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@user8 It's called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), along with the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These are the provisions being phased out over the next decade. But they're being reduced gradually, not eliminated immediately. 10% reduction in 2025, 20% in 2026, and so on until fully eliminated in 2035. @yourusername If you can't find the marriage certificate, you should request a certified copy from the county clerk's office where they were married. SSA typically requires official documentation and may not have marriage records in their system. They need to verify both the marriage and that it remained valid until your father's passing.
Thank you! I'll reach out to the county clerk's office this week. Mom's memory isn't great since Dad passed, but I think they got married in Sullivan County. I really appreciate all the helpful advice everyone has shared.
i don't understand why this is so complicated lol. just call social security and tell them ur dad died and see what they say. my grandpa died and my grandma got his social security check the next month, it was automatic
It's complicated because both parents worked in jobs with government pensions (teaching) that didn't pay into Social Security, but also had jobs that did pay into Social Security. The WEP/GPO provisions (which are being phased out) created special rules for these situations. Your grandparents' situation was likely more straightforward if they both worked in jobs that consistently paid into Social Security their entire careers.
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Wait im confused...isnt SSI different from regular social security? Maybe the worker was talking about SSI which does have asset and income limits even after retirement age? Just wondering if there was a miscommunication about which program.
Good point about potential confusion, but the OP clearly mentioned retirement benefits that started at age 65, which would be Social Security retirement (RSDI/Title II) not SSI (Title XVI). You're correct that SSI has strict income and asset limits at any age, but those rules don't apply to regular Social Security retirement benefits. The earnings test for retirement benefits disappears at FRA.
Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! I feel much better now knowing that the SSA rep was wrong and that my husband CAN earn unlimited income once he reaches his full retirement age next year without affecting his benefits. We'll definitely print out that SSA webpage for reference. And we'll make sure to verify that his benefit amount gets properly adjusted for any withheld amounts once he reaches FRA. What a relief - this means our retirement plan can proceed as we originally thought! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help clarify this confusing situation.
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One important factor many people overlook is the impact on survivor benefits. If you're married, the higher of the two spouse's benefits becomes the survivor benefit when one passes away. If you expect your benefit to be higher than your spouse's, waiting to claim increases not just your retirement benefit but potentially your spouse's survivor benefit as well. This creates an additional incentive to delay, especially with family longevity on your side. The survivor benefit protection is essentially free "insurance" that comes with delaying your claim. If you're concerned about Social Security's future, remember that any legislative changes would almost certainly be phased in gradually and likely wouldn't affect those already near retirement age. Current retirees and those close to retirement are typically protected in reform proposals.
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Update: I finally got through to SSA after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. The agent confirmed what you all explained - my benefit IS calculated correctly. She walked me through it step by step. My husband's PIA (full retirement age amount) is $2,340, and my 50% would be $1,170, but since I'm taking it 5 years early, it's reduced by about 35% to $760. Since I have my own small benefit of $152, they pay me that plus the $608 difference. I understand now that my husband filing early doesn't actually reduce my spousal benefit at all - it's based on his full PIA regardless of when he filed. The only reduction is from ME filing early. Thank you all for your help explaining this complicated system!
Glad you got it sorted out! One thing to remember is that despite the reduction, you're getting 60 months of benefits that you wouldn't have received had you waited until FRA. So while the monthly amount is less, the lifetime total might work out better depending on your life expectancy and financial needs. That's often overlooked in these discussions.
Aaliyah Jackson
The rules for spouse's benefits are unnecessarily complicated! Here's my understanding based on research and my own experience with my husband's SSDI: 1. The spousal benefit is calculated as the DIFFERENCE between your spouse's own benefit and up to 50% of yours (if filing at FRA) 2. If your wife's PIA (full retirement age amount) is $1,200 but she's getting $850 at 62, they'll compare her $1,200 to 50% of your $2,375 ($1,187.50) 3. Since these amounts are so close, she might not get ANY spousal supplement at all 4. BUT... everything gets reduced for early filing, and the reduction factors are different for retirement vs spousal Possible scenarios: a) If her reduced own benefit > reduced spousal: she just gets her own benefit b) If reduced spousal > reduced own benefit: she gets her own benefit PLUS the difference to reach the spousal amount This is definitely worth scheduling an appointment with SSA to get the exact calculation. They can tell you exactly what she'd receive in all scenarios.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•Thank you for breaking it down like this. I didn't realize they would compare her PIA (unreduced benefit) to 50% of mine first, then apply reductions. That makes the calculation even more complicated! Definitely going to need to speak with SSA directly.
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Sofía Rodríguez
my buddy's wife faced this exact situation last year and she ended up just taking her own benefit at 62 and then switching to the spousal benefit at her full retirement age when it wouldn't be reduced anymore. can ur wife do that?
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Aiden O'Connor
•Unfortunately, that strategy is no longer available for anyone born after January 1, 1954. The deemed filing rules were changed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Now when someone files for either their own retirement or for spousal benefits, they are deemed to be filing for both simultaneously, and will receive the higher of the two amounts (with appropriate reductions for early filing). The only exceptions to this rule are for surviving spouses (widow/widower benefits) who can still choose when to take each benefit.
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