Just to follow up on this thread - the reason this happens is that SSA processes retirement benefits and COLA adjustments in batches according to your Social Security number and benefit type. For couples, if you have different last names or were enrolled at different times, your records might be in different processing batches. The good news is that by February, everything should normalize and both payments will include the correct COLA amount as part of the regular monthly benefit. The separate payment is perfectly normal and not a mistake you need to worry about. I recommend checking your benefit verification letters in your MySocialSecurity accounts in early February - they should reflect the updated amounts going forward.

I work for a local senior services organization and we've been getting a lot of calls about this exact situation! You're definitely not alone - we've heard from probably 20+ people in the past week with the same pattern of getting their regular payment with COLA, then a separate smaller deposit a day or two later. From what we've learned from SSA, this is happening more frequently this year because they updated their payment processing system. The separate deposit is almost certainly your husband's COLA adjustment. The system prioritizes getting regular payments out on schedule, then catches up with the COLA calculations in a second wave. One tip: if you use direct deposit, the separate COLA payment might show up with a slightly different description on your bank statement (something like "SSA COLA ADJ" instead of just "SSA"). That's another way to confirm what it is without having to call and wait on hold!

As a newcomer trying to understand all this, it's really helpful to see everyone's explanations! From what I'm gathering, the key distinction is that GPO only affects Social Security benefits you'd receive based on someone ELSE'S work record (like spousal or survivor benefits), but it doesn't touch the Social Security you earned from your own work history. So @Carter Holmes, your $2,304/month Social Security benefit that you earned yourself should be completely safe - GPO won't reduce it at all, even when you start receiving your wife's CalSTRS pension as a survivor benefit. The confusing part seems to be that there are two separate government pension rules (GPO and WEP) that people often mix up, plus SSA's own explanations aren't always clear. But everyone here seems to agree on the basic principle: your own earned SS benefits = protected from GPO. I'd definitely follow the advice about getting an official determination from SSA though, just to have it in writing for your peace of mind!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my spouse who has a state teacher retirement system pension. What I'm learning from everyone's experiences is that there are really two key questions to ask yourself: 1. Are you claiming Social Security based on YOUR OWN work record? (If yes, GPO doesn't apply) 2. Are you claiming Social Security based on your SPOUSE'S work record? (If yes, GPO might reduce those benefits) @Carter Holmes - it sounds like you're in category #1, so you should be fine. But I'm curious - have you considered whether your wife might have ANY Social Security credits from work before teaching? Even a small SS survivor benefit could be worth checking on, though it would be subject to GPO. Also, for anyone dealing with these complex rules, I've found that the SSA's online calculators and benefit estimates don't always account for GPO/WEP properly, so the official determination that @Sophia Long mentioned is really important. Don't rely on the online estimates alone! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that's so hard to find elsewhere.

Just want to add one more thing about taxation that no one's mentioned yet. If you're worried about inflation in your later years, remember that survivor benefits are taxed the same way as regular Social Security benefits. Up to 85% could be taxable depending on your other income. So as you tap into 401ks/IRAs, be mindful of how that impacts the taxation of your benefits. Sometimes it makes sense to draw from Roth accounts to keep your taxable income lower once you're receiving Social Security.

One strategy worth considering given your situation is the "claim and invest" approach. Since you mentioned you have pensions covering basic expenses and are viewing SS as inflation protection, you might want to run the numbers on having your husband claim at 62 and investing that monthly benefit in a conservative portfolio. Over 8 years (from age 62 to 70), that could potentially grow to offset some of the reduction from early claiming. Meanwhile, your delayed benefit at 70 maximizes the survivor benefit for whichever of you lives longer. This works especially well when you don't immediately need the money for living expenses. Just make sure to factor in taxes on both the SS benefits and any investment gains when doing your calculations!

I'm a retired teacher from Texas who went through this process last month. Applied online on February 3rd and received my first payment on March 7th - so about 5 weeks total. The key thing that helped me was creating a detailed timeline of my previous GPO denial with dates and reference numbers. One tip: when you apply, ask specifically about the "GPO repeal expedited review" - apparently there's a special code they can put on your application that prioritizes it. My local SSA office didn't mention this initially, but when I called back and asked about it, they were able to add it to my case. Also, make sure to ask for a receipt or confirmation number when you submit everything. I had to follow up twice because they initially couldn't locate my application in their system. Having that confirmation number saved me from having to start over completely. The retroactive payments back to January were included in my first payment, which was a nice surprise! Hang in there - it's worth the wait after all these years of getting nothing due to GPO.

I'm also a retired teacher dealing with the same situation! Lost my husband two years ago and was devastated to learn I'd get zero survivor benefits due to GPO. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope. Based on what I'm seeing from all your posts, it sounds like the key factors for faster processing are: 1) applying in person if possible, 2) having all documentation ready, 3) asking about that "GPO repeal expedited review" code that StarStrider mentioned, and 4) getting a confirmation number. I'm planning to apply next week and will definitely ask about those special WEP/GPO appointment slots that Natalie mentioned. After years of getting nothing, I'm cautiously optimistic that this repeal will finally give us the benefits we deserve. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community support means everything during such a difficult process!

my neighbor got her exs ss when he died but she had to wait till she was 60 even tho they were married for like 30 years... the whole thing is confusing

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I wanted to add that it's also worth keeping copies of all your important documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) in a safe place where you can easily access them if needed. One thing I learned from helping my mom navigate Social Security issues is that having everything organized beforehand makes the process much smoother when you're already dealing with the stress of a loss. You might also want to consider reaching out to your local Social Security office to get familiar with their procedures now, rather than waiting until you actually need to file a claim. It sounds like you have a good understanding of your situation now thanks to all the helpful responses here. The fact that your marriage lasted 22 years definitely works in your favor, and being on SSDI shouldn't prevent you from receiving the higher benefit if your ex-husband's amount exceeds yours.