I need to apologize for my earlier incorrect information! I was confusing the rules for spousal benefits with survivor/widow benefits. The other commenters are correct - you CAN switch from widow benefits to your own retirement benefits if yours would be higher. I'm so sorry for the confusion I caused.

When you contact SSA, make sure you have your recent tax returns handy. They may want to verify your earnings for the recalculation. Also make sure to specifically ask about: 1. What your current widow benefit amount is (with exact figures) 2. What your own retirement benefit would be if you switched now 3. Whether waiting longer to switch would increase your own benefit further Get all three numbers so you can make an informed decision. And consider asking them to document this in your file, even if you don't make a change immediately.

This reminds me of when I retired. I think what's happening is the monthly test vs. annual test confusion. When you first retire, you get to use the monthly test which is definitely better for people who work part of the year then stop completely.

I just called SSA again using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (it actually worked!), and got through to a very knowledgeable agent. She confirmed I can absolutely start benefits in December for January payment using the monthly earnings test since I haven't worked since July. She also said I could technically apply for benefits going back to August (first payment in September) if I wanted to, but I'd need to specifically request retroactive payments for those months. I'm going to start with December/January payment as originally planned. Thanks everyone for helping clear this up! The monthly earnings test vs. annual test distinction was the key piece I was missing.

To directly answer your original question: The WEP applies when you receive a pension based on work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes. The key factor is not whether you receive monthly payments or a lump sum, but whether the payment is based on non-covered employment. An important exception exists if your pension is based on a mix of covered and non-covered employment. If that's the case, the SSA will only apply WEP to the portion derived from earnings where you didn't pay Social Security taxes. Request a detailed WEP calculation from SSA before making your decision.

Another consideration: depending on your age and specific situation, you might want to look into whether the "substantial earnings test" might help reduce your WEP impact. If you can demonstrate that you had substantial earnings under Social Security for enough years (the magic number is 30, but there's a sliding scale), your WEP reduction can be lessened or eliminated. This would be true whether you take the pension as a lump sum or monthly payments.

If you don't mind me asking, what conditions are you dealing with? Some conditions have much higher approval rates than others.

my mom is getting benefits from my dad and they divorced like 30 years ago so yeah it definitely works for exes

Just to add one more important point: If you've just started collecting Social Security in November 2024, your benefit amount might be different in 2025 due to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This adjustment took effect with December 2024 benefits (payable in January 2025). Make sure to budget accordingly for any tax implications based on your new benefit amount going forward.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful answers! I'll keep an eye out for the SSA-1099 in the mail, but I'm also going to set up my online account to access it there if needed. Since I'm past FRA, it sounds like I don't need to worry about the earnings limit, which is a relief. I'll look into that W-4V form to have some taxes withheld from my SS benefits going forward to avoid a surprise tax bill. This community has been incredibly helpful!