Also remember they'll probably ask for proof of the marriage ending (divorce decree for first marriage) and proof of subsequent marriage (marriage certificate for second husband). My sister got caught in a loop where they kept asking for more documents.

Something nobody has mentioned yet - when your first husband does pass away (which I'm sorry to hear about), make sure you check if there are any children who might be eligible for benefits on his record too. My neighbor didn't realize her adult disabled son qualified for benefits on her deceased husband's record for almost a year after he died. There might be other family members eligible besides just you.

One more thing to consider - since this involves a cancer case, you should mention to the Tampa office that this falls under Compassionate Allowances guidelines. This might help prioritize getting these documents processed quickly once they receive them. Also, document EVERYTHING about your attempts to submit these records. Note the date, time, and name of every person you speak with. If your husband's back payments get delayed because of their document mishandling, this documentation will be important for appealing any issues with the retroactive payment date.

just wondering did u get a receipt when u dropped off the papers?? they supposed to give u one i think. that could help prove u actually gave them the stuff if they try to deny it later

I'd also recommend checking if you'll be subject to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) in addition to WEP. GPO affects spousal or survivor benefits if you receive a pension from work not covered by SS. It can reduce or eliminate your ability to collect on your spouse's record if that would normally be higher than your own benefit. Many people get caught by surprise with this one.

To summarize for the original poster: 1. Your state pension does NOT count toward the earnings test limit 2. If you work part-time and earn over $21,240 in 2025, benefits will be reduced 3. Your SS benefit will likely be reduced by WEP regardless of when you claim 4. You should check if GPO will affect any spousal/survivor benefits 5. Consider whether it makes financial sense to claim at 63 or wait until FRA or even age 70 6. The earnings test goes away completely once you reach your FRA of 67 Making the right Social Security claiming decision can mean tens of thousands of dollars difference over your lifetime.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! This clarifies a lot for me. It sounds like my wife claiming her own benefit early doesn't directly affect potential survivor benefits, which is what I was worried about. And it seems like my plan to delay my own claiming is a good idea for maximizing her potential survivor benefit if needed. I'm thinking our strategy should be: 1. Have my wife claim at 63 as planned 2. I'll delay at least to my FRA (67) or possibly even to 70 for maximum survivor protection 3. If I pass away before claiming, she can either take reduced survivor benefits immediately OR stay on her own reduced benefit until her FRA and then switch to full survivor benefits Does this sound like an optimal approach given our situation? And should we consult with someone at SSA directly to confirm all this?

Your strategy sounds solid. The only thing I'd add is that talking directly with SSA probably won't give you the strategic advice you're looking for - they'll explain the rules but typically don't provide planning strategies. A financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies might be more helpful. As for verification, the SSA.gov website has good information on survivor benefits if you want to confirm. Look under "If You Are The Survivor" section.

The monthly earnings test is so frustrating! My mom went through this exact situation last year with her survivor benefits. One thing no one has mentioned yet - if you're close to your Full Retirement Age, the earnings limits are different. If you'll reach FRA in 2025, the monthly limit is much higher (around $6,000/month for 2024). Also, be aware that they sometimes apply different rules depending on whether you're self-employed or a regular employee. Are you a W-2 employee at your sister's shop or considered self-employed? This can affect how they count your earnings. As others mentioned, definitely request that those 4 withheld months be applied to any overpayment. This is your right but sometimes gets overlooked unless you specifically ask for it.

I want to add one more important point that hasn't been mentioned yet: Since you're planning to fully retire in 2025, you should submit a new estimate of zero earnings for 2025 as soon as possible. This will prevent SSA from withholding any benefits next year. Also, make sure you understand the difference between the Annual Earnings Test and the Monthly Earnings Test: - Monthly Test: Only applies in your first year receiving benefits. Any month you earn over the limit ($2,270 for 2024), you don't receive benefits for that month. - Annual Test: Applies every year until you reach Full Retirement Age. For every $2 you earn above the annual limit ($23,040 for 2024), SSA withholds $1 in benefits. The good news is that these withheld benefits aren't lost forever. Once you reach FRA, SSA recalculates your benefit amount to give credit for months benefits were withheld.