FYI my neighbor just had her WEP benefit adjusted and it took like 3 months for SSA to process everything so dont expect the change right away when the law kicks in. she had to keep calling them to check on it

I'd recommend asking the SSA for a detailed calculation breakdown when you apply for the spousal benefit. Most people don't know that you can request this! They'll send you a letter showing exactly how they calculated your benefit amount, which is helpful if you think they've made a mistake (which happens more often than they'd like to admit). And make sure your husband coordinates with you when he files for his benefits so you can apply for the spousal benefit right away.

whats the diff between SSI and SSDI again? does that matter for spousal benefits?? sorry if thats a stupid question but all these acronyms confuse me lol

my aunt used to work for ssa and she said always always ALWAYS wait until FRA to get the full 50% for spouse benefit. taking early is a mistake she saw people make every day

I hate to say this but you might be facing an uphill battle. The SSA routinely applies GPO incorrectly and their own employees often don't understand the rules. I've seen cases like yours take MONTHS to resolve. When you visit the office, they'll probably tell you that you need to file a formal appeal. Don't leave without getting something in writing! And don't sign anything acknowledging the debt is valid. ALSO - check if your husband's military service was before 1957 or if his fire department was part of a state system that didn't participate in Social Security. Some special rules might apply in those cases.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I was feeling so overwhelmed before posting here. I've started gathering all the documentation suggested, including letters from both pension administrators clearly stating these are survivor benefits. I'll be filing the SSA-561 form for reconsideration and bringing copies of SSA's own policy on GPO. I'm still nervous about the meeting next week, but I feel much better prepared now. I'll update this thread after my appointment to let you know how it goes in case anyone else faces a similar situation.

Just to address the question about the "disability freeze" that was mentioned - yes, this is a real thing. It means that the years you're on disability don't count as zero-earning years when calculating your retirement benefit. Instead, SSA essentially ignores those years so they don't drag down your average lifetime earnings. This is why your benefit amount stays the same when SSDI converts to retirement.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to try calling SSA again to ask specifically about the spousal benefit top-up. I'm also going to talk to my husband about checking his PIA so we can figure out if 50% of his would be more than my current SSDI payment. It sounds like there's nothing I need to do about the SSDI to retirement conversion which is a relief!

To answer your follow-up question about the $2,500 PIA - if your ex-wife's PIA is $2,500, then 50% of that would be $1,250. Since your own benefit is $1,425, you wouldn't receive any additional amount because your own benefit is already higher than what you'd get as an ex-spouse (50% of her PIA). One other thing to consider: Check if you might qualify for any other government benefits to supplement your income if you're struggling financially. Programs like SNAP (food stamps), Medicare Savings Programs (which help with Medicare costs), or energy assistance programs might help ease your financial situation.

Hey just wondering - does anyone know if the OP could have done something different? Like if he had waited until Full Retirement Age instead of taking benefits at 65? I'm trying to figure out what to do with my own situation and don't want to make the same mistake!