One more thing to remember - fixing this isn't just about your retirement benefits. Your Social Security earnings record also affects potential SSDI benefits if you ever become disabled before retirement age, and could impact survivor benefits for your family. So there are multiple reasons to make sure your record is accurate.

just wondering but did you ever file a tax return that year with the wrong ssn? cuz if so the irs shouldve caught it?? or did the employer just report the wrong ssn to ssa but your w2 copy had the right one?

i forgot to mention my sister had a similar problem but she was getting close to FRA and only had like 6 months to go so she just reduced her work hours for those months to get under the earnings limit and got some benefits. might not work for you if your younger but something to think about if your close

One last thing I'd recommend - schedule an appointment with SSA about 6 months before your FRA to review your survivor benefit eligibility and exact benefit amount. They'll need your ex-husband's death certificate and marriage/divorce records if you haven't already provided them. Also, keep documentation of your ex's earnings history if you have access to it, as survivor benefits are based on his earnings record and sometimes mistakes happen. The SSA's estimates aren't always accurate, so it's worth verifying everything in advance.

wait i just thought of something - have you checked if you qualify for mother's benefits? or are your kids all over 16 already?

I want to add one important point: if you're worried about future financial security, now is a good time to start planning beyond potential Social Security benefits. Since your husband has a pension and you're considering returning to work, you might want to explore opening a catch-up IRA or other retirement vehicles. Many stay-at-home parents face this situation, and there are financial strategies specifically designed for people who've been out of the workforce. Regarding your original question, when you speak with SSA, ask specifically about the "minimum survivor benefit" which might apply in cases with limited covered employment.

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

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

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.

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.