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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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?

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!

The poster mentioned her husband is 71 and collecting retirement benefits, not SSI or SSDI. You're right that SSI has different reporting requirements because it's need-based, but that doesn't apply in this situation. Regular Social Security retirement benefits past full retirement age don't require manual reporting of earnings.

You raise a good point. While SSA is supposed to automatically recalculate benefits when new earnings might increase your benefit, the system isn't perfect. If your husband continues working for more than a year past full retirement age, it wouldn't hurt to contact SSA every couple of years to request a benefits review. You can do this by calling their main number at 1-800-772-1213 or contacting your local office.

This is actually excellent advice that people often overlook. Congressional caseworkers can sometimes get answers and action from SSA much faster than individuals can. They won't change the law for you, but they can help ensure it's being applied correctly in your case.

That's encouraging! I'm going through all my old tax records this weekend. I'm pretty sure I hit the substantial earnings threshold in at least 25 years, maybe more. Thanks for sharing your experience - gives me hope that I can get this adjusted without an attorney.