Can I create MySocialSecurity account to check my deceased husband's SS benefits after GPO repeal?

Yes, it's completely legal for you to create a mySocialSecurity account. The online account is designed to give you access to your own information, but you can't directly access your deceased husband's records through your account. For survivor benefit estimates, you'll need to speak with a Social Security representative during your February appointment. They can provide you with all the information about your husband's earnings history and what your potential survivor benefits would be after the GPO repeal takes effect.

I tried doing something similar last year when my wife passed. You CANNOT see your deceased spouse's records through your own mySocialSecurity account!! They keep that information separate because of privacy laws. When I called, they told me I had to bring death certificate and marriage license to the office to get ANY info about my deceased wife's benefits. The phone appointment might not be enough - they might make you come in person with documents to prove relationship.

I was in a similar situation with the GPO affecting my survivor benefits. While you can create your own mySocialSecurity account (and should!), you won't be able to access your husband's specific earnings information online. However, during your phone appointment, they can look up his earnings history and give you estimates based on the GPO repeal. I recommend preparing these questions before your call: 1. What would my survivor benefit be without the GPO reduction? 2. When exactly will the GPO repeal affect my specific case? 3. Will the benefits be retroactive from when the law passed? Also, make sure you have your husband's SSN, death certificate info, and marriage certificate details ready for the call.

I just went through this last month trying to figure out my own widow benefits with the GPO repeal. When I called the regular SSA number, I was on hold for THREE HOURS and then got disconnected! So frustrating. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. It was worth it because the agent was able to look up my deceased husband's info and gave me an unofficial estimate of what I might get after GPO repeal. Just a suggestion if your February appointment is too far away or if you get disconnected.

my sister tried to get her husbands info online and couldnt. had to go in person with the death certificate and marriage license and ID. but they were super helpful once she got there! the gpo repeal is confusing tho, noone seems to know exactly when we'll see changes

I created my own mySocialSecurity account and it only shows MY earnings, not my deceased husband's. That's normal. But the online calculators aren't very helpful for survivor benefits with GPO situations anyway - they don't have the special rules programmed in. Wait for your appointment.

THE WHOLE GPO THING IS A MESS!!! I've been fighting with SSA for YEARS about my widow benefits. They told me 4 different amounts over 2 years. Even when you DO talk to them, half the agents don't understand the GPO rules themselves! And now with the repeal, it's even more confusing. Don't trust anything they tell you on the first call. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING and talk to at least 2 different agents to confirm. The system is BROKEN!!

One more thing to consider - if you've been widowed for 24 years, make sure SSA has your correct address and contact info. Sometimes they lose track of potential beneficiaries if your info isn't updated. My mom almost missed out on benefits because they had her old address from 15 years ago.

To clarify some confusion in this thread: The GPO repeal being implemented has specific timelines. The reduction will decrease by 1/3 in 2025, another 1/3 in 2026, and be fully repealed in 2027. So you'll likely see a partial increase in 2025 rather than the full amount immediately. Your February appointment is perfect timing to get information about how this phased implementation will affect your specific case.

One additional tip: During your phone appointment, ask them to mail you your deceased husband's earnings record. They can send an official copy that shows his lifetime earnings under Social Security, which is what they'll use to calculate your survivor benefit. This document is very useful for your own planning and verification even if they can't give you an official GPO-adjusted estimate yet.

As someone who's been through a similar situation, I'd recommend creating your own mySocialSecurity account even though you won't be able to see your husband's records directly. It's good to have your own account set up and it will help you become familiar with the system. For your February appointment, I'd suggest calling first thing in the morning to avoid longer hold times. Also, consider asking them to send you Form SSA-7004 (Request for Social Security Statement) for your deceased husband - this will give you his complete earnings history in writing. The GPO repeal is exciting news for those of us affected, but as others mentioned, it's being phased in over three years. Having that earnings record will help you understand exactly what your full survivor benefit could be once the GPO is completely repealed in 2027.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I was researching my own potential survivor benefits after the GPO repeal passed. You absolutely can and should create your own mySocialSecurity account - it's free and gives you access to your own earnings history and benefit estimates. However, as others have mentioned, you won't be able to see your deceased husband's records through your account due to privacy protections. What I found helpful was creating my account ahead of time so I was familiar with the system, then during my SSA appointment I was able to ask more informed questions. The representatives can pull up your husband's complete work history during the call and walk through the calculations with you. Since you've been widowed since 2001, you'll likely be eligible for a significant survivor benefit once the GPO reduction is eliminated. Make sure to ask specifically about retroactive payments - some people are getting back-payments from when the legislation was signed. Good luck with your February appointment!

I'm in a very similar situation - widowed for 18 years and just learned about the GPO repeal affecting survivor benefits. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, creating your own mySocialSecurity account is definitely the right move, even though you won't see your husband's records directly. It'll help you get familiar with the system before your February appointment. I'd also suggest having a list of specific questions ready, like the ones NeonNomad mentioned earlier. One thing I learned from my local SSA office is that they're still finalizing the implementation procedures for the GPO repeal, so don't be surprised if some details are still being worked out. The phased approach over 2025-2027 actually makes sense from a budgeting perspective. After 24 years of being affected by GPO, waiting a few more weeks for your appointment will be worth it to get accurate information directly from SSA rather than trying to estimate on your own.

I'm also a widow dealing with GPO issues and wanted to add something important that might help. When you create your mySocialSecurity account, make sure to also set up direct deposit information if you don't already have it on file with SSA. Once your survivor benefits start (even the partial amount in 2025), having direct deposit will make the process much smoother. Also, I'd recommend asking during your February appointment about filing a "protective filing date" - this establishes your intent to claim benefits and can be important for timing purposes, especially with the GPO changes coming. The representative can explain whether this applies to your situation. One more thing - if you worked under Social Security yourself in addition to your state pension, make sure they review both your own retirement benefit and the potential survivor benefit to determine which would be higher for you. Sometimes people are surprised to learn they have options. The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you ahead of many people who don't even know about the GPO repeal yet!