Social Security survivor benefits after GPO repeal - will I get my ex-husband's full benefit even though he was on SSDI?

This is a complicated situation with several moving parts. First, regarding SSDI vs. full retirement benefits: If your ex-husband was receiving SSDI when he died, that doesn't limit your survivor benefit. As a widow/surviving divorced spouse, you're entitled to what would have been his full retirement benefit at FRA, not just what he was receiving on SSDI. However, the timing on the GPO repeal is critical. The Senate has passed it, but the House still needs to vote and then it needs presidential signature. Even after that, SSA will need time to implement the changes - likely several months minimum. The agent was correct to sign you up now with the reduced GPO amount. That establishes your entitlement and the 6-month retroactivity. Once GPO is repealed (if it happens), you should automatically get the increase, but it's good to stay in contact with SSA during this transition.

I went through something similar with my late husband's benefits and the GPO. The SSA rep you had this time is correct - survivor benefits are based on what the deceased would have received at FRA, not what they were actually getting on SSDI. Remember though, if you're collecting before your own FRA, your survivor benefit would be reduced. But since you're past your FRA, you should get the full amount once the GPO is repealed. One tip - if you're having trouble getting through to SSA by phone (which I always did), I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it for checking on your application status during this transition period.

I see some confusion here that needs clarification. There are actually TWO separate issues in your question: 1. SSDI vs. FRA benefit amount: When someone dies before their FRA while receiving SSDI, survivor benefits are based on their Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is essentially what they would have received at FRA. So the SSA rep was correct on this point. 2. GPO impact: The Government Pension Offset currently reduces your survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension amount. If the GPO repeal passes all legislative hurdles and is signed into law, this offset would be eliminated. However, I must caution that the GPO repeal is not yet law. The Senate has passed it as part of the SECURE 2.0 Act, but it still needs House approval and presidential signature. Even after signing, SSA typically needs months to implement such significant changes. So while your application is properly filed, the timing of when you'll receive the full benefit remains uncertain.

THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING ABOUT GPO AND THEN I FOUND OUT YEARS LATER I COULDVE BEEN GETTING BENEFITS THE WHOLE TIME!!! Don't trust what one SSA person tells you. half of them dont know their own rules! I wouldnt count on the GPO repeal either, they've been trying to do that for YEARS and it never happens. The government doesnt care about us.

I just wanted to add that if your ex-husband was 57 when he passed away and was receiving SSDI benefits, then yes, the survivor benefit would be based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is essentially what he would have received at his full retirement age. The fact that he was receiving SSDI doesn't reduce what you're entitled to as a survivor. But I'm confused about one thing - you said you're almost 70, which means you're well past your full retirement age. Why did you wait so long to apply? You may have lost out on some benefits, as retroactivity for survivor benefits can go back 12 months in some cases. Did the agent explain why they only went back 6 months?

wait so r u saying if someone dies before retirement age the survivor gets full benefit? my husband died at 58 and SSA told me i only get what he was getting on disability not what he would have got at retirement age. now i'm confused

I think everyone's making this too complicated lol. Here's the simple version: if he was on SSDI when he died, that's the same amount as full retirement. SSDI payments aren't reduced like early retirement is. So you'd get that full amount after GPO repeal (if it happens). But honestly don't get your hopes up about the repeal, they've been promising that forever.

Has anyone heard when the House will vote on the GPO repeal? My pension from teaching for 31 years is eating almost ALL of my late husband's SS benefit and I'm struggling to make ends meet!!