DONT FORGET about the earnings limit if ur still teaching when u take survivors at 60!!! if ur under FRA they will take back $1 for every $2 u earn above limit. learned this the hard way :

Thank you all SO much for the helpful responses! I think I have a clearer strategy now: 1. Apply for survivor benefits at 60 2. Be aware of the earnings limit while I'm still teaching 3. Consider delaying my pension as long as possible to minimize GPO 4. Switch to my own SS benefit at 70 (which will end survivor benefits) I'll definitely look into Claimyr to get connected with an SSA specialist who actually understands these rules. And I'll find a financial advisor who specializes in GPO/WEP issues as well. This is all so complicated! I'm grateful for all your help and experiences.

my cousin got ssdi and said it was lower then his retirement woulda been but then after a few years of cola increases it ended up higher then his original retirement estimate lol so maybe wait and see

Thanks everyone for the explanations. I think I understand better now why there's a difference. The calculation periods and freezing of earnings at disability onset makes sense. I'll probably still try to talk to someone at SSA to get clarity on my specific situation, but this helps me know what questions to ask.

One important thing to verify: make sure your Medicare Part B premium is correctly handled during this transition. Sometimes when switching benefit types, the system temporarily

Thank you for this tip! I would have never thought to check this. I do have Medicare premiums auto-deducted, so I'll keep an eye out for any issues during the switch.

Based on all the information shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Your aunt should request a detailed explanation of the denial in writing 2. Request your uncle's earnings record to verify he had sufficient work credits 3. Ask specifically how her SSI is affecting her eligibility for survivor benefits 4. Find out if waiting until her Full Retirement Age would make a difference 5. Consider filing an appeal if the denial still doesn't make sense after gathering this information The SSI/survivor benefits interaction is complex, and many SSA representatives don't explain it clearly. Don't give up - understanding the specific reason for denial is key to knowing whether an appeal is worthwhile.

Update: I asked my sister who works for a retirement planning company about this. She says it's DEFINITELY because of the SSI offset. If your aunt's potential survivor benefit is less than her SSI payment, she won't receive an additional payment. However, being entitled to survivor benefits might make her eligible for Medicare before 65, which would be a huge advantage over just SSI/Medicaid. So even if there's no immediate financial gain, there could be healthcare benefits worth pursuing. Definitely worth appealing just for that reason!

My husband was a teacher for 20 years (no SS contributions) and then worked enough to get Social Security too. When he died, they cut my widow's benefit because of GPO, even though I never worked in a government job! It's so unfair they penalize us twice! First WEP reduces their benefit while alive, then GPO hits us after they're gone!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I spoke with SSA this morning (after trying for days) and learned that my situation is primarily affected by: 1) the early retirement reduction since I'm only 57, and 2) a modified WEP calculation because of my husband's mixed career. The agent confirmed there is a special WEP provision that limits the reduction for survivors, which might mean I'm eligible for an adjustment. They're sending me a detailed explanation of the calculation by mail and scheduled a follow-up with a Technical Expert. I'll update once I know more in case it helps anyone else navigating this complicated situation.