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You should definitely keep your appointment. Since you'll be at your Full Retirement Age in June, this is the perfect time to file. Regarding the COVID income concerns: The Social Security benefit formula uses your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so those lower-earning pandemic years will simply not be included in your calculation if you have 35 other higher-earning years. Also, filing at your appointment in May for benefits to begin in June (your FRA month) is ideal timing. The only reason to possibly delay would be if you wanted to earn delayed retirement credits (8% per year until age 70), but that's a separate strategic decision based on your financial needs and longevity expectations.
i thought u could only get the 8% bonus if u wait till 70? my friend said u get nothing extra for waiting a few months
After I used Claimyr to get through to SSA, the agent confirmed that each month you delay past FRA gives you approximately 0.67% more (which equals 8% per year). So waiting even a few months does increase your benefit, but you have to decide if the permanent increase is worth missing those months of payments. For me, I decided to start right at my FRA because I needed the income immediately.
That's really helpful information, thank you! I think I'll stick with starting at my FRA too - I'd rather have the guaranteed income now than wait for a slightly higher amount later.
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My mom got hit by the GPO too when my dad died. She was a school principal. She lost like 75% of his SS benefits she should have gotten. Its sooooo unfair! They worked there whole lives and paid into the system just like everyone else!!!
To clarify a common misconception: The GPO exists because many government employees with pensions (like teachers, police, some state workers) worked in positions where they didn't pay Social Security taxes on those earnings. The offset was created because these employees weren't contributing to the SS system during those years of government employment, unlike most workers. That said, many consider it overly harsh, which is why Congress is eliminating it. Your mother will benefit from this change going forward.
One thing to be aware of regarding the COLA calculations: Social Security applies COLAs using compounding, not simple addition. So if your husband's original benefit was $2000, the 8.7% COLA in 2023 would make it $2,174. Then the 3.2% COLA in 2024 would be applied to $2,174 (not the original $2000), resulting in $2,243.57. The 2025 COLA of 2.5% would bring it to $2,299.66. This compounding effect makes a significant difference over time. When your GPO is removed, you should receive the full widow's benefit with this proper COLA compounding applied.
Thank you for explaining the compounding effect! I understand it better now. The difference between my reduced benefit and what I should be getting is substantial - probably around $1,400 monthly. Multiply that by however many months until I die (hopefully many years!), and the GPO has cost me a small fortune. I'm just grateful it's finally ending.
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Sorry for the tangent, but does anyone know if the GPO amount ever gets recalculated if your pension amount changes? My wife will be in a similar situation with her state pension, but her system offers occasional one-time adjustments based on inflation (not annual COLAs). Would those pension increases mean recalculating the GPO reduction?
Yes, if your wife's pension amount increases, SSA will recalculate the GPO reduction. GPO is always 2/3 of the current pension amount. If her pension gets a one-time adjustment for inflation, she should report it to SSA, as it will increase the GPO reduction and potentially reduce any spousal/survivor benefits she receives. Conversely, if for some reason her pension amount decreased, the GPO reduction would also decrease. SSA performs periodic checks on pension amounts, but it's best to report changes promptly to avoid potential overpayments.
I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but you should verify whether your teacher's pension includes any cost-of-living adjustments. Some state pension systems do provide small annual increases, though they're typically capped and not as generous as Social Security's COLAs. If your pension also increases over time (even slightly), that would affect the GPO calculation and potentially delay when you'd qualify for spousal benefits.
Good point! I checked my pension paperwork and we do get COLAs, but they're capped at 3% and don't compound like SS COLAs do. So my pension will grow more slowly than his SS benefit, especially if he delays until 70. Hopefully the difference in growth rates means I'll still eventually qualify for some spousal benefits despite both amounts increasing.
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After thinking about your situation more, one more important factor: the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals suggests you can safely withdraw about 4% of your nest egg annually. If your SS payment would be $1,200/month higher by waiting ($14,400/year), that's equivalent to having an additional $360,000 in retirement savings ($14,400 ÷ 0.04). This perspective often helps people see the true value of delayed Social Security benefits. If you had an extra $360K in your retirement account, would you be more comfortable?
Wow, I hadn't thought about it that way! Putting it in terms of equivalent retirement savings makes the delayed credits seem much more valuable. When you frame it as essentially having $360K more in my retirement account, waiting to 70 sounds like a no-brainer given my family history.
everyone keeps talking bout the MATH but what about ENJOYING LIFE?? my brother waited to 70 and then got cancer at 71... all that waiting for nothin. just my 2 cents
I'm very sorry about your brother. That's definitely the fear I have too - waiting and then not getting to enjoy it for very long. It's the uncertainty that makes this such a tough decision.
This is a valid perspective that highlights the personal nature of this decision. The mathematical optimization approach assumes longevity, but life has no guarantees. Each person needs to balance the statistical likelihood of living longer (especially with family history of longevity) against the desire to enjoy benefits earlier.
Lucas Turner
quick question - are u sure u calculated everything right? did u count gross or net income? and are u including all ur work expenses that might bring it down under the limit?
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Eleanor Foster
•I counted my gross wages, which is what I understand they look at. I don't think I have any deductible work expenses that would help in this case. Good thought though!
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Layla Sanders
One more tip - keep good records of your earnings for the year. If you're still working, you might want to adjust your hours slightly for the rest of the year to stay under next year's limit. The earnings test gets more complicated in the year you reach Full Retirement Age, but then disappears completely once you hit FRA. At that point, you can earn unlimited income without any impact on your benefits.
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Eleanor Foster
•Great advice! I'm tracking everything carefully now. My FRA is 67, so I've still got a few years to go. Looking forward to not having to worry about this limit eventually.
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