To follow up on your retroactivity question - the GPO repeal was effective December 2023, so if you apply now, you can request retroactive benefits back to December 2023, but SSA generally limits retroactivity to 6 months for survivor benefits. So realistically, you'd likely only get retroactive payments for about 6 months, not all the way back to December 2023 unless you applied very soon. Also, when you go to your appointment, make sure you bring: 1. Your husband's death certificate 2. Your marriage certificate 3. Both your Social Security cards 4. The previous denial letter that mentions GPO 5. Documentation of your pension This will help ensure your claim is processed correctly. And as others have mentioned, be prepared to be persistent. The GPO repeal is still relatively new, and not all SSA representatives are fully trained on handling these cases.

Yes, I did finally get my benefits sorted out but it took using Claimyr to finally reach someone who knew what they were doing. Got a specialist who handles WEP/GPO cases and she fixed everything. Worth every penny to avoid the hours of frustration! And FYI for your calculation - the 2022 COLA was 5.9%, 2023 was 8.7% and 2024 was 3.2%. So if your starting benefit is $2,005 (the 82.5% amount), after all those COLAs it would be around $2,322 now. Much better than what your husband was getting when he passed!

I'm sorry about your ex-husband's passing. When my brother died, we learned that Social Security won't automatically pay these benefits - you MUST apply. And the 2-year deadline is strict. I'd recommend calling your local SSA office directly rather than the national number - sometimes it's easier to get through. Also, bring your children's birth certificates and Social Security cards when you go in, along with your ID and his death certificate.

Definitely make an appointment if possible - the walk-in wait times can be terrible. Some offices are still requiring appointments anyway. Check the SSA website for your local office's phone number. And remember to ask about survivor benefits for your children when you go in - that's the really important part that could help financially for years to come.

Since you mentioned cancer recovery - don't forget that the SSA has compassionate allowances and expedited processing for serious medical conditions. If your condition worsens or you need to apply for disability, make sure to mention your cancer diagnosis as it might qualify you for faster processing. Sending healing thoughts your way.

its so confusing my sister got more from her ex husband than her second husband when he died but they told me different rules when i called????????

Wait I'm confused...I thought SSI and Social Security were the same thing? Which calculator should I use if I'm on disability but turning 65 next year?

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I downloaded ANYPIA but it's pretty complicated. I'm going to try MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com since it seems more user-friendly and the price is reasonable. I'm also realizing that because I only have 31 years of earnings, even my reduced-income years will help fill in those missing years in my top 35. That's something I didn't fully understand before.

DONT FORGET to ask about the lump sum death payment too!!! Its only $255 but its something extra!!!! A lot of people dont know about this and SSA wont tell u!!!!

After your call tomorrow, if they don't agree to use your August date, you can request a formal determination in writing and then appeal if necessary. SSA has an established appeals process. But hopefully they'll handle it correctly tomorrow if you clearly explain the situation. Also, make sure you're prepared to provide all the necessary information for your application: your spouse's death certificate, marriage certificate, both your Social Security numbers, and your direct deposit information. Having this ready will help ensure the application gets completed this time.