Social Security rejected my spousal benefits with GPO/WEP - no explanation after application approval

The "not entitled to a benefit" message usually means they've made a determination, not that they're still processing. But this is odd because with GPO, you should still be entitled to *some* benefit, even if it's reduced. The GPO typically reduces your spousal benefit by 2/3 of your government pension amount. Do you receive a large pension that might zero out your entire potential spousal benefit? Either way, you need to contact SSA directly for an explanation - this isn't something that will resolve on its own.

same thing happened 2 me! i worked for the school district 35 yrs & applied for my husbands SS benefit last year. took FOREVER to hear anything back & then just got denied with no clear reason. had to call like 12 times before i got someone who explained that my pension was 2 big for me to get any spousal money at all. so frustrating!!

You might need to visit your local SS office in person to get this sorted out. Sometimes the online system doesn't show all the details.

I'm a retired SSA claims specialist, so let me explain what might be happening: When GPO applies, we take 2/3 of your non-covered pension and subtract it from your potential spousal benefit. With your pension at $2,900, that's approximately $1,933 that would be subtracted from your spousal benefit. Your husband claiming at 62 means his benefit is permanently reduced (probably to about 75% of his full retirement age amount). As his spouse, your maximum potential spousal benefit would be 50% of his FULL retirement age benefit amount, not his reduced amount. So if his current benefit is $1,650, his FRA benefit might have been around $2,200. Your maximum spousal benefit would be $1,100 (50% of $2,200). After subtracting the GPO reduction ($1,933), you'd get $0 because the reduction exceeds the potential benefit. You should receive a formal determination letter explaining this calculation. If you haven't received it yet, that's a problem that needs addressing.

THE WHOLE GPO THING IS A SCAM!!! I worked as a teacher for 32 years and got ROBBED of my rightful SS benefits because of this stupid law. We pay into the system through other jobs and can't get our FULL BENEFITS! Call your congressperson and tell them to repeal GPO/WEP!! This has been going on for DECADES and nobody fixes it!!!

maybe check ur spam folder for the letter? or maybe they sent it to wrong address? ive had SS mail go to my old address before even after i updated my info online

It's definitely worth calling SSA to request a formal determination letter. They're required to provide one for any benefit decision. With the GPO math others have explained, it seems likely your benefit was calculated to be $0, but you still deserve an official explanation. One other thing to check: verify that they have your correct pension amount. If they somehow have an incorrect (higher) pension amount on record, your GPO reduction could be incorrectly calculated. Also, if your pension has any survivor benefit components or other reductions that affect the gross amount, make sure SSA is using the correct net figure for GPO calculations.

After reading all these comments, it sounds like you need to: 1) Verify they have the correct pension amount, 2) Request a formal determination letter explaining their calculation, and 3) Ask if there are any appeal options if you believe there's an error. I went through something similar with my WEP determination last year. The key is getting someone knowledgeable on the phone who understands GPO/WEP calculations. Unfortunately, many front-line representatives aren't fully versed in these complicated provisions. When you call, politely ask to speak with a technical expert or someone who specializes in government pension offset cases.