Can I claim my late husband's Social Security at 70 as a CSRS federal retiree? WEP/GPO confusion

You need to understand how GPO affects you as a CSRS retiree. The Government Pension Offset will reduce any Social Security survivor benefits you might be eligible for by 2/3 of your CSRS pension amount. For example, if your monthly CSRS pension is $3,000, they'll subtract $2,000 from any potential survivor benefit. If your late husband's benefit would have been less than that reduction amount, you unfortunately won't receive anything. You should definitely apply for survivor benefits though - it's the same as applying for widow's benefits. There's no separate "death benefit" except a one-time payment of $255 if you qualify. And don't wait until 70 - survivor benefits don't increase after your FRA unlike retirement benefits.

YOU NEED TO APPLY ASAP!!! I waited too long after my husband died (he was also SS-covered while I was CSRS) and they would only give me 6 months of back payments! Don't wait until 70 - widows benefits DON'T grow after FRA like retirement benefits do. The GPO is a TERRIBLE penalty for us govt workers, but you might still get SOMETHING depending on your husband's benefit amount. The $255 death benefit is separate but tiny.

my sister went thru this exact thing last year. she was csrs also and her husband had social security. she got nothing from his benefits because of that gpo thing. totally unfair since they were married 42 years but thats government for you. still worth checking into i guess but dont get your hopes up

Here's what you need to do step-by-step: 1. Calculate 2/3 of your CSRS monthly pension (sounds like about $2,800 based on your comment) 2. Find out what your husband's Social Security benefit was at his death (or would have been if he hadn't claimed yet) 3. If his benefit exceeds the 2/3 offset amount, you'll get the difference Since your husband had a good earnings record, it's worth applying. Even if you only get a small amount after the GPO reduction, it's still money you're entitled to. And definitely apply now - survivor benefits don't increase after FRA. The application process requires you to schedule an appointment with SSA as survivor benefits can't be applied for online. You'll need your marriage certificate, his death certificate, both your Social Security numbers, and information about your CSRS pension.

Have you tried going to your local SSA office in person? Sometimes that's faster than calling, but bring a book cuz you'll be waiting awhile lol. My aunt was CSRS and did get some of my uncle's SS after he passed, like maybe $300/month after the GPO thing, but every case is different depending on benefit amounts.

I was in the same situation last year - CSRS retiree trying to claim my husband's SS after he passed. Getting through to Social Security was the hardest part of the process. After weeks of frustration, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much time and stress when I was already dealing with grief. They eventually determined I was eligible for about $420/month after the GPO reduction, which wasn't huge but certainly worth applying for.

is this gpo thing something new? my friend's mom gets her own social security AND her late husbands check every month. she used to work for the post office tho not sure if thats different

To clear up some confusion I'm seeing: the $255 death benefit is separate from survivor benefits. It's a one-time lump sum payment to a qualifying widow(er) or dependent child. You should apply for this as well as the monthly survivor benefits. Regarding the GPO calculation: If your CSRS pension is $4,200/month, then 2/3 of that is $2,800. This amount will be subtracted from whatever survivor benefit you would otherwise receive. If your husband's Social Security benefit was substantial (which sounds likely based on his 40+ year work history), you may still receive a partial benefit after the GPO reduction. Apply as soon as possible, as benefits are only retroactive for 6 months from application date. And you're correct that there's no advantage to waiting until 70 for survivor benefits.

When you apply, be very clear about your CSRS pension. They'll ask about government pensions not covered by Social Security. Bring documentation showing your CSRS pension amount. Be prepared to wait for processing - these GPO cases often take longer to calculate. Don't be surprised if they request additional information after your initial application. Based on what you've shared, there's a good chance you'll receive some survivor benefits, even after the GPO reduction. Your husband's 40+ years of substantial earnings means his benefit was likely significant enough that even after a $2,800 reduction, you may still receive a monthly payment worth pursuing.

That's great news that you got through to SSA! Looking forward to hearing how your appointment goes. For others reading this thread who might be in similar situations, this is a perfect example of why it's worth applying even when GPO seems discouraging. With a CSRS pension of $4,200/month and a husband who had 40+ years of substantial Social Security earnings, there's a real possibility of receiving meaningful survivor benefits after the GPO reduction. The key takeaways here are: 1) Apply as soon as possible (benefits only go back 6 months), 2) Don't wait until 70 since survivor benefits don't increase after FRA, and 3) Be persistent about getting through to SSA - services like Claimyr can help bypass the phone wait times. Good luck with your appointment!