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Based on your follow-up comments, here's what I suggest for your specific situation: 1. Complete your divorce first 2. Request your own Social Security Statement through your my Social Security account online 3. Contact SSA specifically requesting: - Verification of your deceased former husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) - Calculation of your widow benefit at age 60 (71.5% of his PIA) - Calculation of your own retirement benefit at FRA With these three figures, you can work with a financial advisor to determine whether keeping your house is financially viable. The most accurate calculation will include both your reduced widow benefit at 60 and how it compares to your own benefit at your FRA. This information is essential for making informed long-term financial decisions.
Keisha Brown
•Thank you so much! I'll follow this exact plan. I do have my my Social Security account set up already, so I'll start there once the divorce is finalized. Would a financial advisor at my bank be knowledgeable about Social Security, or should I look for a specialist?
Oliver Weber
DON'T go to a bank financial advisor!!! They don't know SS rules AT ALL and just want to sell you products!!! I learned this the hard way when mine told me completely wrong information about survivor benefits and almost cost me THOUSANDS!!! Find someone who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies - there are actual consultants who ONLY do this!
This is good advice. Look specifically for a financial advisor who has the RSSA (Registered Social Security Analyst) or NSSA (National Social Security Advisor) certification. These advisors have specialized training in Social Security claiming strategies and how they integrate with overall retirement planning.
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The REAL QUESTION is how they're going to pay for this!!! Repealing GPO/WEP would cost billions and SS is already headed for trouble. They'll probably just increase the debt more or raise taxes on everyone. Nothing is free - we'll all end up paying for it one way or another.
Romeo Quest
•isnt it just fixing an unfair penalty though? teachers and firefighters paid into their pensions instead of SS, not their fault the systems dont work together right
It's more complicated than that. The original purpose of GPO/WEP was to prevent "double-dipping" from two different government-subsidized retirement systems. Yes it's unfair in many cases, but repealing it without accounting for the cost is irresponsible. They should FIX it with a more proportional approach, not just ELIMINATE it entirely!
Eve Freeman
I just went through all this with my financial advisor last week. Here's what she told me (I'm also a former teacher with pension): 1) The current GPO reduces spousal/widow benefits by 2/3 of your government pension 2) Most pending legislation would phase out GPO over 5 years (20% reduction each year) 3) For spouses, there's NO benefit to waiting beyond FRA - you get 50% of your spouse's PIA at FRA 4) For survivor benefits (after spouse dies), there IS benefit to waiting up to age 70 5) Keep good records of your pension and SS communications Her advice was to wait until FRA to avoid the early filing reduction. In your case at 65.5, it's only about a 6% reduction, so if you need the money now and GPO is repealed, it might be worth taking slightly reduced benefits.
Thank you for sharing this advice! The 5-year phase-in is something I hadn't considered in my planning. That's helpful to know about survivor benefits too - I didn't realize those could increase up to age 70 unlike spousal benefits that max at FRA. Sounds like I should start gathering all my pension documentation now to be prepared if/when the repeal happens.
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All this FRA and earning limit stuff is why I just waited until I fully stopped working to claim SS!!! The rules are IMPOSSIBLE to understand and I was terrified of messing up and owing them money later. SSA is the WORST at explaining their own rules clearly!!! 😡😡😡
Aisha Rahman
•Same!! I waited until I completely retired too. My neighbor tried to do this partial year thing and ended up with an overpayment notice a year later. Too much hassle!
Mateo Perez
•The rules can seem complicated, but they're actually quite straightforward once you understand them. The key is just knowing which income counts (work earnings) and which doesn't (pensions, investments, etc.). For most people reaching FRA with modest work income, there's usually no benefit reduction at all.
Aisha Rahman
My sister just went through this! Very important - make sure you tell Social Security your EXACT planned retirement date when you apply. She told them she'd work until June but then decided to quit in February, and didn't notify them. They kept withholding benefits based on her original income estimate and it took months to fix. Just keep SSA updated on any changes to your work plans!
Zara Malik
•That's a great point! I'm pretty set on my part-time schedule through April, but if anything changes, I'll definitely let them know right away. Did your sister have to pay anything back?
Aisha Rahman
•No, she actually got money BACK since she earned less than she originally told them she would. They sent her a nice unexpected check about 6 months later!
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Mei Zhang
I had a question about your sister's situation - since she's 63, is she getting reduced benefits by claiming before her FRA? I'm trying to decide whether to take my spousal benefits at 62 or wait until my full retirement age at 67 to get the full 50%. Did your sister consider waiting?
Yes, she is getting somewhat reduced benefits by claiming at 63 instead of waiting until her FRA (which would be 66 and 8 months for her). She calculated that she'd need to live past 78 for waiting to be worth it financially. Plus, her financial situation didn't really give her the option to wait - she needed the income now. It's really an individual decision based on health, finances, and other factors.
NeonNomad
•This is an important calculation everyone should do. Taking benefits at 62 gives you about 32.5% of your ex's PIA instead of 50% at FRA. However, you're collecting for 60 extra months. The breakeven age varies based on benefit amounts and life expectancy. For many people with immediate financial needs, taking reduced benefits makes sense despite the permanent reduction.
Amara Eze
Thank you for sharing this success story! I've been so discouraged lately with my own SSA issues. This gives me hope. Did you need to involve a lawyer at any point in the process? I'm wondering if I should hire one for my case.
We actually consulted with a lawyer who specializes in Social Security cases after the second denial. They gave us some helpful guidance on what specific documentation to emphasize, but we didn't formally hire them to represent us. If we'd gotten to the hearing stage, we probably would have hired them. For complex cases or disability claims, a lawyer can be really valuable, but for straightforward benefits like divorced spouse benefits, persistence and good documentation can often be enough.
Ava Harris
WAIT A MINUTE - are you getting YOUR OWN Social Security now? Because if you're not, you should consider filing for JUST Medicare at 65 but WAITING to file for Social Security!!! Every month you wait past FRA adds to your benefit amount! Don't leave that money on the table!!!
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Liam O'Reilly
•No, I haven't filed for SS yet - just Medicare. I'm hoping to hold out until 70 for the increased benefits, unless my financial situation changes. Right now I'm living off savings and a small pension from a previous employer.
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Jacob Lee
Since we've confirmed you don't qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits due to the 7-year marriage duration, let me offer some constructive advice for maximizing your own Social Security: 1. If you can wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be 132% of your FRA amount 2. Make sure SSA has all your correct earnings history - check your earnings record online through your my Social Security account 3. If you're still working, even part-time, higher earnings now could potentially increase your benefit calculation 4. Consider whether filing a restricted application might benefit you if you were born before January 2, 1954 These strategies can help compensate for not qualifying for ex-spouse benefits. The 10-year marriage rule is indeed strictly enforced for divorced spouse benefits with essentially no exceptions for marriages that ended in divorce.
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