quick question - how old is your fiance? if he's close to 60, he might want to start planning for his own retirement benefits anyway. the appointment could be useful for that.

Since your fiancé is 58, here's what he should specifically ask at his appointment: 1. Request his Social Security Statement showing his estimated retirement benefits at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70) 2. Ask how additional work years might increase his benefit amount 3. Discuss whether his part-time job will add enough earnings to increase his future benefit 4. Inquire about potential spousal benefits when you two marry (if you're planning to) 5. Understand how the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) might affect him if he ever worked in jobs not covered by Social Security Regarding his 15-year-old son: The child may be eligible for benefits on your fiancé's record when he claims retirement benefits. Children can receive up to 50% of the parent's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school).

My sister went through this exact same thing! She was so worried but then when January came they only took like 10% each month which was WAYYYY better than losing a whole check at once. But yes you def have to CALL THEM and tell them what's happening. Don't just rely on their systems figuring it out correctly lol that's asking for trouble!! Good luck with it all!!

One more thing to consider - have you looked into whether an Adjustment to the Monthly Earnings Test might help in your situation? If your earnings were concentrated in those months when you had to cover for your coworker, and you don't expect to earn over the monthly limit in the remaining months of the year, you might qualify for full benefits in those later months. For example, if you earned $5,000 per month for 3 months (well over the monthly limit) but then earn under the monthly limit for the rest of the year, SSA might only withhold benefits for those 3 months rather than reducing benefits based on the annual total. This is a bit complex to navigate, but worth discussing when you call SSA. Many representatives aren't familiar with this provision, so you might need to specifically ask about the "monthly earnings test" or speak with a technical expert.

I just went through this EXACT sitution!!! The overpayment thing is SO frustrating. I retired from Florida schools with FRS pension and they hit me with a $4200 overpayment on my husbands survivor benefits. Heres what worked for me: I filed a "Request for Reconsideration" (not just a waiver) and specifically argued that I had reported my pension timely and accurately. I sent in proof of all my communications with SSA about the pension. It took 3 months but they eventually reversed 80% of the overpayment because they agreed their processing delay wasn't my fault. Don't just accept what they initially tell you! Also I found calling them impossible until I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. After struggling for weeks to get anyone on the phone, it was a huge relief.

After reading through this whole discussion, here's what I recommend for your situation based on the information you've shared: 1. File a Request for Reconsideration for the overpayment as suggested above, not just a waiver. Focus on the fact you provided information timely. 2. Continue receiving your survivor benefits for now while you gather more information. 3. Get a detailed WEP calculation for your own benefits. This is crucial for making an informed decision. 4. Based on the estimates you shared: - Your survivor benefit after GPO: $1,320/month - Your own benefit at FRA before WEP: $1,450/month - Your own benefit at 70 before WEP: ~$1,798/month If your WEP reduction is more than $130/month (which is likely with 15 years of substantial earnings), then waiting until 70 to switch to your own benefits probably makes the most sense financially. This is a very common situation for Texas teachers with TRS pensions. The GPO and WEP reductions are significant, but proper planning can help maximize what you receive despite these penalties.

I forgot 2 mention that if your sister already submitted her Rrequiest for benefits & wants to change her mind, she only has 12 MONTHS to withdraw the application and it REQUIRES PAYING BACK any benefits she recieved!!! Important to know this before she does anything!!!

Good point about the 12-month withdrawal window. However, in this specific scenario with earnings limit withholding, she might not receive any benefits to pay back if her earnings are high enough to cause 100% withholding. But you're absolutely right that understanding the withdrawal rules is critical before making any filing decision.

My condolences for your loss. When my wife passed I was so confused about all this stuff too!! I ended up taking the survivors benefit early even though I was still working. SSA withheld almost everything because of the earnings test, but what nobody told me was that I'd get some small payments during months when I earned less (like when I took some unpaid time off). So even though I didn't get much until FRA, it wasn't zero either. Just something to consider.

Based on your situation, here's what I would recommend: 1. Apply for survivor benefits now even though they'll be reduced and mostly withheld 2. Continue working until your FRA (this won't affect your future options) 3. At FRA, evaluate whether to keep the survivor benefit or switch to your own retirement benefit 4. If your own benefit would be higher with delayed credits, consider switching to your own benefit at age 70 This strategy preserves maximum flexibility. And remember - after FRA, there's no earnings test, so you can work and collect full benefits. One thing to note: you mentioned being 2.5 years from FRA, which means your FRA is likely 67. The survivor FRA might be slightly different (66 or 66.5), so double-check that specific detail when you apply.