Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This is much clearer now. I'll make sure to stay under the $1,950 monthly limit after I start collecting in June, and I won't worry about what I earned earlier in the year. I really appreciate all the advice!

Just wanted to add that it's a good idea to keep detailed records of your monthly earnings after you start benefits. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or using a notebook to track your gross wages each month - this will help you stay under the $1,950 limit and give you documentation if SSA ever questions your earnings. Also, if you have any months where you might go over (like if you get overtime or a bonus), you can always reduce your hours that month to stay under the limit. The key is being proactive about monitoring it!

I'm sorry for your family's loss. As someone new to navigating these benefits, I found this thread incredibly helpful. The GPO rules are so complex and it sounds like even with the offset, it's still worth applying since every situation can be different. I had no idea about the time limits for retroactive benefits or the appeals process. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it really helps those of us trying to figure out this system for our elderly parents. Wishing your father the best outcome with his application!

I'm also dealing with a similar situation for my elderly father who was a federal employee. What I've learned from researching this is that even though the GPO typically reduces benefits significantly, there can be exceptions or special circumstances that aren't immediately obvious. For instance, if your mother had any periods where she worked for government but also paid into Social Security, or if there were any calculation errors in the original benefit amount, it could affect the final determination. I'd definitely recommend getting that official SSA calculation done - sometimes the actual numbers work out differently than the rough estimates we can do ourselves. Also, don't forget to ask about any potential one-time death benefits (like the $255 lump sum) that might not be subject to GPO. Good luck with the application process!

As someone who's been through the SSA maze myself, I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely CAN choose the higher survivor benefit between your ex-husband and current husband when the time comes. The 10+ year marriage rule for your first marriage is key here, and since you were married almost 12 years, you're covered. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much is to keep detailed records of BOTH spouses' work histories if possible. When I applied, having information about approximate earnings helped the SSA representative give me a better estimate during my appointment. Also, don't forget that if you're still working when you start collecting survivor benefits before your Full Retirement Age, there are earnings limits that could reduce your benefits temporarily. The strategy that @Zara Khan mentioned about potentially taking a reduced survivor benefit first and switching later is really smart - it's called "claim and switch" and can maximize your lifetime benefits in some situations. Definitely worth exploring with a benefits counselor when you get closer to 60!

I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your planning - consider also looking into whether either of your husbands has or will have government pensions (federal, state, local). If so, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) could reduce any spousal or survivor benefits you might receive by 2/3 of the pension amount. This doesn't affect your own Social Security benefit, but it could significantly impact which survivor benefit option gives you the most money. Since you're in a planning phase, it's worth asking both spouses about any government employment in their work history. I learned about this the hard way when my friend's teacher's pension nearly eliminated her Social Security survivor benefit. The SSA website has a GPO calculator that can help you estimate the impact if this applies to your situation.

Something important to consider - even though the child receives these benefits, they technically belong to the parent/guardian to use for the child's benefit. For tax purposes, if the benefits exceed certain thresholds, they may be taxable. Your client should keep this in mind for future tax planning. The child should have received a separate SSA-1099 for his benefits, which would need to be reported if they exceed the taxable thresholds.

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to this community, I had no idea dependent children could receive Social Security benefits when a parent retires. I'm 35 with young kids and always assumed Social Security was just for retirees and survivors. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like this could be relevant for families where parents have children later in life. A few questions for the group: Is there any difference in benefit amounts if the child is adopted vs biological? And does the timing of when the parent files for retirement benefits affect the child's eligibility at all? Thanks for sharing all this knowledge - I'm learning so much!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've decided to: 1) File the SSA-632 waiver form TODAY, 2) Contact legal aid in my county tomorrow morning, 3) Submit a FOIA request for my file, and 4) Try to make an in-person appointment at my local office. If legal aid can't help, I'll look for an attorney who specializes in Social Security and works on contingency. I feel so much better having a plan now. Will update once I have news!

Good luck Emily! You have a really solid plan there. I went through something similar a few years ago and keeping that detailed log like Amara mentioned was crucial - I had to reference it multiple times during my hearing. Also, when you go in person to the SSA office, bring copies of EVERYTHING and ask them to put a note in your file about what documents you showed them. Sometimes things get "lost" in the system and having that paper trail saved me. Rooting for you!