the whole wep/gpo thing makes me so mad!! why should we be penalized just becuz we worked for the government?? regular people don't have their ss reduced! there's actually a bill in congress to reform this but it never goes anywhere.

After reading through all the responses, I think your best strategy is: 1. Confirm your FERS service was fully covered employment (it almost certainly was) 2. Calculate your WEP-reduced benefit using the SSA's online calculators 3. Calculate 50% of your wife's PIA (which she can find on her Social Security statement) 4. Compare these amounts to see if spousal benefits would be higher 5. If spousal benefits are higher, consider when your wife should file Since you're already past FRA, you'll get the full spousal benefit (if eligible). Your wife's decision to file at FRA vs. age 70 should be based on your joint life expectancy and financial needs. If she delays until 70, her benefit increases by 8% per year, which also increases potential spousal benefits for you.

my nephew works for SS and says always wait till ur actual FRA month to file unless u really need the money now. something about actuarial calculations favoring the later date even if by just a month or 2.

To add some specific numbers to this discussion: If your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) at 67 is $3,000 for example, taking benefits 2 months early (November instead of January) would reduce it by about 1% to approximately $2,970 per month. That's $30 less every month for life. However, he would receive two extra payments of $2,970 (about $5,940 total). The break-even point would be around 198 months (16.5 years). If he lives longer than that, waiting until January would provide more lifetime benefits. Also remember that any future COLAs will be calculated on the lower base amount if he takes retroactive benefits. As others have suggested, getting the exact calculations from SSA for your specific situation is the best approach.

My neighbor was in this exact situation (teacher married to private sector worker) and was told by their financial guy the repeal was

That's exactly what I was worried about. I'll definitely make sure they understand this isn't guaranteed so they can plan realistically. Thank you for sharing your neighbor's experience.

Just to offer another perspective - the SSA is COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED with applications right now specifically because of the Fairness Act changes. Thousands of government pensioners who previously wouldn't qualify for spousal benefits are now applying all at once. I work with several retired teachers who've been dealing with this exact situation. The system wasn't prepared for this volume of GPO-affected applications requiring manual review. The most efficient approach is to: 1. Wait 4 weeks from your original application date 2. If you haven't heard anything, try to speak with someone (good luck with that) 3. If you can't get through by phone, schedule an in-person appointment 4. Bring ALL documentation showing your pension amount, when it started, and proof of your marriage The specialists who handle these calculations are backlogged about 10-12 weeks right now, so patience is unfortunately necessary.

My wife just went through this! Retired nurse with state pension applying for spousal on my record. Got the EXACT same email as you - the "not enough credits" one with no mention of spousal benefits. She panicked and reapplied which was a HUGE mistake!!! Basically reset the clock after already waiting 6 weeks. If I could offer one piece of advice: DO NOT REAPPLY! What worked for us was going to the local office in person. They confirmed her original application was being processed correctly despite the misleading email. Took another 5 weeks after that visit but she finally got approved last month.

My sister worked for SSA for 35 years and told me they NEVER automatically give you the best deal! You HAVE to ask specifically or they'll just keep quiet and you lose money forever! They shoulda told you all this when you first applied but they dont care about us seniors!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've learned so much from this discussion. We're going to reconsider when my husband should file based on all your advice about spousal and survivor benefits. I think we need to look at this as a family strategy rather than just individual benefits like someone suggested. I'm also going to make an appointment with our local SSA office to make sure we understand all our options before making a decision. The difference between filing at 65 versus waiting until 70 could mean tens of thousands of dollars over our lifetime. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things so clearly!