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wait im confused about the gpo thing...does this mean teachers cant get ANY spouse benefits?? my wife is retiring from teaching next year, will she get any of my ss??
It depends on several factors. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces spousal/widow(er) Social Security benefits by 2/3 of the government pension amount. If your wife receives a pension from teaching in a state where she didn't pay into Social Security (like California, Texas, or several others), then yes, her spousal benefits would be reduced by 2/3 of her pension amount. For example, if she would be eligible for $1000 in spousal benefits, but receives a $1200 monthly teacher's pension, the GPO reduction would be $800 (2/3 of $1200), leaving her with $200 in spousal benefits. If her pension is large enough that 2/3 of it exceeds her potential spousal benefit, she would receive $0 in spousal benefits. However, if she taught in a state where teachers DO pay into Social Security, GPO might not apply. I'd recommend consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in government pensions.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Looks like I need to contact SSA directly to get a definitive answer. I'll try calling them (with help from that service someone mentioned if needed) and specifically ask if there's an application on file for me. Even though the GPO means I'll get $0 either way, I just want to make sure everything is correct in their system. I appreciate all the explanations about how the notation on my statement might just be showing my theoretical entitlement rather than confirming I've applied.
Good plan. For peace of mind, it's worth confirming your status. When you do reach them, also ask them to explain why those annual letters stopped coming after 2015. There might have been a policy change about notifications that's good to understand.
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My sister lost her ex last year too. She got about $450 extra a month by switching to his benefit. The way they calculate it is weird though... something about your FRA and his FRA and when you both started collecting. My sister was already 73 when she applied so it was pretty simple but I think there's reductions if you're under FRA.
Thank you all for the helpful replies. I used the Claimyr service this morning and it worked - got through to an agent in about 15 minutes! The agent told me based on our benefit amounts I'm likely eligible for about $820 additional per month. I have an in-person appointment next Tuesday to bring in my documents and finalize everything. They also confirmed they use the application date for benefits, not the date of death, so I'm glad I didn't wait longer!
That's excellent news! $820 extra per month is significant - that's nearly $10,000 per year. Make sure to bring original documents if possible, or certified copies. Regular photocopies usually aren't accepted for this type of application. Good luck with your appointment!
congrats! happy it worked out for you
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I don't think this is correct advice. Your sister can't just "pause" her benefits whenever she wants. Once you start collecting, you're locked in. At least that's what happened with my brother-in-law. He tried to pause his at 67 and they told him it was impossible.
There's actually a specific process called "voluntary suspension" that is available, but ONLY if you've already reached your Full Retirement Age (FRA). You can suspend retirement benefits after FRA and restart them later (they'll grow by 8% annually until age 70). Your brother-in-law might have been trying to suspend before reaching his FRA, which isn't allowed. Or perhaps the SSA representative he spoke with was misinformed (unfortunately this happens). The relevant section of SSA's POMS manual is GN 02409.100 if anyone needs to reference it when speaking with an agent.
Oh wow, I had no idea! My brother-in-law should definitely call them back then because he was definitely past his FRA. Thanks for clarifying and even providing the manual reference. This system is so complicated.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their helpful responses. My sister and I talked it over, and based on your advice, she's decided to wait the extra 4 months until she reaches her FRA before filing for her own benefits. That way, she'll have maximum flexibility if her ex-husband passes away. I'm also going to help her document everything (their marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) so she has it ready if she needs to file for survivor benefits. This whole situation is emotionally difficult, but having a clear financial plan helps reduce some of the stress.
That's a wise decision. Waiting those 4 months until FRA gives her much more flexibility. Another tip: when she eventually contacts SSA about this, she should specifically ask about the "voluntary suspension" option and the switch to survivor benefits. Sometimes the frontline representatives aren't familiar with these strategies, so she might need to ask to speak with a technical expert if she encounters resistance. Wishing your sister and family all the best during this difficult time.
Smart plan! And yes get ALL the paperwork together now. When I had to deal with survivior benefits they wanted marriage certificate, death certificate, proof of age, and tax returns. Having it all ready saved me so much hassle. Social Security can be confusing but they actually have lots of good options for survivior situations.
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I think its great that the GPO is finally going away. My mom lost out on so many benefits because of that unfair rule. She worked for the school system for 35 years and got almost nothing from dads SS when he passed away, even though he worked and paid in his whole life!
That's exactly why this change was needed! So many public servants were effectively penalized twice - once with often lower government pensions compared to private sector, and then again by being denied Social Security benefits their spouses earned. My sister feels like she's been waiting forever for this fix.
Nick Kravitz
Don't let anyone tell you there's nothing you can do about these unfair provisions! There are bills in Congress right now to reform or eliminate WEP/GPO. Contact your representatives! My mom's teacher group is fighting this tooth and nail. Public servants deserve better!
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Michael Green
•I've been writing my congressman for years about this. The Social Security Fairness Act keeps getting introduced but never passes. Still worth fighting for though.
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Santiago Martinez
Thank you all for your helpful responses! I've scheduled an in-person appointment at my local SSA office for next week and I'm gathering all my pension documentation. I've also made a list of questions based on all your advice. I'm still frustrated about the WEP/GPO reductions, but at least I understand the process better now. I'll update once I've had my appointment and let you know how it goes.
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