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When to apply for Social Security after retiring at 65 in February 2025?
Hey forum friends! I'm planning to retire next year at 65 (my birthday was in June 1960). My last day at work will be February 14, 2025. I'm a bit confused about when I should actually apply for my Social Security retirement benefits. Is March 2025 too soon? Too late? I've heard you can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to start, but I'm not sure when I should ideally START receiving payments in relation to my retirement date. Should I have benefits start in March or wait until I'm a bit older for higher payments? My financial planner mentioned something about FRA but I don't fully understand the implications. Any advice from those who've already been through this?
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Does GPO affect Social Security retirement when I'm already receiving federal widow's pension?
I'm really confused about whether the Government Pension Offset (GPO) applies to my situation. I worked for 30 years in retail and started collecting my own Social Security retirement benefits last year. My husband worked for the federal government for 15 years before he passed away unexpectedly at age 42. I've been receiving his federal pension since I was 48 (I'm 67 now). I recently heard someone mention GPO at a retirement seminar and got worried. I've been collecting both my SS retirement ($1,850/month) and his federal pension ($2,250/month) for over a year now. When I check my MySocialSecurity account online, I don't see anything indicating a reduction or penalty. Wouldn't there be some kind of notice if GPO was affecting me? Is it possible they haven't caught this yet? Or maybe GPO doesn't apply to my situation since his pension started so many years before my SS? The last thing I need is a huge overpayment notice! Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
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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.
Unexpected Social Security payment received before scheduled date - WEP repeal impact?
I filed for Social Security benefits last month after the WEP repeal made it worth my while financially (I'm under FRA, claiming on my own record, no spousal benefits involved). But now I'm confused about a payment I just received and hoping someone can explain what's happening with my timeline: - Jan 20th: Submitted my online application for benefits starting January 2025 - Jan 28th: Got an email from SSA requesting more info. Called them and answered questions about potential PTO payout from my employer. The agent said he'd approve my claim and send it for payment processing - Jan 31st: SURPRISE - found a direct deposit from SSA in my checking account today! It's about $92 less than the online estimate I saw before filing When I check my MySocialSecurity account, it shows my claim is still in Step 2 and says I'm NOT receiving benefits yet. Based on my birth date, I thought January benefits wouldn't be paid until the 3rd Wednesday of February. Anyone know what this mystery payment might be? Is it normal to get paid while the online system still shows processing? Could the WEP repeal have affected the timing somehow?
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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!
Can 16 years in Texas TRS system trigger WEP reduction on future Social Security benefits?
Just discovered the whole WEP situation and I'm freaking out a bit! I worked for 16 years as a teacher in Texas, contributing ONLY to the Teacher Retirement System (no Social Security withholding). Now I've switched to corporate work 2 years ago where I'm paying into Social Security. I'm 38 now. From what I'm reading, I might get penalized on my future SS benefits because of my teacher pension? How many years do I need to contribute to Social Security to avoid this WEP reduction? Is it 30 years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security? Does that mean I need to work until I'm 66?! Really confused about how this all works. Any help would be SUPER appreciated. Sorry if these are basic questions - this is all new territory for me!
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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!!!
Will marrying boyfriend affect Social Security spousal benefits with large income difference?
My boyfriend and I are both 59 and discussing marriage before retirement. We've both been married previously (both divorced after 15+ years), and I earn about double what he does - my lifetime earnings are much higher. We're planning to retire around 62-63, but I'm confused about how Social Security spousal benefits might work in our situation. Would he qualify for any "spousal top-up" from my higher benefit amount if we get married? Or does his previous marriage complicate things? Do we need to be married for a certain number of years before he'd qualify? I've tried reading the SSA website but got lost in all the rules about current spouses versus ex-spouses. Any insights would be appreciated!
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i got married at 61 and wish i had known all this stuff before. make sure you both look at EXACT numbers because everyone on here is giving general advice but YOUR specific earnings records matter most. the SSA calculators online suck btw they never worked right for me
That's a good point - we should probably look at our actual earnings records and run the numbers. Is there any reliable way to calculate this accurately?
The most accurate way to estimate your specific situation is to: 1. Create my Social Security accounts online for both of you 2. Download your earnings records 3. Use the detailed calculator from SSA called "Anypia" (it's not user-friendly but it's accurate) Alternatively, you could schedule an appointment with a Social Security claims specialist and have them run projections for you. They can show you exactly how different filing ages and marriage timing would affect both your benefits. One timing consideration: If you marry shortly after turning 59, you'll satisfy the 1-year marriage requirement before earliest possible filing age (62).
Thank you! I didn't know about the Anypia calculator - we'll look into that. We both have our mySocialSecurity accounts set up already, so we can download our earnings records. Appreciate the tips!
Jabari-Jo
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...
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Niko Ramsey
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.
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Roger Romero
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!
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Anna Kerber
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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