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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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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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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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i retired early at 57 from teaching after 22 years and started a business. worked 8 more years paying into SS. still got hit with WEP but not as bad as i feared. the good thing is my business income was higher than teaching so my SS benefit is still decent even with reduction. sometimes the best option is just earning more in your new career!
That's encouraging to hear! My corporate salary is definitely higher than my teaching salary was, so hopefully that helps. Mind if I ask roughly what percentage reduction you faced with 22 years teaching + 8 years SS?
I've been researching this topic for months and there's been occasional talk in Congress about reforming or eliminating WEP, though nothing has passed yet. The "Social Security Fairness Act" gets reintroduced regularly. Might be worth keeping an eye on potential legislative changes over the next few decades before you retire.
They've been promising to fix this for DECADES. Don't hold your breath!!!
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My aunt had almost identical situation. They reduced her survivors benefit because of some county job she had in the 90s. She fought it and eventually won, but it took multiple appeals. The key was proving she paid SS taxes during that job, which sounds like you did if your SS statement shows earnings. Don't let them get away with this!
Yes! This is why I suggested Claimyr to get through to someone who actually knows the rules. Regular SSA reps often don't understand these special situations.
I want to add something important: there's a 60-day deadline to request reconsideration from the date on your notice. If you're close to that deadline, file the request immediately, even if you haven't gathered all your evidence yet. You can always submit additional documentation later during the reconsideration process. Based on everything shared here, you have a strong case for having the GPO removed completely. Good luck, and please come back to let us know the outcome!
The notice is dated about 3 weeks ago, so I still have time, but I'll definitely file the reconsideration request this week. Thank you for the reminder about the deadline! I'll update once I have some news.
Nathaniel Mikhaylov
btw OP, make sure you actually file an application even if you think you might not get anything. sometimes people are surprised by the result and if you dont file you definitely get nothing
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Chloe Zhang
•This is excellent advice. Always file an application when you think you might be eligible. If you're denied, you'll receive a formal determination that explains why, which is valuable information. If you're approved for even a small amount, it could increase over time with COLA adjustments.
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Aaron Boston
Update: I called SSA this morning (got through after only 45 minutes!) and they confirmed they do still have my marriage and divorce records on file from when I applied for Medicare. The representative ran some preliminary numbers and thinks I might get about $75/month after the GPO reduction. Not a fortune but better than nothing! I have an appointment next week to file the formal application. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Sophia Carter
•That's great news! $75/month is $900 a year you didn't have before. Glad you were able to get through to them relatively quickly too!
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