Just wanted to update everyone. I was finally able to speak with someone at SSA thanks to the Claimyr service mentioned above. The agent confirmed that foreign pensions don't trigger GPO (and never did). I've been approved for spousal benefits with 6 months of retroactive payments for now. I'm also filing the misinformation claim (SSA-795) to try to get benefits back to when my wife first started collecting in 2020. The agent seemed to think I have a strong case since their own published materials contained contradictory information. I'll update again when I hear about the misinformation claim. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

Congratulations on getting through to SSA and getting your spousal benefits approved! Your case is a perfect example of why it's so important to push back when something doesn't seem right. The fact that you found contradictory information in their own publications (the 2016 Program Explainer vs. POMS TN 41) shows this wasn't just a simple misunderstanding - it was a documentation issue on their end. For your misinformation claim, I'd recommend being very detailed about the timeline - specifically that you could have applied as early as 2020 when your wife started collecting, but relied on the incorrect 2016 SSA publication that stated foreign pensions would trigger GPO. Since you were already past your FRA in 2018, there was no reason to delay once your wife started collecting. The key is showing you acted reasonably by relying on official SSA guidance. Keep us posted on how the SSA-795 claim goes - your experience could help others in similar situations!

doesnt matter what u checked or didnt check. my mom got my dads SS after he died but she had to go apply for it they dont do anything automatic. SS never makes anything easy lol

You can breathe easy! There's no special box you needed to check for survivor benefits. Your wife's eligibility for survivor benefits is automatic based on your marriage and your Social Security record - it doesn't depend on anything you did or didn't mark on your retirement application. The confusion is totally understandable because Social Security has so many different types of benefits (retirement, spousal, survivor) that people often mix them up. But here's the key point: survivor benefits are completely separate from your retirement benefit application. When the time comes, your wife will need to apply for survivor benefits herself (she can't do it online, has to call or visit an office), but your retirement application from last month has no bearing on her future eligibility. Since you claimed at 68, she'll potentially be able to receive your full benefit amount as a survivor benefit. So please stop losing sleep over this - you didn't mess anything up!

One more thing to consider: if you're going to be close to or over the limit, you should proactively contact SSA to reduce your benefits rather than waiting for them to discover it later. You can estimate your earnings for the year and ask them to withhold benefits accordingly. This prevents the surprise of getting an overpayment notice months later. You can always request a reinstated payment if you end up earning less than expected. Also, keep in mind that the earnings limit will eventually disappear once you reach FRA, so this is a temporary concern.

I work part-time at a local business and just started my Social Security benefits this month. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea the earnings test was so complicated with the monthly vs annual limits. One thing I learned from my HR department that might help others: they said I can request to have my work schedule adjusted on short notice if I'm getting close to the monthly limit. Most employers are pretty understanding about Social Security restrictions if you explain the situation early. Also, for anyone struggling to get through to SSA by phone - I found that calling right when they open at 8 AM local time gives you the best chance. I got through in about 45 minutes that way versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. The whole system really is confusing, but this community has been a lifesaver for navigating it!

After reading all your helpful comments, I've decided I'll definitely switch to my own retirement benefit when I reach my FRA in 3 months. The math makes sense - getting that extra $700/month right away is better than waiting. And I'll continue my part-time job since I enjoy it and there's no earnings limit after FRA. I have an appointment scheduled with SSA next week to discuss the switch. Thanks everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences!

Congratulations on making a well-informed decision! It sounds like you really thought this through with everyone's help. That extra $700/month will make a real difference in your quality of life, and it's great that you can keep doing work you enjoy without worrying about earnings limits. Best of luck with your SSA appointment next week - hopefully it goes smoothly and you can get everything switched over without any hassles!

my neighbor said her congresman told her the wep repeal might be included in end of year budget stuff. has anyone else heard this??

I'm in a very similar situation with my UK pension! I worked there for 16 years and the WEP is absolutely crushing me financially. What really gets me is that they calculate WEP based on the gross foreign pension amount, completely ignoring that we're already paying taxes on it to the foreign country AND sometimes to the US as well. I've been following the legislative efforts closely, and from what I understand, the Social Security 2100 Act would completely eliminate WEP for ALL affected beneficiaries, including those with foreign pensions like us. The other bill (Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act) would only provide partial relief but it's more targeted toward US government employees. One thing that might help in the meantime - have you considered consulting with a tax professional who specializes in international taxation? Sometimes there are ways to structure things or claim certain deductions that can reduce the overall impact, though it won't fix the underlying WEP problem. Also, definitely try that escalation process that Savannah mentioned. After 9 months, you have every right to demand answers from SSA. Keep pushing - squeaky wheel gets the grease!