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My sister and I both retired around the same time (she was 65, I was 67) and there's about a 15% difference in our monthly payments even though we had very similar careers and earnings. Those two years make a big difference! Just something to think about...
Same with me and my neighbor! The difference adds up to thousands every year. I wish someone had explained this better to me before I applied.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I'll apply in November 2024 so benefits can start in March 2025. I'm going to talk to my financial advisor one more time about whether I should wait until closer to my FRA given the reduction at 65. Really appreciate all the insights!
Good plan. One last thing to consider: if you have significant savings or investments, sometimes it makes mathematical sense to take SS early and preserve your nest egg. Other times, waiting and drawing down savings first yields better lifetime results. Your financial advisor should be able to run those calculations based on your specific situation.
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my brother is self employed too and he said u should ask ur CPA about SEP IRA or solo 401k...he says u can put away more $ for retirement that way n reduce ur taxes at the same time
That's a good point - I do have a SEP IRA that my CPA set up. I contribute the maximum each year. Actually, that's part of what I'm meeting with the financial advisor about on Monday - figuring out if I'm saving enough between that and my expected Social Security benefits.
When I was self-employed, I found it helpful to create a spreadsheet to track my Social Security contributions each year. I used it to project my future benefits. One thing to keep in mind is that benefits are calculated based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. If you have fewer than 35 years of work, they'll use zeros for the missing years, which can significantly lower your benefit amount.
That's a great idea about the spreadsheet. I'm 42 now and have been working since I was 22, but I had several years of very low earnings when I was first starting out. I'll have to factor that into my calculations.
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I've been dealing with both WEP and GPO for YEARS and can tell you that the key factor is WHO earned what. In your situation: 1. YOU earned SS benefits through YOUR work = You get your full SS retirement 2. YOUR HUSBAND earned a federal pension that pays you survivor benefits = Doesn't trigger GPO on your own SS GPO would only apply if YOU worked a government job not covered by SS AND tried to claim SS spousal/widow benefits based on your husband's SS record. WEP would only apply if YOU worked both SS-covered AND non-SS-covered jobs. Since neither applies to you, there's no reduction and no indicator needed on your account. You're receiving exactly what you're entitled to!
THIS IS WHY THE SYSTEM IS SO UNFAIR!!! My friend worked for the county for 30 years and ALSO paid into SS from a part-time job, but when she retired her SS was slashed to almost NOTHING because of WEP!!! Meanwhile other people get to double-dip with no penalties!!! The whole system needs to be fixed!!!!!
That's a different situation entirely. Your friend's case involves WEP because she personally worked in both covered and non-covered employment. The original poster is not in that situation at all. She worked only in SS-covered employment and is receiving a survivor pension from her husband. These are completely different scenarios under the law.
i think your fine but maybe they just havent caught up with you yet? my uncle got a letter 18 months after he started getting benefits saying they made a mistake and he had to pay back $$$. i would just save some money just in case they come after you later. SSA is so behind on everything
This isn't a case of SSA being behind. The rules about GPO are very specific - it doesn't apply to the original poster's situation at all. There would be no reason for SSA to send a notice or make any adjustment to her benefits. The system is working correctly in this case.
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Before WEP repeal I lost $413 every month because I worked for state government AND private sector. THE GOVERNMENT STOLE MY MONEY FOR YEARS!!! Now that WEP is gone they're STILL finding ways to take our money. Check your payment carefully - they're probably still applying a "partial" WEP reduction. The whole system is rigged against public servants!!!
While I understand your frustration, the WEP repeal is actually being phased in gradually through 2027. For 2025, beneficiaries are receiving 33% of their previously withheld amount, with additional increases each year until full implementation. This was clearly outlined in the legislation. It's not a case of SSA "finding ways to take money" but rather following the law as written.
Regarding your payment schedule going forward - yes, with your birth date falling in the range for 3rd Wednesday payments, that will be your regular payment date for February benefits onward. The January benefit was just handled differently because it was your initial claim. As for the $92 difference from your estimate, if you're not on Medicare and didn't request tax withholding, it's most likely related to the WEP transitional provisions. For 2025, beneficiaries affected by WEP are receiving 33% of their previously withheld amount, with that percentage increasing annually until 2027 when the full amount will be restored. Your award letter will break down the exact calculation. If you don't receive it within two weeks, definitely call SSA for clarification.
Thank you for the detailed explanation! This makes much more sense now. I'll definitely check my award letter when it arrives and follow up with SSA if anything seems off. I appreciate everyone's help in figuring this out!
Anastasia Popov
I think what might be confusing you is that your ex-husband is likely affected by WEP (which reduces his own earned benefit) while you're affected by GPO (which reduces spousal benefits). The recent legislation mainly addressed WEP, not GPO. From my understanding, the changes to WEP might increase your ex's benefit somewhat, but won't directly impact your GPO reduction. However, there might be some indirect effect if his primary insurance amount increases. The calculation is pretty complex, so it's definitely worth contacting SSA for a personalized review. The recent changes are still being implemented, so even the agents might need to double-check the updated rules.
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CosmicVoyager
•That makes sense - so we're affected by different provisions even though it all stems from the same government pension. No wonder this is so confusing! I'll definitely need to speak with someone who can look at our specific situation.
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Freya Nielsen
One more thing to consider - when did you get divorced? If it was within the last couple of years, make sure SSA knows you were married for over 10 years (38 years in your case). Sometimes they miss that detail, which is crucial for ex-spouse benefits. Also, are you 62 or older? That's another requirement for ex-spouse benefits.
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CosmicVoyager
•We divorced just last year, and I'm 67 now. The SSA representative did verify our marriage length when I applied, so I think they have that part right. I just wish they'd explained these WEP and GPO rules better when I applied!
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