Based on all the comments, here's a summary of your best approach: 1. Start the process 3 months before turning 62 2. Your total monthly income will likely be slightly higher after the transition (your $587 retirement + some supplemental SSI, minus the reduction) 3. You don't need your ex's cooperation - SSA can access his earnings record since you were married 10+ years 4. Explicitly ask about continued Medicaid eligibility in your state when you switch benefits 5. Request a written breakdown of your future benefits before any changes happen 6. If you receive any notices about benefit changes, respond immediately Many people actually end up slightly better off financially after this transition, but the key is ensuring everything is processed correctly and simultaneously to avoid gaps in coverage. The system is complex but you're asking all the right questions.

Victoria, I wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - you should also ask SSA about potentially filing a "restricted application" strategy. Since you're disabled and receiving SSI, there might be specific timing considerations that could work in your favor. Also, when you do contact SSA, make sure to ask them to run scenarios for BOTH your own retirement benefit AND the divorced spouse benefit to see which gives you the higher total monthly income (including any remaining SSI). Sometimes the calculations aren't as straightforward as they seem, especially with the SSI income exclusions and state-specific Medicaid rules. One more tip: if you do end up going to the office, try to schedule an appointment rather than walking in. Many offices now allow you to schedule appointments online or by phone, which can save you hours of waiting time. Good luck with everything!

After reading all these comments, it sounds like you need to: 1) Verify they have the correct pension amount, 2) Request a formal determination letter explaining their calculation, and 3) Ask if there are any appeal options if you believe there's an error. I went through something similar with my WEP determination last year. The key is getting someone knowledgeable on the phone who understands GPO/WEP calculations. Unfortunately, many front-line representatives aren't fully versed in these complicated provisions. When you call, politely ask to speak with a technical expert or someone who specializes in government pension offset cases.

As a newcomer here, I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! I'm in a similar situation - worked for the state for 30+ years and am trying to understand how GPO will affect my potential spousal benefits. @Andre Dubois, your explanation of the GPO calculation was incredibly clear and really helped me understand why the reduction can sometimes eliminate the entire benefit. @Carmen Flores, thanks for mentioning Claimyr - I had no idea there were services to help navigate SSA's phone system. @QuantumQueen, I hope you get the determination letter and clarification you deserve. It's frustrating that they don't automatically provide clear explanations for these complex calculations. Good luck with your call!

Welcome to the Social Security community! As someone who's been navigating benefits for a few years now, I can confirm what others have said - the waiting game for COLA updates is definitely frustrating but totally normal. The December timeline everyone mentioned is spot on. One thing I'd add is that if you're enrolled in Medicare Part B, remember that the premium changes will also be reflected in your net benefit amount, so your actual deposit might be different than just applying the 3.2% increase to your current payment. The good news is SSA is pretty reliable about getting the payments right even when the online display lags behind. Hang in there!

As a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate seeing all this helpful information! I'm in a similar situation - this will be my first COLA adjustment since I started receiving benefits earlier this year. It's reassuring to know that the December timeline for online account updates is normal and that the actual payments will be processed correctly in January regardless. The tip about calculating the approximate amount myself (multiplying by 1.032) is really practical for budgeting purposes. I'm also glad to learn about checking the SSA-1099 preview as another place to look for updates. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps those of us who are new to navigating the Social Security system!

I'm in a very similar situation! I also claimed at 62 (I'm now 68) and my husband is planning to file next year at his FRA. From what I've learned through my own research and talking to SSA, here's what you can expect: The "top-off" your church friend mentioned is real, but the amount depends on several factors. Since you claimed at 62, your current $1,375 benefit is already reduced from your full PIA. When your husband files, SSA will automatically check if you're eligible for spousal benefits. Here's roughly how it works: They'll take 50% of your husband's PIA (not his actual benefit amount), then reduce that spousal benefit because you claimed early. If that reduced spousal amount plus your current benefit exceeds what you're getting now, you'll get the difference. With your husband's estimated $3,200 benefit, his PIA is probably around $3,000-3,100. Half of that would be $1,500-1,550, but after the early filing reduction on the spousal portion, you might end up with something like $1,500-1,600 total (so maybe a $125-225 increase from your current $1,375). The exact amount really depends on your specific earnings records and your husband's exact PIA, so definitely get that SSA calculation! Good luck - I know how confusing this all is!

I just want to echo what others have said about not being hard on yourself for claiming at 62! I see so many people in these forums beating themselves up about their timing, but honestly, most of us who claimed early did it because we HAD to, not because we wanted to. I was in a similar boat - got laid off at 61, couldn't find decent work that would hire someone my age, and had to claim early just to keep the lights on. Yes, I knew there would be a reduction, but I didn't fully understand how it would affect spousal benefits down the line. The SSA materials don't exactly spell this stuff out in plain English! What I've learned from my own experience and from reading posts like yours is that the spousal benefit "top-off" is usually much smaller than people expect, especially when you've claimed early. But every little bit helps, and at least it's something automatic - you don't have to apply for it separately when your husband files. One thing that might help while you're waiting to get through to SSA: check if your local Social Security office offers in-person appointments. Sometimes that's actually faster than trying to get through on the phone, and they can pull up both your records right there. Just a thought! Best of luck with getting your exact numbers.

Since you started your benefits early at 62 rather than waiting until your FRA, you're receiving a permanently reduced benefit (probably around 70-75% of your full benefit amount). While this isn't related to your earnings limit question, it's worth knowing that any benefits withheld due to exceeding earnings limits don't count toward recovering that reduction. The early claiming reduction is separate from earnings test withholding. When you reach FRA, SSA will adjust your benefit to give you credit for months benefits were completely withheld due to work, but the early claiming reduction remains for life.

I went through something very similar when I reached my FRA a few years ago! The good news is you're getting solid advice here. Just wanted to add that I found it helpful to contact my local SSA office directly rather than calling the main number - the wait times were much shorter and the staff seemed more knowledgeable about these specific situations. One thing that really put my mind at ease was asking them to send me a written confirmation of my earnings limit for 2025. That way I had documentation showing exactly what I could earn before my FRA month. It saved me so much stress! Also, since you're in healthcare, you might want to check if any of your earnings come from tips or other sources that could be treated differently for SSA purposes. Most hospital jobs are straightforward W-2 income, but it's worth double-checking. You're so close to September - hang in there! Once you hit FRA, all this earnings limit stress just disappears completely.