GPO repeal and survivor benefits - how is RIB-LIM calculated for late spouse who claimed at 62?

You've got the general idea correct, but let me help clarify the RIB-LIM rules as they apply to your situation. RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation) specifically applies when someone took benefits early and then passed away. Since your husband claimed at 62, his benefit was reduced for early filing. As his widow who is past FRA (which you are at 76), you're entitled to either: 1. What your husband was receiving at death ($1,950), OR 2. 82.5% of your husband's FRA amount (82.5% of $2,430 = $2,005) plus any COLAs since his death You get whichever is HIGHER. So based on your numbers, you'd likely receive about $2,005 plus COLAs from 2022 to present. With COLAs being 5.9% (2022), 8.7% (2023), 3.2% (2024), you'd be looking at approximately $2,300 monthly now. Now that GPO is repealed, you should be eligible for the full amount!

I went through a similar situation with my wife's benefits after the GPO repeal. The key thing to understand is that when you apply now, you'll only receive benefits going forward from your application date. The SSA won't automatically give you retroactive benefits back to when GPO was repealed - you have to specifically request that. Make sure when you reapply that you clearly state you're requesting retroactive benefits back to the GPO repeal effective date. Bring documentation of your previous denial that specifically mentions GPO as the reason. Based on what happened with my claim, you'll need to be persistent because many SSA agents are still figuring out how to handle these cases. Also, to calculate what you'll actually get: start with the higher of your spouse's actual benefit at death OR 82.5% of his FRA amount. Then add all the COLAs since 2022. That final number will be your monthly benefit rate.

Your going to have a hard time reaching someone at SSA who understands survivor benefits AND the GPO repeal. I've been trying for 3 weeks and keep getting disconnected or told different things by every agent! This RIB-LIM rule is confusing enough but now with the GPO repal it's a total nightmare. You should try using Claimyr to get through to SSA faster - I found them at claimyr.com and they helped me actually get through to a real person in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For your actual question though - I think your calculation is right. My husband also claimed early and when I got survivor benefits they did that 82.5% calculation thing.

CAREFUL with how SSA calculates this!!! When my husband died and I got survivor benefits, they initially calculated it WRONG and I had to fight for 8 months to get it fixed!!! The GPO repeal has made everything a MESS and most SSA employees don't understand all the rules! Make sure they calculate the 82.5% of his FRA amount AND THEN add all the COLAs that have happened since he would have reached FRA (not just since his death). I had to literally print out the POMS section and bring it to my appointment to get them to fix mine. ALSO - when you apply, ask them to calculate it BOTH ways to see which gives you more. Sometimes the reduced benefit plus all COLAs is actually higher than the 82.5% FRA amount plus COLAs. Don't trust them to automatically give you the higher amount!

My wife died 2 years ago and I got survivor benefits. From what I remember, there's actually an additional complication with your age. Since you're 76, you're entitled to a special minimum that they don't always tell you about. Make sure they also check if you qualify for the Special Minimum PIA calculation which sometimes applies to older beneficiaries. I don't remember the details but make sure you ask about it.

i had same thing happen with my husbands benfits!!! gpo messed everything up for me for years! now that its gone im getting the full amount finally but SSA is so slow processing eveything. took 4 months to get my first check after reapplying!! be prepared to wait a long time and call them constantly to check on status. they lost my paperwork twice!!!!

To follow up on your retroactivity question - the GPO repeal was effective December 2023, so if you apply now, you can request retroactive benefits back to December 2023, but SSA generally limits retroactivity to 6 months for survivor benefits. So realistically, you'd likely only get retroactive payments for about 6 months, not all the way back to December 2023 unless you applied very soon. Also, when you go to your appointment, make sure you bring: 1. Your husband's death certificate 2. Your marriage certificate 3. Both your Social Security cards 4. The previous denial letter that mentions GPO 5. Documentation of your pension This will help ensure your claim is processed correctly. And as others have mentioned, be prepared to be persistent. The GPO repeal is still relatively new, and not all SSA representatives are fully trained on handling these cases.

Yes, I did finally get my benefits sorted out but it took using Claimyr to finally reach someone who knew what they were doing. Got a specialist who handles WEP/GPO cases and she fixed everything. Worth every penny to avoid the hours of frustration! And FYI for your calculation - the 2022 COLA was 5.9%, 2023 was 8.7% and 2024 was 3.2%. So if your starting benefit is $2,005 (the 82.5% amount), after all those COLAs it would be around $2,322 now. Much better than what your husband was getting when he passed!