Quick additional note on your question about the early claiming: When you claimed survivor benefits at 64, you took a reduction from your full benefit amount. If your new husband passes away, the survivor benefit calculation from his record would be based on your age at THAT time. So if you're past your FRA when he passes away, you would get the full survivor benefit from his record (assuming it's higher than your current one).

I went through something similar last year. Remarried at 68 after being on survivor benefits for years. The SSA representative told me that each survivor benefit is calculated separately, and they'll pay you whichever one is higher. In my case, I'm still getting my first husband's benefit because it was higher than what I'd get from my second husband who passed away recently. Make sure you bring your marriage certificate when you report the marriage to SSA - they required that documentation.

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.

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.

Congrats on reaching FRA! Something no one mentioned yet - even though the earnings limit is gone, you still have to pay income tax on your combined income (work + SS benefits) if it goes over certain thresholds. For most people, up to 85% of SS benefits become taxable when your combined income gets high enough. Just something to budget for!

One final clarification for you: to maximize your benefits, remember that: 1. You can work unlimited amounts after FRA without benefit reduction 2. If you're switching to your own retirement benefits, consider whether it makes sense to delay claiming your own retirement past FRA to earn delayed retirement credits (8% per year until age 70). You could potentially continue receiving survivor benefits while delaying your own retirement benefit, depending on which is higher. 3. Any new earnings that replace lower earnings in your 35-year calculation will increase your benefit. SSA recalculates annually. 4. Watch those IRMAA thresholds for Medicare premiums - for 2025 (based on 2023 income), the first tier starts around $97,000 for individuals. Based on everything you've shared, you're making good decisions. Starting work in January 2025 after reaching FRA gives you complete freedom from the earnings test.

My aunt had almost the exact same situation!!! She worked for the county for 22 years and was married 15 years before divorcing. She thought she'd get half her ex's benefit but ended up with almost nothing because of GPO. It's so unfair that government workers get penalized like this!

One additional point - even if your ex-spouse benefit is completely offset by GPO now, you should still file and establish eligibility. If your situation changes in the future (like if your pension amount changes), you might become eligible for some amount. Also, survivor benefits (if your ex passes away) are calculated differently - they're 100% of what your ex received rather than 50%, so you might qualify for survivor benefits in the future even if you don't qualify for spousal benefits now. Just be sure to bring as much documentation as possible when you apply: marriage certificate, divorce decree, information about your government pension, your birth certificate, and Social Security numbers for both you and your ex-spouse (if you have it).