I'm new to this community and just starting to navigate Social Security myself, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! It's concerning how many people have experienced conflicting information from SSA representatives - it really highlights the importance of having communities like this where people can share accurate information. From everything I've read here, it's clear that your book club friend was mistaken about "excess spousal benefits." The consensus from experienced members is that Social Security operates on a "higher of" principle - you receive either your own retirement benefit OR up to 50% of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, whichever is greater, but never both simultaneously. In your case, your $2,450 benefit far exceeds the maximum spousal benefit you could receive (50% of your husband's PIA), so you're already getting the optimal amount available to you while you're both alive. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to explain concepts like "deemed filing," the elimination of restricted applications, and the difference between spousal benefits and survivor benefits. As someone just learning about these rules, the distinction between benefits available while both spouses are alive versus survivor benefits has been particularly enlightening. Thank you for starting this discussion - it's been educational for newcomers like me who are trying to understand these complex Social Security rules!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm approaching retirement age myself and trying to understand these complex Social Security rules. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's responses is how consistently the experienced members here have explained that there's no such thing as "excess spousal benefits" that would allow you to receive additional money on top of your own higher retirement benefit. The "higher of" principle that multiple people mentioned makes perfect sense once you understand it. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice shared throughout this thread - from tips about calling SSA at specific times, to requesting Technical Experts, to using the online ssa.gov portal, and even the suggestion about Claimyr for getting through to representatives faster. These are the kinds of real-world insights that you don't find in official SSA publications. Your situation has really helped clarify for me that Social Security spousal benefits are designed as a safety net to ensure spouses receive at least 50% of the higher earner's benefit, not as additional payments stacked on top of your own benefits. Since your $2,450 monthly benefit already exceeds that 50% threshold by a significant margin, you're receiving the maximum available to you. Thank you for starting this discussion - it's been incredibly educational for those of us still learning to navigate the Social Security system!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this at 54 must be incredibly difficult, especially while trying to navigate all these benefit rules during such a painful time. From what I understand, you're unfortunately in that gap where you're too young for regular survivor benefits (which start at 60) but don't qualify for the earlier exceptions since you don't have young or disabled children in your care. The disability status of your late husband doesn't change the age requirements for you as the survivor. One thing you might want to explore is whether you could qualify for disabled widow benefits starting at age 50. The criteria are strict - you'd need to become disabled within 7 years of his death (or within 7 years of when mother's benefits would end if you had been receiving them). It's a long shot given that you're currently working full-time, but if your health situation changes, it could be worth investigating. Also, make sure when you do eventually apply for survivor benefits that you understand how it will interact with your own Social Security record. You'll want to run the numbers to see whether it makes more sense to take survivor benefits first and switch to your own later, or vice versa, depending on which would be higher. Hang in there - I know these next 6 years are going to be challenging financially and emotionally.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse at such a young age while trying to navigate these complex benefit rules must be overwhelming. Just to clarify one important point that others have touched on - while your husband being on SSDI doesn't change the age requirements for you to receive survivor benefits, it does confirm that he had sufficient work credits for you to eventually be eligible. The fact that he was receiving $2,150/month in SSDI is also helpful information for estimating what your survivor benefit might be when you do become eligible. One thing I'd suggest is requesting a copy of his Social Security Statement (if you don't already have one) when you contact SSA. This will show his complete earnings history and can help you or a financial advisor calculate what your survivor benefit would be at different claiming ages (60 vs full retirement age). Also, while you're waiting until 60, don't forget to keep track of your own earnings and work credits. If your income has increased significantly since his disability began, your own Social Security benefit at retirement might end up being higher than the survivor benefit, giving you more options for when to claim each one. The six-year wait is tough, but having a clear understanding of your options will help you make the best financial decisions when the time comes.

As someone who just applied for Social Security retirement benefits last week, this entire discussion has been incredibly reassuring and educational! I was starting to worry after seeing friends get approved at different speeds, but now I understand it's all about the complexity of your individual situation. I worked for both private companies and a state college for about 10 years, plus I have a previous marriage that lasted 13 years, so based on what everyone's shared here, I should definitely expect manual review and a longer processing time. The explanations from @Jessica Nguyen and @Dmitry Ivanov about why certain factors trigger additional review really help set realistic expectations. What I find most valuable about this thread is learning that longer processing times often mean they're being thorough to ensure accurate benefit calculations - not that something's wrong with your application. That's such an important mindset shift from anxiety to patience! I'm also grateful for the practical tips like using the Message Center instead of calling, and understanding that field office workloads can affect timing. This community knowledge is so much more helpful than the generic "30 days" timeline on the SSA website. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's made me feel much more confident about navigating this process!

As someone completely new to the Social Security application process, I cannot express how valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm planning to apply for retirement benefits in the next few months and had absolutely no idea about the complexity behind processing times. The distinction between automatic and manual processing that @Alexander Evans explained so clearly really opened my eyes. I now understand why my coworker got approved instantly while others wait weeks - it's not favoritism or luck, but actual system logic based on case complexity. What really stands out to me is how much more informative this community discussion is compared to the official SSA resources. The insights from @Jessica Nguyen (former SSA employee) and @Dmitry Ivanov (benefits counselor) provide the kind of real-world context you just can't get from government websites that just say "30 days average." I'm particularly grateful for learning about factors that trigger manual review - multiple marriages, government employment, WEP/GPO calculations. I worked for a city government for 5 years early in my career, so now I know to expect a longer timeline rather than getting anxious about it. The Message Center tip for checking status instead of enduring those horrible phone wait times is gold! And hearing that longer processing often means more thorough benefit calculations really reframes the waiting experience positively. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise - this thread should be required reading for anyone starting the SS application process!

I'm in a similar boat with the GPO mess! Worked for the state for 30 years and couldn't get my late husband's benefits even though I paid into SS for 15 years before switching to government work. One thing I learned from my local SSA office visit last week - they said to NOT file any new applications right now because it could mess up your existing file. Since you already have an approved application from 2019, you're in good shape. They'll just need to recalculate your benefit amount without the GPO offset. The agent told me they're expecting to start processing GPO adjustments in batches starting around May, with payments potentially beginning in June. She said people with existing approved applications (like you) will likely be processed first before new applicants. Also heard from someone at my retirement group that the retroactive payments might go back to January 2025 when the law took effect, but that's not confirmed yet. Cross your fingers! Hang in there - we've waited this long, we can wait a few more months to finally get what we deserve!

As someone who's been through the GPO nightmare myself, I can tell you that your situation is actually pretty straightforward once the new law gets implemented! You're absolutely right to focus on your first husband's survivor benefits - at roughly $1,350 plus all the COLAs since 2019, that's going to be significantly better than the 50% spousal benefit from your current husband's SSDI (which would only be around $875). Since you were already approved in 2019 but received $0 due to GPO, you're in the best possible position. SSA won't need to redetermine your eligibility - they'll just need to remove the GPO offset and start paying you the full amount with all the cost-of-living increases. I've heard similar timelines from multiple sources about implementation starting in May/June, so the March guidance should give you a clearer picture. The key thing is DON'T file any new applications right now - you don't want to complicate your existing approved claim. After decades of this unfair treatment, we're finally getting justice. Just a little more patience and you should start seeing those payments!

I'm new to this community and having the exact same problem! I've been trying to log into my SSA account for the past two days and no verification texts are coming through on my T-Mobile phone. I was starting to think there was something wrong with my account or that I had somehow been locked out. After reading through all these incredibly helpful comments, I'm definitely going to try the email verification method right away. I need to access my account to print my Social Security statement for a bank loan application that's due next week. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread system issue with SSA's text verification and not something I caused! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the email workaround - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's actually going on. Hopefully SSA gets their text system fixed soon, but it's great to know we have a reliable alternative that works while we wait.

I'm new to this community and just discovered this thread while dealing with the exact same frustrating issue! I've been trying to access my SSA account for the past four days and no verification texts are coming through on my Verizon phone. I was getting really worried that my account had been compromised or that there was something wrong with my phone settings. After reading through everyone's helpful comments, I'm definitely going to try the email verification method right away. I need to log in to check my disability benefit status and this has been incredibly stressful not being able to access my account. It's such a huge relief to know this is a widespread system problem with SSA's text verification and not something I did wrong! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the email workaround - this community has been amazing for providing real solutions during these government service issues. Hopefully SSA fixes their text system soon, but it's great to know we have a reliable alternative that actually works.