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Just to clarify some misunderstandings I'm seeing in this thread: For survivor benefits, the rules are different than for regular retirement benefits. While it's true you can apply as early as 60, the benefit reduction formula is different. Also, if you remarry after age 60, you can still collect survivor benefits from your previous spouse. As for the original poster's situation, at age 70, you would receive 100% of your deceased husband's benefit amount IF it's higher than your current retirement benefit. You should request an appointment specifically for survivor benefits and ask them to do a complete benefits calculation to determine the best option for you. One more tip: if your husband had delayed retirement credits (meaning he worked past his full retirement age), those would be factored into your survivor benefit as well.
Wait, is that true about remarrying after 60? I thought once you remarried you lost all benefits from a previous spouse! This whole system is so confusing - they should make this information clearer on their website instead of burying it in complicated language!
Yes, that's correct about remarriage after 60 for survivor benefits! It's different from spousal benefits (where remarriage at any age ends eligibility). For survivors, if you remarry after 60, you can still claim on your deceased spouse's record. Confusing, I know!
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information. I've written down all these points to discuss when I call SSA. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning.
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One more thing to keep in mind - since your wife is at full retirement age (FRA), she's eligible for the full spousal benefit of 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (before any GPO reduction). If she's eligible for both her own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, SSA will pay her own benefit plus the difference to equal the higher amount. Also, since she's past FRA, there's no penalty for either of you working while collecting benefits. The earnings test doesn't apply after FRA. Bring to your appointment: 1. Photo ID for both of you 2. Social Security cards 3. Marriage certificate 4. Pension documentation with lump sum details 5. Recent tax returns 6. Bank account information for direct deposit Good luck with your appointment!
Thank you for the detailed checklist! I hadn't thought about bringing our marriage certificate, so that's really helpful. And it's good to know that there's no penalty for working since we both still do some part-time consulting work.
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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!
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.
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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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.
Savanna Franklin
I just thought of something important! When you apply, make sure to bring your marriage certificate AND divorce decree to prove you were married at least 10 years. They're super strict about this. My friend almost got denied because she couldn't find her divorce papers right away.
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Juan Moreno
•Also bring ur birth certificate. They made my wife go back home to get hers even tho she had her drivers license and passport! SS office is crazy about original documents.
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Esteban Tate
isnt it crazy how complicated they make this?? my mom was in a similar situation and ended up just taking whatever they offered because it was too confusing to figure out the best option. i hope u get this sorted out!
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