Social Security spousal benefits denied at 62 despite WEP/GPO repeal - confused about reason

Several things could have happened here. First, make sure you specifically applied for spousal benefits and not retirement benefits on your own record. Many people check the wrong box. Second, if your husband's benefit amount is very low, your spousal benefit might be too small to be payable (needs to be at least $1 after reduction for age). Third, they might be confused about the WEP/GPO repeal timing - even though it's passed, some SSA offices are still catching up on implementation details. I'd recommend calling SSA directly to get clarification rather than waiting for the letter. Ask specifically what caused the denial and what your options are now.

same thing happened to my sister!!! they denied her out of nowhere and then when she called they said she filled something out wrong on the form. make sure you put your husbands social security number in the application!! also they kept telling her something about "deemed filing" whatever that is

Wait, I thought WEP and GPO weren't fully repealed? Didn't they just modify them or phase them out gradually or something? I keep hearing different things about this.

I've been fighting with SSA for MONTHS about my own benefits, and I'll tell you what the problem is - THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR OWN RULES!! Every time I call I get a different answer. I had THREE different agents tell me three completely different things about my widow's benefits. The whole system is a disaster and they're just randomly denying people hoping they won't appeal. DON'T wait for the letter. Call them NOW and demand answers!!

I think there might be some confusion about your eligibility based on the timing of your application versus when you actually want benefits to begin. When you apply for benefits with a future start date, SSA processes it differently than an immediate claim. Here's what I'd suggest: 1) Call and specifically ask if they processed your application as a current claim or a future-dated claim 2) Verify they understand you're applying for spousal benefits to start in May 2025 when you turn 62 3) Ask if the WEP/GPO repeal was factored into their decision Also, make sure there's no issue with your marriage duration. You must be married at least 12 months to qualify for spousal benefits in most cases.

could it be bcuz of your pension?? my friend got denied bcuz she had a state pension and they said something about offset rules

Update: I finally got through to Social Security after calling repeatedly for two days. Turns out they processed my application as if I wanted benefits NOW instead of in May 2025! The agent said their system isn't set up yet to handle applications that involve the WEP/GPO repeal date. She suggested I reapply in January 2025, closer to when I actually want benefits to begin. Frustrating, but at least I have an answer now. Thanks everyone for your help!

I just went through something similar but with retirement benefits. Spent almost 2 weeks trying to reach someone on the phone. When I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com), I got through in like 15 minutes and the agent explained that there was a mistake in how they interpreted my application. They fixed it right away once I actually talked to someone! Might be worth trying if you need to call them again.

so will u get back pay from when u first applied or do u have to start over?

This is such a perfect example of why the SSA system needs better training on new legislation! I'm dealing with something similar - applied for benefits that would be affected by recent rule changes and got a denial that made no sense. It's frustrating that their systems aren't updated to handle applications that cross over implementation dates of new laws. For anyone else in a similar situation, it might be worth calling and specifically asking the agent to note in your file that your application involves benefits starting AFTER the WEP/GPO repeal date. That way there's a clear record of the timing issue if you need to escalate later. Emma, glad you got answers even though it took forever to get through! The January reapplication timeline sounds smart.

This is such a helpful thread for anyone dealing with timing issues around the WEP/GPO repeal! I'm planning to apply for spousal benefits in early 2025 and was worried about exactly this kind of system confusion. Emma, thanks for sharing your experience and the resolution - it really highlights how important it is to be crystal clear about benefit start dates when the application crosses over major rule changes. I think I'll follow your lead and wait until closer to my actual benefit date to apply. For others who might be in similar situations, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Apply closer to your actual benefit start date rather than months in advance, 2) Be very explicit about WEP/GPO repeal timing when talking to agents, and 3) Consider in-person applications for complex cases like these where the online system might not handle the nuances properly. Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge here - this kind of real-world experience is so much more valuable than trying to decipher the official SSA publications!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for threads like this! I'm still years away from retirement but my spouse and I have been trying to understand how the WEP/GPO repeal will affect our future planning. Reading about Emma's experience really highlights how important it is to understand the timing and system limitations when these major legislative changes happen. The fact that SSA's systems aren't fully updated to handle applications that cross over the implementation date is concerning but not surprising. It sounds like the key lesson is to be very strategic about when you apply and to be extremely clear about your intentions when dealing with agents. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here - this kind of real-world experience sharing is invaluable for those of us trying to navigate this complex system!

As someone new to this community and Social Security planning in general, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm still several years away from eligibility, but seeing Emma's experience really highlights how complex the system can be, especially when major legislative changes are involved. The fact that SSA's processing systems haven't been fully updated to handle the WEP/GPO repeal timing is frustrating but unfortunately not surprising given how slowly government systems adapt to new laws. What really stands out to me is how important it is to be very specific about benefit start dates and to understand that early applications might not be processed correctly when they involve future rule changes. I'm taking notes on all the advice shared here - particularly about applying closer to the actual benefit date, being explicit about legislative timing with agents, and considering in-person applications for complex cases. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences - this kind of real-world insight is so much more valuable than trying to parse through official SSA documentation alone! Emma, glad you finally got answers and have a clear path forward with the January reapplication. Your persistence really paid off!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this thread with great interest since I'm approaching 62 myself and planning to apply for spousal benefits next year. Emma's experience is both frustrating and incredibly educational - it never occurred to me that SSA's systems might not be equipped to handle applications that cross over major legislative implementation dates. The timing confusion between current vs. future-dated claims makes perfect sense in hindsight, but it's concerning that their system automatically processed it incorrectly rather than flagging it for manual review. This really reinforces the advice others have shared about being very explicit when communicating with SSA agents and potentially doing in-person applications for complex situations. I'm definitely taking notes on the January 2025 reapplication strategy and the suggestion to clearly document the WEP/GPO repeal timing in any communications. It's unfortunate that we have to become experts in SSA procedures just to access benefits we're entitled to, but threads like this make the process much less intimidating. Thanks Emma for sharing your complete experience and persistence in getting answers. And thanks to all the knowledgeable members who provided such detailed insights - this community is an incredible resource for navigating these complex situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for Emma sharing her complete experience with this spousal benefits denial situation. Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational about the complexities of applying for benefits during major legislative transitions. What strikes me most is how the WEP/GPO repeal timing created such confusion in SSA's processing system. It's concerning that their systems aren't equipped to properly handle applications that bridge implementation dates of new laws, but Emma's persistence in calling repeatedly really paid off in getting the real explanation. The advice throughout this thread about being very explicit with SSA agents about timing, considering in-person applications for complex cases, and applying closer to actual benefit start dates is invaluable. As someone who will eventually need to navigate this system myself, I'm taking notes on all these insights. Thanks to Emma for sharing the full journey and resolution, and to all the experienced community members who provided such detailed explanations. This kind of real-world guidance makes the Social Security system much less intimidating to understand!