i think u need his w2s too maybe? or at least thats what my aunt needed when she did this

Thank you all for your help! I called SSA this morning but couldn't get through after waiting an hour. Will try that Claimyr service tomorrow. I found all our documents including his social security card. I had no idea I might be missing out on hundreds of dollars each month for the past 2 years. Really appreciate everyone's advice!

i dont understand why SSA dosent just SAY whats changed? like tell us exactly what the diffrence is now vs before. im affected by WEP not GPO but its all so confusing!!!!

Just an update - I called SSA this morning (was on hold for almost 2 hours!) and the agent confirmed they're seeing many GPO-affected people filing now. He said they're processing these applications faster than normal because of the increased volume. He also mentioned something about "protective filing dates" being important, though I didn't fully understand what that meant.

Make sure to ask about the Lump Sum Death Payment too! If you were living with your second husband when he passed, you might qualify for the $255 payment even if you don't qualify for monthly survivor benefits. It's not much but every bit helps. Also, something I learned the hard way - bring proof of ALL your marriages and divorces to your appointment. They wanted my marriage certificate from 30 years ago! I had to reschedule and hunt through old boxes. Have birth certificates, social security cards, death certificates, marriage/divorce papers all ready to go so you don't have to do multiple appointments.

when u go on SS at 60 u get 71.5% of what youd get at full retirement age. make sure u can live on that amount. my sister thought shed get full amount and was shocked how much less it was taking early.

One more important thing: if your husband is still working, make sure you understand how the earnings test works. At FRA, there's no longer an earnings limit, so he can earn as much as he wants without affecting his benefits. Also, if he hasn't already, he should create a my Social Security account on ssa.gov. That way he can check his earnings record before applying and monitor his application status afterward. It's much easier than calling for updates.

To summarize what others have said: 1. Yes, he can apply entirely online at ssa.gov for straightforward retirement benefits 2. The system will let him request a callback if he has questions during the application 3. Payments will be backdated to his eligibility date (February 1) regardless of when the application is processed 4. The 6-month retroactive payment rule only applies if you're applying AFTER FRA, not at FRA 5. Online applications typically process within 4-6 weeks I recommend applying online at least 3 months before his FRA date (so right now) to ensure timely processing. While technically you can apply up to 4 months before eligibility, applying now gives plenty of time for SSA to process everything.

my cousin said something about a 60 day window after applying where u can withdraw ur application if u change ur mind about taking early benefits. might be worth asking about that too in case she decides to wait for full amount later

Another thing she should consider is that survivor benefits taken early are reduced differently than regular retirement benefits. The reduction for survivor benefits at age 62 is about 28.5%, while regular retirement at 62 would be reduced by about 30%. The exact percentage depends on her specific FRA. The SSA representative should be able to calculate the exact amount during her appointment.