Just to address your complicating factors - with a government pension where you didn't pay into Social Security, you definitely want to speak with someone directly. The WEP/GPO provisions are complex, and the online system doesn't give personalized guidance on how these will affect your specific benefit amount. The good news is that while you're waiting for your in-person appointment, you can still create a my Social Security account online and review your earnings history. This gives you time to identify any errors in your record and gather documentation to correct them if needed. Sometimes old employers aren't properly recorded or earnings are missing, and fixing these issues before you apply can increase your benefit amount.

I was in a similar situation last year - really nervous about applying online but didn't want to wait months for an appointment. I ended up doing a hybrid approach that worked well for me. I started the online application just to see what information they were asking for, then printed out all the questions and gathered my documents. I didn't submit it though. Instead, I called the national number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning around 8 AM when wait times are shorter and had them walk me through the trickier parts over the phone. Then I went back online and completed it with confidence. The phone rep was actually really helpful and caught a mistake I would have made about my benefit start date. Might be worth trying this approach while you're waiting for your in-person appointment - gives you a backup plan if you decide you're comfortable enough to proceed online!

One additional point worth mentioning: If your mother is getting misinformation at her local office, she can request to speak with a Technical Expert who specializes in survivor benefits and the GPO. Not all SSA representatives are equally familiar with these provisions. Also, remind her that even if she's only eligible for a small monthly amount after the GPO reduction, it's still worth applying. These benefits include annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), which can add up over time.

I'm a retired teacher who went through this exact situation with my late husband's benefits about 6 months ago. The key thing that helped me was being persistent and asking the right questions. When I first went to SSA, they told me I wasn't eligible for anything because of my pension. But I kept reading online and knew that wasn't right. What finally worked was calling the national SSA number (1-800-772-1213) and specifically asking to speak with someone about "survivor benefits for divorced spouses subject to GPO." I had to wait on hold for 2 hours, but I got someone who actually knew the rules. Turns out I was eligible for about $180/month after the GPO reduction. Make sure your mom emphasizes that she was married for MORE than 10 years (17 years in her case) and that she never remarried. Those are the key eligibility factors. Also, bring multiple copies of everything - they kept my documents for weeks during processing. Don't let them brush her off. She has rights under current law even if the new legislation hasn't passed yet!

wait i'm confused... doesnt the earnings limit go away at 62? or is it 67? my brother is dealing with this too

I'm sorry for your loss, and I understand how confusing this whole situation can be. You're actually doing everything right! The key thing to remember is that even though your survivor benefit is reduced because you claimed at 60, you still have the flexibility to switch to your own retirement benefit later if it's higher. Since you're planning to wait until 70 for your own benefit, you'll get those delayed retirement credits that can make your own benefit significantly higher than the survivor benefit. The months where you don't receive survivor payments due to working aren't "lost" - you're still building up your own Social Security record during that time. One tip: keep track of your earnings each year and maybe consider using the SSA website to estimate what your benefit will be at 70. That way you can plan ahead and know for sure which benefit will be better when the time comes to switch.

Yes, they said my own benefit at FRA would be about $2,650. So the ex-spousal benefit would be less than my own even at FRA. And waiting until 70 gives me an extra $800/month for potentially decades. Since I'm still working part-time and have some savings, I think I can make it work financially until 70.

Great job getting all that information sorted out! Just wanted to add that you should also consider getting a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you don't already have one. It'll show you projections of your benefits at different claiming ages and update annually with your latest earnings. Also, since you're planning to wait until 70, make sure to file your application about 3 months before your 70th birthday - benefits can't be paid retroactively beyond 6 months, so you don't want to accidentally lose any money by filing too late. The delayed retirement credits stop accumulating after age 70, so there's no benefit to waiting beyond that point.

Thank you all for the helpful explanations! I feel much better now understanding that my benefits won't be affected regardless of what my ex tries to do. And it sounds like because of the GPO, he probably wouldn't qualify for anything on my record anyway with his pension being so substantial. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain all the technical details - Social Security rules are so complicated!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - even though your ex probably won't qualify for benefits on your record due to GPO, he could still potentially file an application just to get an official determination from SSA. Sometimes people are surprised by the exact calculations, especially if their pension amount changes or if there are other factors involved. The worst case scenario is he gets a formal denial letter, but at least then he'd have definitive answers rather than assumptions. That said, based on what you've described with his $4,800 monthly pension, the math definitely suggests GPO would eliminate any potential benefit.