What happens when they convert her from disability to retirement? Will the payment amount change? My wife is worried about that part.

Update: I finally got through to SSA! The representative confirmed that my wife can take the extra shift since she'll still be under the SGA limit. They also checked and said she hasn't used any of her Trial Work Period months yet, which is good to know for the future. Thanks everyone for your help!

Based on the numbers you provided, let's do a quick calculation: Your monthly benefit at 64 = $2,725 Applying early retirement reduction factor (approximately 93.3% of PIA at age 64) Your estimated PIA ≈ $2,920 Your husband's monthly benefit at FRA = $1,430 This is 100% of his PIA Spousal benefit = 50% of your PIA = $1,460 Since $1,460 > $1,430, your husband may be eligible for a supplemental spousal benefit of approximately $30/month. He should contact SSA to verify these calculations and apply for the dual entitlement if applicable.

Just to close the loop here - once you've confirmed with SSA whether your husband qualifies for the additional amount through dual entitlement, make sure to ask about how this affects future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Both portions of his benefit (his own and the spousal component) will receive COLAs, but they're applied separately to each benefit component. Also, if your husband is under the full retirement age for the spousal benefit (which may be different than his FRA for his own benefit), there might be additional reductions to consider.

my neigbor got ex spouse benefits even with a government pension but only because his ex made ALOT of money and had huge ss benefit. depends on the numbers in your case

One more thing to consider - you mentioned you didn't have enough credits for your own Social Security benefit. However, if you've worked any jobs covered by Social Security since your initial application (even part-time), you might be closer to qualifying for your own benefit. It takes 40 credits (about 10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, and those benefits wouldn't be subject to GPO (though they could be reduced by WEP). Even a small benefit on your own record might be better than nothing if the GPO eliminates your ex-spouse benefit entirely.

@original poster - Did you get a letter from SSA explaining the adjustment at any point? I never did, and that's what made me so mad! They should at least TELL US when they're making these adjustments!

For future reference, you can request a detailed explanation of benefit calculations by visiting your local SSA office in person or by calling to request a BOAN (Benefit Overpayment Action Notice) explanation if you suspect there was an overpayment adjustment. They should be able to provide a month-by-month breakdown of the calculations. As others have said, this is standard procedure when transitioning between benefit types, especially with spousal to survivor transitions. The system has to reconcile the different benefit calculations and payment schedules.

Let me clarify a few important points about divorced spouse benefits that might help with your decision: 1. For ex-spouse benefits, you need to remain unmarried, but the ex-spouse's current marital status doesn't matter. They could be remarried multiple times and it doesn't affect your eligibility. 2. For survivor benefits if your ex passes away, the rules are different - you can remarry after age 60 and still collect. 3. There's no "waiting period" for eligibility after a divorce, but as someone mentioned, SSA may scrutinize divorces that happen suspiciously close to benefit applications. 4. Importantly, if you're born after 1954, you cannot file for divorced spouse benefits separately from your own. Due to the deemed filing rules, you'll automatically receive whichever is higher when you file - your own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit. 5. Since you mentioned the difference is about $850/month, have you verified this takes into account any potential reduction for claiming early, if that's your plan? If you decide marriage now is important for other reasons (health insurance, home purchase), just be aware of the clean break needed before applying for benefits in the future.

SOCIAL SECURITY IS SO UNFAIR!!!! Why should anyone have to make these ridiculous choices between health insurance now and benefits later?? My friend had to stay in an unhappy marriage for YEARS just to reach the 10-year mark for Social Security. The whole system is designed to trap people in relationships or force them to make these weird divorce calculations. Europe doesn't make people jump through these kinds of hoops!! I'm sorry I don't have advice but I'm just so ANGRY about how complicated they make everything!!