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wait i thought SS only counted 30 years not 35??
Social Security definitely uses 35 years, not 30, for the benefit calculation. They take your highest 35 years of earnings (after indexing them for inflation), average them, and use that to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA). If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, they'll use zeros for the missing years, which lowers your average.
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! Based on your responses, I'm going to download my earnings history and check my lowest-earning years in the top 35. Even though I've had 30+ years at max contribution, I definitely had some lower-earning years in my 20s that might get replaced. Seems like it's worth analyzing before I make my decision about continuing to work.
Smart move! Just remember that when they do the calculation, they adjust all your past earnings for inflation ("indexing"), so those early years get a boost in the calculations. My SSA agent explained that a year where I earned $25,000 in the 1980s might actually count as $70,000+ in today's dollars after indexing. That's why some of my recent work didn't help as much as I expected - my indexed early years were actually pretty competitive with my current salary!
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who else gets confused between all these dif benefits? survivors, retirement, spousal, SSI, SSDI...my head spins! 🤯
It's definitely confusing! Quick summary: Retirement benefits are based on your own work. Spousal benefits are based on a living spouse's record. Survivor benefits are based on a deceased spouse's record. SSDI is disability insurance based on work credits. SSI is needs-based for limited income/resources. Each has different rules!
Just to clarify some technical details about your strategy: This approach (survivor benefits first, then switching to retirement) can work very well when your own benefit at 70 exceeds your survivor benefit. A few important facts: 1. Your survivor benefit reached maximum value at your FRA (66 years, 8 months) 2. Your own retirement benefit grows until age 70 (getting 8% delayed credits per year) 3. Taking survivor benefits early at 64.5 means you're accepting a reduced amount (about 88-90% of the full survivor benefit) 4. But that reduction doesn't affect your own retirement benefit at 70 So mathematically, your strategy makes perfect sense if your own benefit at 70 is indeed higher than your survivor benefit would be at FRA, as the SSA rep confirmed.
Thank you for breaking down the math! So even though I'm taking reduced survivor benefits early, it was still the right move if my own benefit at 70 will be higher than the full survivor benefit would have been? That's a relief!
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Im confused about something.. if the GPO reduced your spousal benefit to $0 before, why would it change now? Did your non-covered pension amount go down or something??? This whole GPO thing is SO UNFAIR to those of us who worked in public service!
Great question. There are a few scenarios where GPO impact could change: 1. A change in pension amount (unusual, but possible with pension recalculations) 2. A recalculation of the spouse's PIA that increases the spousal benefit potential 3. Administrative correction of a previous error 4. Changes in other income affecting taxation (doesn't affect GPO directly but might affect net payment) The GPO reduction is 2/3 of the non-covered pension amount. So if her spouse's benefit increased significantly due to delayed retirement credits or earnings recalculations, it's possible the math now works out differently. For example: If her spouse's PIA increased enough that 50% of it (reduced for early filing) is now greater than her own benefit plus 2/3 of her pension, she might now be eligible for a partial spousal benefit where before it was reduced to zero.
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Your experience is exactly why so many fought for the WEP repeal. It's a positive step toward fairness for public servants who've been penalized for decades. For anyone else in a similar situation: if you're close to retirement age and were delaying your application because of WEP, it's worth reconsidering now. For those still confused about whether they should apply, here's a quick checklist: 1. If you'll be 62+ after Dec 31, 2024: No WEP reduction at all 2. If you were 62+ before Dec 31, 2024: WEP reduction gradually phases out over 10 years 3. If you're already receiving benefits: Your WEP reduction will gradually decrease The best advice is to create a my.ssa.gov account and check your estimated benefit amount. Then consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies, especially if you have a complex situation involving government pensions.
do you know if this affects people who worked outside the US? my husband worked in canada for 12 years and gets a small canadian pension. when he applied for SS last year they reduced his benefit because of the canadian pension. is that WEP too? will he get an increase now?
Yes, the WEP repeal does affect people who worked abroad and receive foreign pensions from countries that have totalization agreements with the US (like Canada). The Windfall Elimination Provision applied to foreign pensions from work not covered by US Social Security taxes, similar to how it affected US government pensions. Your husband's situation should be reviewed under the new rules. If he was already receiving reduced benefits due to WEP, he should see his benefit gradually increase over the next 10 years as the WEP phase-out is implemented. The Social Security Administration should automatically adjust his benefit amount - he doesn't need to take any action. However, it's always a good idea to contact SSA to confirm this is being handled correctly in his specific case. Keep in mind that international cases can be complex, and you might want to speak with an agent who specializes in international benefits.
That's interesting about foreign pensions! I used to work as a teacher in Australia for 5 years and have a small pension there too. Good to know this might help my benefit calculation when I finally retire next year.
StarStrider
just wondering - did your sister ever work enough to qualify for Medicare on her own record? if shes getting SS benefits i assume yes but just checking cause thats important at her age too
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Javier Mendoza
•Yes, thankfully she does have Medicare. She worked enough before becoming a caregiver to qualify for her own retirement benefits, but they're just very small because of the years she wasn't able to work or had very low earnings.
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Malik Davis
After thinking about this more, I want to clarify something important: When your sister's husband eventually DOES file for benefits (whether now or later), she will automatically be eligible for the spousal benefit if it would increase her total benefit amount. The benefit calculation is: She gets her own benefit first, then an additional amount if the spousal benefit (up to 50% of her husband's PIA) would be higher. The early filing reduction from her claiming at 62 will affect the spousal amount, but she'd still likely see some increase. Also worth noting - if her husband passes away before her, she would be eligible for 100% of his benefit amount as a widow (assuming it's higher than her own). This survivor benefit can actually be a major factor in deciding when he should claim.
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Javier Mendoza
•Thank you for this additional information! That's helpful to know about the survivor benefit - I hadn't considered that. I think we need to sit down with her husband and look at the long-term picture, especially considering both their ages and health conditions. I appreciate all the helpful responses here.
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