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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.
This is partially correct, but it's important to note that the military service timing isn't as relevant for GPO purposes as whether the OP herself worked in non-covered employment. What matters most is demonstrating these are survivor benefits from her husband's employment, not her own pension. The key factor is whose employment generated the benefits.
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.
Good luck! Be prepared for them to initially insist they're right - it took me two visits to get someone who actually understood the rules. If they tell you the decision stands, immediately ask to speak with a supervisor while you're there. Don't leave without filing the reconsideration paperwork!
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just a random thought but did u check if taking your OWN retirement might be better than survivor? my neighbor discovered her own benefit was higher than her husbands!
This is a good point. You can take one benefit now and switch to the other later if that would maximize your lifetime benefits. For example, some widows take reduced survivor benefits early, then switch to their own maximum retirement benefit at 70. But this depends on your individual circumstances.
Update: I called back today and got a much more knowledgeable representative. He confirmed that starting in January would indeed reduce my benefit slightly compared to waiting until my FRA in February. He corrected my application to show February 1st as my start date and gave me a confirmation number. Thanks everyone for giving me the confidence to push back!
Great news! Always trust your gut when dealing with government agencies.
Perfect! Good job advocating for yourself. This is exactly why it's so important to understand your benefits and options. That small percentage will add up significantly over your lifetime.
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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.
Well maybe on PAPER but when mine converted I got LESS money!!! No one at SSA could explain why but they insisted it was "correctly calculated" 🙄
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!
Good plan! One more tip - when you do call SSA, make sure to ask about the "deemed filing" rules too. Since you're already on SSDI, the rules work a bit differently, but it's important to understand how applying for one benefit might automatically trigger application for other benefits you're eligible for.
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I dont know why people are telling you to delay benefits. My sister and her husband waited and now regret it. They could have traveled more when they were younger and healthier. Money now is worth more than money later! TAKE IT NOW and enjoy life while you can!!!
This is actually a very personal decision that depends on many factors: financial needs, health status, family longevity, other income sources, etc. Mathematically, delaying benefits provides insurance against longevity - you'll get more total money if you live beyond the break-even age (usually early 80s). But quality of life considerations like your sister's are equally valid. There's no universal right answer.
Mikayla Davison
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
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Aisha Jackson
•SSI and SSDI don't apply to the original question about retirement and spousal benefits. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for people with limited income/resources who are disabled, blind, or 65+. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for disabled workers who have earned enough work credits. What the original poster is asking about is regular Social Security retirement benefits and the associated spousal benefits, which are based on earnings records and completely different from SSI/SSDI.
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Leo Simmons
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
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Ryder Everingham
•That's a HUGE oversimplification!!! Whether to take benefits early or wait depends on SO MANY factors - health, life expectancy, other income sources, tax situation. Plus the breakeven point is usually in your late 70s or early 80s. Some people are better off taking reduced benefits earlier and investing them. There's NO one-size-fits-all answer!!!
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