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.

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.

To clarify the earlier discussion about benefit amounts: If your ex-husband passes away, the survivor benefit you'd be eligible for would be subject to the RIB-LIM rule that another commenter mentioned. This rule means that your survivor benefit would be limited to the higher of: 1. The reduced benefit your ex-husband was receiving, or 2. 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA, which is what he would have received at his FRA) This is why it's critical to speak with SSA about your specific case - the calculations are complex and depend on multiple factors including your ex-husband's age when he claimed benefits, his PIA, and when you would claim the survivor benefits. Regarding switching benefits: If your own reduced retirement benefit is less than what your potential survivor benefit would be, SSA will automatically supplement your benefit up to the survivor amount when you apply for survivor benefits after your ex passes away.

I'm so sorry to hear about your ex-husband's condition and the stress you're going through trying to get answers from SSA. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you're in a complex situation that really needs personalized guidance. From what I understand reading through these responses, the key points seem to be: - Your early filing for retirement benefits shouldn't affect future survivor benefits - You can only receive one benefit at a time (whichever is higher) - The survivor benefit calculation involves complex rules like RIB-LIM that depend on your specific circumstances Given that you've already started receiving your retirement benefits and your ex-husband is in hospice, I'd strongly recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually speak with an SSA representative. With such a time-sensitive and emotionally difficult situation, you really need someone who can look at both your records and give you personalized advice about your best options going forward. Thinking of you during this difficult time. I hope you're able to get the guidance you need soon.

Just wanted to update everyone. I was finally able to speak with someone at SSA thanks to the Claimyr service mentioned above. The agent confirmed that foreign pensions don't trigger GPO (and never did). I've been approved for spousal benefits with 6 months of retroactive payments for now. I'm also filing the misinformation claim (SSA-795) to try to get benefits back to when my wife first started collecting in 2020. The agent seemed to think I have a strong case since their own published materials contained contradictory information. I'll update again when I hear about the misinformation claim. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

Congratulations on getting through to SSA and getting your spousal benefits approved! Your case is a perfect example of why it's so important to push back when something doesn't seem right. The fact that you found contradictory information in their own publications (the 2016 Program Explainer vs. POMS TN 41) shows this wasn't just a simple misunderstanding - it was a documentation issue on their end. For your misinformation claim, I'd recommend being very detailed about the timeline - specifically that you could have applied as early as 2020 when your wife started collecting, but relied on the incorrect 2016 SSA publication that stated foreign pensions would trigger GPO. Since you were already past your FRA in 2018, there was no reason to delay once your wife started collecting. The key is showing you acted reasonably by relying on official SSA guidance. Keep us posted on how the SSA-795 claim goes - your experience could help others in similar situations!

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

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!

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!

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!