I want to thank everyone for their incredibly helpful responses! I've learned so much about WEP and now understand I need to confirm exactly how many years of "substantial earnings" I have according to SSA's specific thresholds. I'm going to try contacting SSA to get my full earnings record and request written confirmation about my WEP status. It sounds like with my 32 years in the private sector, I'm likely exempt from WEP reductions as long as my earnings met the thresholds for at least 30 of those years. I'll also look into whether my state highway department might have a Section 218 Agreement, though I'm pretty sure we don't pay into Social Security there. Thanks again for clarifying this confusing topic - I feel much better prepared to finalize my retirement plans now!

Great summary Aisha! One additional tip - when you get your earnings record from SSA, you can actually request what's called a "WEP factsheet" that will show you exactly which years count toward your substantial earnings and what your projected benefit would be with and without WEP. This document is super helpful for retirement planning since it eliminates the guesswork. Also, if you find you're just short of the 30 years needed for full exemption, remember that you might still qualify for a reduced WEP penalty rather than the full reduction. The penalty decreases as you get closer to 30 years of substantial earnings. Good luck with your retirement planning!

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. The key issue is likely in how they're applying the deeming formula with your ineligible child. Here's what should happen: Your $1,640 SSDI gets the $20 general income exclusion, making it $1,620. Then they subtract the ineligible child allocation of $471, leaving $1,149 as deemed income to your wife. Her SSI should be $943 (individual rate) minus this $1,149, which would indeed zero out her benefits. However, if you're in a state with an SSI supplement, the calculation might be different. Also double-check that they're not mistakenly using the couple rate ($1,415) instead of the individual rate for her potential payment. The fact that your math shows she should get $200 suggests there might be an error in their calculation or they have incorrect household information on file.

I've been through a similar situation when my spouse started receiving SSDI. One thing that really helped us was requesting what's called a "manual computation" from SSA - basically asking them to recalculate everything step by step while you're there or on the phone. Sometimes their automated systems don't properly account for all the exclusions and allocations, especially the ineligible child piece. Also, make sure they know your exact living situation. If you rent vs own your home, or if there have been any changes in your household composition since your wife first applied for SSI, that could affect the calculation. The representative I worked with found that they had outdated information about our rent amount, which was throwing off the entire computation. Don't give up - even if the math works out that she's technically ineligible now, there might be other factors or exclusions that should apply to your situation. Michigan does have some state supplemental payments in certain circumstances, so definitely mention that when you call.

DONT WAIT TOO LONG to apply!! You only have 2 years from the date of death to claim the lump sum death benefit!! Ask me how I know... missed out because I waited too long dealing with everything else after my husband passed.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I just went through this same process when my grandmother passed away last month. Your mother absolutely qualifies for the $255 death benefit - the nursing home stay doesn't affect eligibility at all. What helped us was going to the local SSA office in person instead of trying to call. We brought the death certificate, marriage certificate, and my grandmother's Social Security card. The whole process took about 30 minutes once we got seen. Also, like others mentioned, make sure she asks about survivor benefits if your father's monthly amount was higher than what she's currently receiving. The staff there were actually very helpful and compassionate during what was obviously a difficult time for our family.

I'm really sorry you're going through this confusing situation. As others have mentioned, your sister was correct - survivor benefits for a surviving spouse do stop when you remarry before age 60. The good news is that you've been incredibly responsible by saving those payments! One additional tip: when you visit the SSA office, bring documentation of EVERYTHING. Your marriage certificate, records of when you reported the name change, and if possible, try to remember the name or employee number of the person who told you the benefits would continue. This documentation could be crucial if you decide to pursue the overpayment waiver that Marina mentioned. Also, don't feel bad about this mistake - the SSA's own training materials acknowledge that the remarriage rules are one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of survivor benefits, even among their own staff. You did the right thing by asking and following the guidance you were given. Your son's benefits will definitely continue unchanged, which is one less thing to worry about. Stay strong - you've handled this situation very responsibly so far!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share that I went through something very similar with my late husband's benefits. The remarriage rules are honestly one of the most confusing parts of the Social Security system. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - your benefits should have stopped when you remarried before age 60, but your son's will continue. The fact that you've been saving the money shows incredible foresight and responsibility. One thing I'd add is to keep detailed notes of every conversation you have with SSA going forward - date, time, employee name/ID if possible, and what was discussed. This documentation could be really helpful, especially given the conflicting information you've received. Also, when you do visit the local office, consider asking to speak with a supervisor if the first person you talk to seems uncertain about the remarriage rules. You deserve clear, accurate information, and it's okay to advocate for yourself to get it. You're handling this difficult situation with such grace and responsibility. Hang in there - once you get this sorted out, at least you'll have peace of mind knowing exactly where you stand!

Just wanted to add one more important point that might affect your decision - if your ex-husband remarries, it won't impact your eligibility for divorced spouse benefits or survivor benefits at all. His new marriage has zero effect on your benefits as long as YOU remain unmarried. I mention this because I see a lot of people worry unnecessarily about what their ex does after divorce. The 10+ year marriage rule protects your rights regardless of his future relationships. Also, since you mentioned having kids together - if any of your children are still under 18 (or disabled), they might be eligible for benefits on their father's SSDI record too. That's a separate benefit that doesn't reduce what you could get. Good luck with your SSA appointment! Having all the numbers will really help you make the best choice for your situation.

I'm glad you're taking the time to research this thoroughly before making a decision! As someone who went through a similar situation with my ex-spouse's SSDI benefits, I wanted to add that when you meet with the SSA representative, make sure to ask about the "protected filing date" concept. If you're leaning toward waiting but are concerned about missing out on benefits, you can sometimes file a protective claim that establishes your filing date while you gather more information. This can be especially helpful if you're close to a birthday that might affect your benefit calculations. Also, don't be discouraged if the first representative you speak with seems unsure about divorced spouse benefits - unfortunately, not all SSA staff are equally knowledgeable about these more complex situations. If you don't feel confident in the answers you receive, it's perfectly acceptable to request to speak with a supervisor or schedule another appointment. One last tip: bring a copy of your divorce decree that shows the exact marriage dates. Sometimes there can be confusion about whether you truly meet the 10-year requirement, especially if there were separations before the final divorce.