Confused about SS benefit sequencing with WEP/GPO - can I still take spousal now & switch to mine at 70?

The SSA representative was providing accurate information for your situation. The ability to take one benefit first and let another grow (called "restricted application") is only available to people born on or before January 1, 1954. Since you mentioned your FRA is 67y2m, you were born after that cutoff date. For those born after January 1, 1954, the deemed filing rule applies whenever you file for either retirement or spousal benefits. This means you're effectively filing for all benefits you're eligible for at that time. With WEP and GPO both applying to your situation, you're in a particularly complicated spot. The Government Pension Offset can reduce spousal benefits by 2/3 of your government pension amount, often eliminating them entirely. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own benefits based on years of substantial earnings under Social Security.

the ssa lady was right. cant do that switcheroo thing anymore. my sister tried the exact same thing last year & got same answer. its some kinda rule change they did years ago

The restricted application strategy (what you're describing) was eliminated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for anyone born after January 1, 1954. Since your FRA is 67 years and 2 months, you were born around 1958, so you're subject to deemed filing rules. With WEP/GPO, your situation is particularly complex. The Government Pension Offset will reduce your spousal benefit by 2/3 of your non-covered pension amount. The Windfall Elimination Provision uses a modified formula to calculate your own SS benefit based on your years of substantial earnings under Social Security. At this point, your best strategy is probably to: 1. Get a detailed calculation of your WEP-adjusted personal benefit 2. Calculate your GPO-adjusted spousal benefit 3. Compare potential lifetime totals of claiming at FRA vs. age 70 Even with WEP, delaying until 70 still provides the same 8% per year increase between FRA and 70, which might be your best strategy depending on your health and financial situation.

The SSA people are the WORST!!! They give different answers depending who you talk to and rush you off the phone. I've been dealing with them for months about my disability claim and get told something different EVERY SINGLE TIME. And they expect us to just trust whatever they say??? I don't know about the WEP/GPO stuff but I wouldn't trust what that one person told you without getting a second opinion. Their phone system is a nightmare though!

I was in a similar situation last year with WEP/GPO concerns. After several frustrating calls to SSA, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They connected me to a Social Security representative in under 20 minutes instead of the hours-long wait I was experiencing. The agent I reached was able to pull up my actual WEP calculation and show me exactly how much delaying until 70 would increase my benefit despite the reduction. They even emailed me documentation I could reference later. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding your specific question - the restricted application strategy ended for people born after January 1, 1954. Those born before could file a restricted application for just spousal benefits at FRA while letting their own benefit grow until 70. For those born after (like you and me), deemed filing rules apply.

my husband n me were hit w/ wep too its a mess!! have you checked if you qualify for the wep guarantee? if you have 30+ years of substantial earnings under SS the WEP doesnt apply or gets reduced w/ 21-29 yrs. the SSA rep probly didnt even check this for you

this is why i tell everyone to just claim at 62! all these complicated rules and strategies and then they keep changing the rules anyway. bird in hand is worth 2 in bush lol

To give you some concrete numbers about WEP, with 23 years of substantial earnings, your WEP reduction won't be the full amount. The maximum WEP reduction for someone reaching 62 in 2025 is about $613 per month, but with 23 years of substantial earnings, your reduction would be significantly less - about 70% of that maximum. Delaying until 70 still increases your WEP-reduced benefit by 8% per year beyond FRA. Since GPO is likely eliminating most or all of your spousal benefit anyway, focusing on maximizing your own benefit might be your best strategy. Consider requesting a detailed benefit calculation from SSA that shows your WEP-adjusted amounts at different claiming ages. This will give you the specific numbers to make your decision.

i think everybody born after 1954 got screwed by that law change!! my brother in law was born in december 1953 and got to do the restricted thing but my sister missed it by 3 months. not fair!!