had the same issue when calculating my survivor benefits last year! The SSA detailed calculator is NOT user-friendly at all. When I finally got through to SSA (after calling for 3 straight days), the representative explained that I was looking at the wrong section. For survivor benefits before FRA, they apply a reduction factor based on how many months early you're claiming. In my case, claiming at 63 resulted in about a 13% reduction from what I would have received at my FRA. If you're having trouble getting through to SSA, I'd recommend using Claimyr.com - it saved me hours of frustration. They connect you directly to an SSA agent, usually within 10-30 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The SSA agent can calculate your exact benefit amount with the reduction factors applied correctly.
That service sounds helpful! My appointment isn't for another month, and I'm anxious to know the numbers sooner. Did the SSA agent you talked to seem knowledgeable about all the WEP/GPO changes? I'm worried they might not calculate it correctly since the repeal is still relatively new.
The agent I spoke with was actually very knowledgeable about the WEP/GPO repeal! They had all the updated information and were able to walk me through exactly how the changes affected my situation. Since the repeal went into effect at the beginning of this year, most of the representatives seem to have been trained on the new rules. Just make sure to mention upfront that you have a government pension so they know to factor in the GPO elimination when calculating your survivor benefits. The difference can be substantial - in some cases hundreds of dollars per month that would have been reduced under the old rules.
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After reading all your helpful comments, I've decided I'll definitely switch to my own retirement benefit when I reach my FRA in 3 months. The math makes sense - getting that extra $700/month right away is better than waiting. And I'll continue my part-time job since I enjoy it and there's no earnings limit after FRA. I have an appointment scheduled with SSA next week to discuss the switch. Thanks everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences!
Smart choice! Enjoy that extra money! 👍
Congratulations on making a well-informed decision! It sounds like you really thought this through with everyone's help. That extra $700/month will make a real difference in your quality of life, and it's great that you can keep doing work you enjoy without worrying about earnings limits. Best of luck with your SSA appointment next week - hopefully it goes smoothly and you can get everything switched over without any hassles!
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my neighbor said her congresman told her the wep repeal might be included in end of year budget stuff. has anyone else heard this??
They say that EVERY YEAR and it never happens!! I've been watching this issue for 4 years now and they always say "oh it might be in the year-end package" but then it gets dropped at the last minute. I'll believe it when I see it signed into law.
I'm in a very similar situation with my UK pension! I worked there for 16 years and the WEP is absolutely crushing me financially. What really gets me is that they calculate WEP based on the gross foreign pension amount, completely ignoring that we're already paying taxes on it to the foreign country AND sometimes to the US as well. I've been following the legislative efforts closely, and from what I understand, the Social Security 2100 Act would completely eliminate WEP for ALL affected beneficiaries, including those with foreign pensions like us. The other bill (Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act) would only provide partial relief but it's more targeted toward US government employees. One thing that might help in the meantime - have you considered consulting with a tax professional who specializes in international taxation? Sometimes there are ways to structure things or claim certain deductions that can reduce the overall impact, though it won't fix the underlying WEP problem. Also, definitely try that escalation process that Savannah mentioned. After 9 months, you have every right to demand answers from SSA. Keep pushing - squeaky wheel gets the grease!
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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??
Unfortunately, that's a common misconception. The "last 5 years" rule you're thinking of actually applies to WEP, not GPO, and even then it's quite restrictive. To be exempt from WEP, you need 30+ years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security (not just 5 years at the end of your career). For GPO, there is a narrow exemption if you're a government employee whose pension is from a job where you WERE paying Social Security taxes. But for typical state/local government pensions where you weren't paying into Social Security (like many teacher pensions), GPO will still apply regardless of other work you do. I've never heard of anyone successfully getting GPO removed unless they truly qualified for one of the legal exemptions.
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.
Thank you for mentioning the hybrid systems - that's something I hadn't considered! I started teaching in 2008 in Pennsylvania, so I should definitely check with my pension administrator about whether any of my teaching years involved Social Security contributions. Even a small reduction in the GPO impact would be helpful. I do have a my Social Security account and have been tracking my earnings, but you're right that it doesn't show the GPO calculations. It's good to know that having this information will help me make better decisions down the road about timing and which benefits to claim. The reassurance about my kids' benefits being safe really helps me focus on the future planning rather than worrying about immediate impacts. Thank you for the educator perspective!
Max Reyes
doesnt matter what u checked or didnt check. my mom got my dads SS after he died but she had to go apply for it they dont do anything automatic. SS never makes anything easy lol
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Yara Elias
You can breathe easy! There's no special box you needed to check for survivor benefits. Your wife's eligibility for survivor benefits is automatic based on your marriage and your Social Security record - it doesn't depend on anything you did or didn't mark on your retirement application. The confusion is totally understandable because Social Security has so many different types of benefits (retirement, spousal, survivor) that people often mix them up. But here's the key point: survivor benefits are completely separate from your retirement benefit application. When the time comes, your wife will need to apply for survivor benefits herself (she can't do it online, has to call or visit an office), but your retirement application from last month has no bearing on her future eligibility. Since you claimed at 68, she'll potentially be able to receive your full benefit amount as a survivor benefit. So please stop losing sleep over this - you didn't mess anything up!
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