Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits at 66 with a teacher pension (WEP/GPO question)?

You would technically be eligible for survivor benefits at your FRA, but the Government Pension Offset (GPO) is going to be a major factor here. Since you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security (CalSTRS), your survivor benefit will be reduced by 2/3 of your government pension amount. So with a $5,200 pension, the offset would be about $3,467. If your husband's benefit would have been $3,800, after the GPO reduction, you'd only be eligible for about $333 per month in survivor benefits. Being at FRA means you can work without an earnings test reduction, but the GPO will still apply regardless of your work status. You should definitely contact SSA directly to get a precise calculation since these numbers make a difference.

my sister-in-law had almost EXACT same situation!!! CA teacher with non-SS pension and deceased husband. she got like $275/month after all the GPO reductions. not much but she said "free money is free money" lol. definitely worth applying!!

You should absolutely apply for survivor benefits! However, be prepared for the Government Pension Offset (GPO) to significantly reduce your benefit amount. The GPO will reduce your survivor benefit by 2/3 of your CalSTRS pension. With your $5,200 CalSTRS pension, the offset would be approximately $3,467. If your husband's benefit would have been around $3,800, you would receive about $333 per month after the GPO reduction ($3,800 - $3,467 = $333). Make sure to bring these documents to your appointment: 1. Your husband's death certificate 2. Your marriage certificate 3. Your most recent CalSTRS pension statement 4. Your husband's Social Security number 5. Your birth certificate 6. Any tax documents showing your husband's earnings history Also, be aware that if you continue working as a teacher, it won't affect your survivor benefits now that you're at Full Retirement Age. The earnings test no longer applies, though the GPO will still be in effect.

When I tried getting widow benefits last year, I called SSA for WEEKS with no luck - always disconnected or 2+ hour waits. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real agent in 20 minutes! They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it for getting these GPO questions resolved quickly. The agent I spoke with was able to calculate my exact WEP/GPO reduction on the spot, which saved me from guessing about my benefit amount.

ARRRGH I hate the GPO so much!!! It's completely unfair to teachers and other public servants. You work your whole life in a classroom and then the government takes away benefits you would otherwise deserve just because you have a pension?? Your husband paid into the system for 30 years but you only get pennies of his benefit. Sorry for the rant but this makes me SO MAD every time I see how it affects people.

be careful abt WEP vs GPO they r different!! WEP affects ur own SS benefits if u have pension from non-SS job. GPO is what affects widow benefits. sounds like u need to worry about GPO in ur case. also fyi they cant look at ur husbands actual earnings after he died so they use something called the "primary insurance amount" to figure out what hed get if he was alive

You're exactly right. To clarify for everyone: - GPO (Government Pension Offset): Reduces spousal or survivor benefits if you receive a pension from non-SS covered work - WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision): Reduces your own SS retirement benefits if you receive a pension from non-SS covered work In your case, both might actually apply. The GPO would reduce your survivor benefits based on your husband's record. The WEP might reduce any SS retirement benefits you earned during your 12 years in the private sector, if you choose to claim those. This is why getting an accurate calculation from SSA is so important - these provisions create complex interactions that can significantly impact your benefit amounts.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to try contacting SSA to get an exact calculation of what I might receive after the GPO reduction. Even if it's only a few hundred dollars, that's still meaningful over time. I'll gather all my documents (marriage certificate, death certificate, pension statements, etc.) and try to schedule an appointment. If I can't get through on the phone, I'll check out that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One last question: If I do qualify for some small survivor benefit, can I receive that AND still potentially claim my own Social Security later (from those 12 years I worked in the private sector)? Or do I have to choose one or the other?

my aunt had to bring her marriage license when she applied for widows benefits and she couldnt find it!! big hassle getting a copy from county records. make sure u have all that stuff before u go!!