Will WEP affect my survivor benefits after taking spousal SS benefits early at 62?

1. Yes, as a survivor, you would receive 100% of whatever amount your husband was receiving at his death (his age-70 benefit) once you reach your FRA. If you take survivor benefits before your FRA, they'll be reduced. 2. No! This is good news - taking reduced spousal benefits early does NOT affect survivor benefits. They're completely separate calculations. 3. This is tricky. Your foreign pension might trigger both WEP and GPO (Government Pension Offset). WEP typically affects your own benefits (which you mentioned you don't have). GPO could reduce spousal/survivor benefits by 2/3 of your foreign pension amount. Honestly, with this complexity and the age gap, you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies. The rules around foreign pensions and survivor benefits get complicated fast.

my wife and I had almost the same situation (11 yr difference tho). the thing nobody told us was make sure your husbands actually CLAIMS at 70!! benefits don't automatically start, he has to apply! we lost 8 months of payments because we thought it was automatic at 70

Your case is interesting because of the foreign pension element. With WEP/GPO, there are totalization agreements between the US and certain countries that can impact how these provisions apply. Canada has such an agreement. Specifically for your questions: 1. You'll get the full amount your husband was receiving when he died, assuming you claim survivor benefits at your FRA. If you claim earlier, they'll be reduced. 2. Spousal and survivor benefits are calculated separately, so claiming spousal early doesn't affect survivor benefits directly. 3. This is where it gets complex - GPO (not WEP) will likely affect your survivor benefits. The GPO reduction is generally 2/3 of your non-covered pension. However, the US-Canada agreement has specific provisions that may modify how this applies to you. I'd strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to discuss the international implications. The online calculators don't handle these international situations well.

If you need to reach SSA directly, I had amazing success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with complicated questions about my husband's survivor benefits and foreign employment. Was on hold for HOURS trying to reach someone at SSA until someone here recommended Claimyr. They got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 25 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth it to get specific answers about your situation, especially with the WEP/GPO questions which are super complicated. The agent I spoke with was able to look at my specific record and give me clear answers.

BEWARE of what SSA tells you about foreign pensions!!! I'm getting a UK pension and they told me THREE DIFFERENT THINGS about GPO when I called. First they said it wouldn't apply, then they said it would reduce by 2/3, then another person said something about proration. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!!!!!

Many people in your situation find it beneficial to run actual calculations with different claiming scenarios. The age gap between you and your husband creates some unique planning opportunities. If your husband has already delayed to almost 70, that's generally optimal given your age difference. His increased benefit creates a larger survivor benefit baseline for you. One thing to consider: if your Canadian pension is substantial, the GPO reduction might mean claiming survivor benefits earlier than FRA could actually be optimal in some cases. Have you considered using specialized Social Security planning software? Tools like Maximize My Social Security or Social Security Solutions can model WEP/GPO scenarios.

Just want to add something nobody mentioned yet - make sure your husband lists you properly as a spouse in his Social Security records! My friend's husband passed away and she had trouble getting survivor benefits because he hadn't updated his marital status with SSA. Just another thing to check off your list.

Based on your follow-up questions, I think it's important to clarify that Canadian pensions do interact with US Social Security under the US-Canada totalization agreement, but the exact impact depends on several factors: 1. If you're receiving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), this is based on your earnings in Canada and can trigger GPO. 2. If you're receiving Old Age Security (OAS), which is residence-based rather than work-based, the GPO calculation may differ. 3. The agreement may allow periods of coverage to be combined to meet eligibility requirements, but benefits are generally calculated proportionally based on the periods of coverage in each country. The planning software I mentioned can handle the basics of WEP/GPO, but for international complications, you really need personalized guidance. This is exactly why speaking with someone at SSA who specializes in international benefits is so important for your case.