Quick update: SSA just published a new form specifically for Fairness Act GPO/WEP administrative waivers - Form SSA-545-F. It's streamlined for exactly this situation and specifically cites the Emergency Message guidelines. If you haven't submitted your waiver yet, use this form instead of the general waiver form. You can download it from ssa.gov or pick it up at your local office.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! As a new member here, I wanted to share that I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my late husband was a federal employee and I'm now facing a $4,800 overpayment demand after they reduced my survivor benefits by 75% due to his federal pension I receive. What's really helped me is connecting with other survivors in similar situations. There's actually a Facebook group called "GPO/WEP Survivors United" where hundreds of us are sharing resources and supporting each other through this mess. Many members have successfully gotten their overpayments waived using the strategies mentioned here. One thing I learned from the group is to document EVERYTHING - save all your correspondence with SSA, take screenshots of their website advice, keep records of every phone call (date, time, who you spoke with). This documentation becomes crucial for your waiver request. Also, don't let them intimidate you with collection threats. You have rights, and the emergency message Ethan mentioned is real - several group members have already had success with it. Stay strong and keep fighting!

Sounds like you're making a well-informed decision based on your specific circumstances, which is exactly the right approach. There's no universal

One factor I don't see mentioned yet is healthcare costs. If you're not yet on Medicare and need to bridge health insurance until 65, that monthly premium could eat into your early SS benefits significantly. On the flip side, if you have good employer coverage or can afford marketplace plans, the early benefits might help cover those costs. Also worth considering is whether you have any high-interest debt - using early SS to pay that down could provide a guaranteed "return" that's hard to beat. The peace of mind factor is real too - some people sleep better knowing they have that guaranteed monthly income locked in, regardless of what happens to the Social Security system down the road.

One additional consideration - your husband's earnings after claiming might increase his benefit amount, but these increases are typically small and applied once per year. In my husband's case, he saw about a 1.5% increase annually from continued work. Something to factor into your calculations when deciding on timing. Also, make sure both of you have created your my Social Security accounts online. That way you can see your exact estimated benefits at different ages, which helps tremendously with planning.

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm what others have said - once your husband reaches FRA, there's no earnings limit! My husband filed at his FRA last year and continued working full-time without any reduction in benefits. One thing I wish we had considered more carefully was the tax implications. Since we're both still working and collecting Social Security, we ended up in a higher tax bracket than expected. The "provisional income" calculation for Social Security taxation caught us off guard - it includes half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income. Also, don't overlook the psychological aspect. My husband thought he'd feel ready to retire once he started collecting, but having that monthly Social Security check actually made him feel more comfortable continuing to work since the financial pressure was reduced. Just something to consider in your planning! The automatic benefit recalculations are nice, but as others mentioned, they're usually pretty modest compared to the delayed retirement credits you'd get by waiting until 70.

One more thing to consider - if your husband starts SS benefits in October but continues working, he'll still be paying FICA taxes on his earnings which slightly increases his benefit amount through something called the Annual Earnings Test Recalculation. SSA automatically recalculates his benefit each year to account for additional earnings. So he could see a small bump in benefits after he fully retires. Most people don't know about this little bonus!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here but wanted to share what I learned when my wife and I went through this exact situation last year. Your husband can absolutely start collecting Social Security at his FRA in October while continuing to work - that's totally allowed and actually pretty common. The key benefit is there's no earnings limit once you reach FRA, so his work income won't reduce his SS benefits at all. One thing I'd suggest is running the numbers both ways: collecting starting in October vs. waiting until March. While waiting past FRA does increase the monthly benefit (about 2/3 of 1% per month), you'd be giving up 5 months of payments. In most cases, it takes several years to "break even" on that delay, so collecting at FRA while still working is often the better financial move. Also, don't forget to factor in the tax implications - with both his salary and SS benefits, you'll likely be in the taxable range for Social Security. We had to adjust our withholding to avoid a big tax surprise. Good luck with the decision!

Here's the exact regulatory reference that may help clear this up. Under Social Security rules (specifically the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Chapter III, §404.410), any benefits taken before FRA are subject to reduction factors. For your wife who claimed at 62, her own retirement benefit was reduced by approximately 25-30% from her PIA. When calculating her spousal benefit, Social Security will first determine if she's eligible for additional spousal benefits by comparing: - Her PIA (unreduced) to - 50% of your PIA If 50% of your PIA is higher, she qualifies for the difference. However, this difference is then reduced by the same early retirement reduction factor that applied when she first claimed benefits. The formula is complex, but the outcome is that both portions of her benefit are permanently reduced due to her early claiming decision. I recommend using the benefit calculators at SSA.gov for your specific numbers, or speaking with a representative who specializes in spousal benefit coordination.

I went through this exact scenario with my parents a few years ago! The key thing to understand is that when your wife filed at 62, she locked in a permanent reduction factor that applies to ANY Social Security benefit she receives - not just her own retirement benefit. Here's what actually happens: SSA doesn't really give her "two separate benefits." Instead, they calculate what she'd get from her own work record (already reduced) versus what she'd get as a spouse (also reduced by the same percentage), and then pay her whichever amount is higher. Since she filed 5 years early, her reduction factor is about 28-30%. So when you file, they'll calculate: - Her reduced spousal benefit: (50% of your PIA) × 0.70 = $2,375 × 0.70 = $1,663 - Her current reduced retirement benefit: $1,250 She'll get the higher amount, which would be $1,663 total - not $1,250 plus a supplement. The frustrating part is that different SSA reps explain this differently, which causes all the confusion. I'd recommend getting the calculation in writing from SSA so you have documentation of exactly what to expect.