Thank you! I'll make sure he knows to ask specifically about that strategy. I appreciate everyone's help so much - this group has been incredibly informative!

I'm so glad to see everyone helping your brother navigate this situation! As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, I learned a lot from reading through these responses. One thing that really stands out is how complex the timing strategies can be - the idea that he could take survivor benefits now and potentially switch to his own retirement benefits later is fascinating. It seems like the key is getting SSA to run all the numbers so he can make an informed decision. I hope his appointment goes smoothly and that he's able to get some financial relief soon. The fact that you're helping him research this and gather documents shows what great family support he has during a difficult time. Please update us on how it goes - I'm sure others in similar situations would benefit from hearing about his experience with the application process!

Just wondering - have u checked if your pension plan is one of the ones exempt from GPO? My friend worked for a school district in a state where they paid into Social Security AND their pension, and she didn't get hit with GPO. Might be worth double checking?

I went through a very similar situation with my state pension and spousal benefits! The "suspended" status is really just SSA's way of saying they're still calculating the GPO impact - it doesn't mean anything is wrong with your application. Given that your teacher's pension is $2,400/month, the GPO reduction would indeed be $1,600 (2/3 of your pension), which completely wipes out your $865 spousal benefit. So withdrawing and reapplying wouldn't change your monthly payment at all - you'd still get $0. The smart move here is to keep your current application active. Even though you won't receive spousal benefits now, having that established application date could be crucial if you ever need to file for survivor benefits later. Survivor benefits have different GPO calculations and might still be partially payable despite your pension. Plus, if there are any future changes to GPO rules (which lawmakers occasionally discuss), you'd already have your application in the system. I'd just let it ride and focus on maximizing your own Social Security benefits when you're ready to claim those.

One more important point: If you do qualify for the survivor benefit, you should calculate whether it's financially beneficial to take it now while letting your own benefit grow. If your own benefit at 66 is already substantially higher than the survivor benefit would be (especially since it might be reduced because your ex died before FRA), then it might make more sense to just claim your own benefit now or wait until 70 for the maximum amount.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision-making process. When you do contact SSA (whether through the regular phone line or using a service like Claimyr), make sure to ask them to provide you with written estimates of both benefit amounts. Request an estimate of what your survivor benefit would be based on your ex-husband's record, and also get a projection of what your own retirement benefit would be at different claiming ages (66, 67, 68, 69, and 70). Having these concrete numbers will make it much easier to determine the optimal strategy. Also, don't forget that if you do take the survivor benefit now, you can still switch to your own benefit later if it becomes higher - you're not locked into one choice forever. Good luck navigating this complex situation!

One more thing to consider: The WEP calculation is based on the year you turn 62, not when you actually claim benefits. So the substantial earnings threshold and maximum reduction amount that will apply to you will be based on the year you turn 62, even if you wait until 67 or 70 to start benefits. For planning purposes, you should request a WEP-adjusted benefit estimate directly from SSA. The online statements don't factor in WEP reductions.

As someone who's been researching this extensively after making a similar career change, I can share a few additional insights that might help. The WEP reduction is calculated on a sliding scale - with your 22 years of substantial earnings, you're already in a much better position than someone with fewer years. The key thing to remember is that WEP can never reduce your Social Security benefit to less than 50% of what it would be without WEP, so there's a floor to how much you can lose. Also, since you're only 48, you have time to potentially reach that magic 30-year mark that eliminates WEP entirely. Even part-time consulting work in your old marketing field during summers could count toward substantial earnings if you hit the annual threshold. The whole system is frustrating, but you're not as trapped as it might initially seem!

That's a wonderful perspective! We do want to travel more while we're still able to enjoy it. I think I need to balance the financial optimization with quality of life considerations. Thank you for that reminder!

I'd suggest creating a simple spreadsheet to model both scenarios over different time horizons. Include your severance timeline, projected unemployment benefits, 401k withdrawal needs, and tax implications for each approach. Don't forget that delaying SS by 6 months also means 6 more months of potential 401k growth if you don't need to withdraw as much. Also consider your risk tolerance - taking SS early provides guaranteed income security during an uncertain job market, while waiting optimizes long-term benefits. Given that you have a solid 401k balance and severance through September, you seem to have flexibility either way. The "right" choice depends on whether you prioritize security now vs. maximizing lifetime benefits. One more thought: have you looked into COBRA vs. Medicare timing? Sometimes COBRA can bridge the gap if you want to delay both SS and Medicare until your true FRA.