Welcome to the reality of being a public servant in America! I'm a retired federal employee who went through something similar with my CSRS pension and Social Security. A few things that might help as you navigate this: 1. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your Social Security earnings from your side job. Sometimes SSA's records aren't complete, and you'll want proof of what you paid in. 2. **Consider the "last day" rule** - Some teachers have successfully avoided WEP by ensuring their last day of work before retirement is at a job where they pay into Social Security (like your side job). This is tricky and depends on your state's rules, but worth researching. 3. **Health insurance planning** - Since your Social Security income will be lower than expected, make sure you understand what health benefits you'll have as a retired teacher. Many states have good retiree health plans that can save you thousands compared to individual market insurance. 4. **Tax considerations** - Your teacher pension might be partially taxable depending on your state, while Social Security has its own taxation rules. A tax professional familiar with retirement income can help you plan withdrawal strategies. The system is definitely unfair to public servants, but knowing the rules helps you plan around them. Good luck!

I'm a newer federal employee and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about WEP and GPO until I started researching my own retirement planning. It's shocking how these provisions can essentially wipe out benefits that people have legitimately earned. @Anastasia Popova - your situation really highlights how complex this gets when you have multiple income sources. One thing I'd suggest is also checking if your side job earnings might help you reach that "substantial earnings" threshold that @Finnegan Gunn mentioned. Even if you don't hit 30 years, getting to 20+ years could significantly reduce your WEP penalty. Also, have you looked into whether your state participates in Social Security for teachers? A few states (like Ohio and Texas) have transitioned some or all of their teachers into Social Security, which eliminates these offset issues entirely. Unfortunately, most states haven't made this change. The advocacy point that others mentioned is really important too. Organizations like the National Education Association and AARP regularly push for WEP/GPO reform. The more people who understand and speak up about these unfair provisions, the better chance we have of seeing change someday.

I wanted to share something that really helped me when I went through this process - create a simple checklist of all the documents mentioned here and check them off as you gather them. It sounds basic, but when you're dealing with grief and stress, having that visual confirmation that you have everything can be really reassuring. Also, if you have multiple copies of important documents like the death certificate, bring extras. Sometimes they need to keep originals for their records, and you'll want copies for your own files. One last tip - if you use any medications that might affect your memory or concentration, consider taking your appointment at a time of day when you feel most alert. The information they'll give you is important for your financial future, so you want to be in the best headspace possible to understand and remember it all. You're being so proactive about this - that's going to serve you well!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any military service records for your husband (DD-214), bring those too. Military service can sometimes affect Social Security benefits calculations, and they may need to verify his service dates. Also, I'd suggest bringing a copy of your most recent Social Security statement (you can print it from ssa.gov if you have an account) so you can compare your projected benefits with the survivor benefits. This will help you understand which option might be better for you long-term. The representatives are usually very helpful in walking through these comparisons during your appointment. You sound like you're doing everything right to prepare - that thoroughness will definitely pay off!

I went through this exact situation in Connecticut, which also has a waiting period before divorce is final. Social Security definitely uses the date when your divorce became legally final according to state law, not the court appearance date. Since Massachusetts has the 90-day Nisi period and your divorce wasn't final until after that period ended (putting you over 10 years), you should absolutely qualify for ex-spouse benefits. One thing I learned is that different SSA representatives have varying levels of knowledge about state-specific divorce laws, so definitely bring documentation showing both dates clearly. I'd also suggest printing out the relevant section from the Program Operations Manual (POMS GN 00305.135) that others mentioned - it really helps to have the official policy in writing. You're smart to plan this out now before applying. The fact that your ex is already collecting makes the process smoother since there's no waiting period. Good luck with your application!

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with divorce timing and Social Security benefits! I'm a benefits counselor and see this confusion regularly. The key point everyone has made is absolutely correct - SSA uses the date your divorce became FINAL under your state's law, not the initial court date. For Massachusetts specifically, the 90-day Nisi period means your marriage legally continued until that period ended. This is actually beneficial for people in your situation who are right on the edge of the 10-year requirement. One additional tip: when you apply, ask the representative to document in your file that they verified the marriage duration using the final divorce date per Massachusetts law. This creates a paper trail in case there are any questions later. Also, if you get an initial denial, don't panic - you have appeal rights, and these cases often get overturned on appeal when the proper documentation is reviewed. You're being very smart to research this thoroughly before applying. Having all your documentation ready and understanding the rules puts you in a strong position!

Congratulations on filing for your benefits! Just to add some clarity to the timeline - while processing can sometimes take longer as others mentioned, many straightforward retirement applications are actually processed much faster now, often within 2-4 weeks if you have a good earnings record and filed online. Since you turned 67 last month and are at full retirement age, your case should be pretty straightforward. You can also track your application status through your my Social Security account online, which usually updates more frequently than calling. Keep an eye on your account - you might be pleasantly surprised how quickly it moves! And yes, you'll get the full February benefit paid in March once approved, no partial payments.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same process last year! I applied online in January at age 67 and received my first payment about 5 weeks later in March (for February benefits). The key things that helped speed up my process: 1) Made sure all my W-2s and tax info was up to date in their system beforehand, 2) Double-checked that my direct deposit info was correct in my mySSA account, and 3) Didn't call unless absolutely necessary since that seemed to slow things down. The online status tracker was actually pretty accurate - it went from "pending" to "approved" about a week before I got my first deposit. Since you're at full retirement age and filed online, you're in a good position for faster processing. Fingers crossed you see that payment sooner rather than later!

Yes, I do have my SSA account set up and have been looking at the estimates. My husband also has one, though it doesn't specifically show what his converted amount will be - it just shows his current SSDI payment. I assume that'll be the same at FRA based on what everyone has said here. Thank you again for all your help!

As someone who went through this exact situation with my spouse, I can confirm what others have said - definitely keep the SSDI going until FRA! We made the mistake of overthinking it initially and almost considered having my husband switch to early retirement at 62 (thankfully we didn't). One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do get to the point of potentially claiming spousal benefits for your husband, make sure SSA calculates it correctly. The spousal benefit is based on 50% of YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (not your actual benefit if you delay past FRA). So if you wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be higher due to delayed retirement credits, but his potential spousal benefit is still calculated from your PIA at FRA. Also, since you mentioned you're almost 60, you might want to start thinking about whether you can afford to delay your own benefits. The extra years of delayed credits can really add up, especially as the higher earner. But I know that's easier said than done depending on your work situation!