Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits from husband's brief SS coverage with WEP and teacher pension?

This is a complicated situation with both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) potentially at play. With only 3 years of Social Security coverage, your husband likely doesn't have enough quarters (40 required) to qualify for his own retirement benefits. However, survivor benefits only require that the deceased was "fully insured" which can happen with as little as 6 quarters in some cases. As his widow, you might be eligible for survivor benefits, but they would likely be reduced by the Government Pension Offset if you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. The GPO would reduce your survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension amount.

my sister in law went thru something kinda like this. her hubby was a firefighter with pension and didnt have enough SS quarters. when he died she got NOTHING from social security bcuz of that GPO thing. its so unfair to homemakers!! check if your state had totalization agreements maybe?

Let me clarify a few things here that might help you understand your situation better: 1. For survivor benefits, your husband would need at least 6 credits (1.5 years of work) if he died at a young age, or up to 40 credits (10 years) if he died at full retirement age or older. With 3 years of SS-covered work, he likely has around 12 credits, which might be enough depending on his age. 2. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) only applies if YOU receive a pension from non-SS-covered employment. Since you were a homemaker, GPO wouldn't affect your benefits. 3. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) would reduce your husband's own retirement benefits because of his teacher's pension, but WEP doesn't apply to survivor benefits. 4. The bigger issue might be the amount of survivor benefits available based on just 3 years of Social Security contributions - it would likely be quite small. I'd recommend calling SSA directly to get a personalized analysis of your situation.

I've been trying to reach SSA for weeks about a similar GPO issue and can't get through!!! Keep getting disconnected or waiting on hold forever. So frustrating!!! Has anyone found a better way to actually talk to a human at Social Security??

DONT TRUST WHAT PEOPLE SAY ON HERE!!! Go to your local SS office with all your husbands work records. My neighbor thought she'd get survivors benefits and found out she didnt qualify. These rules change ALL THE TIME and what applied 5 years ago might not apply now.

Another option to consider - if your husband continues working in SS-covered employment for a few more years, he could potentially reach the 40 credits needed for full benefits. If that's not possible, you might want to look into whether you could qualify for benefits based on your own work history by going back to work for a few years. Some women in similar situations find that working even part-time for 10 years can establish their own benefit eligibility. Also, does your husband's current teaching position allow for voluntary Social Security participation? Some school districts offer this option.

wait i just thought of something - have you checked if you qualify for mother's benefits? or are your kids all over 16 already?

I want to add one important point: if you're worried about future financial security, now is a good time to start planning beyond potential Social Security benefits. Since your husband has a pension and you're considering returning to work, you might want to explore opening a catch-up IRA or other retirement vehicles. Many stay-at-home parents face this situation, and there are financial strategies specifically designed for people who've been out of the workforce. Regarding your original question, when you speak with SSA, ask specifically about the "minimum survivor benefit" which might apply in cases with limited covered employment.