As a teacher I have 25 years on the books in my state with a mix of noncovered and covered social security. The last 7 years are totally covered years so I meet the 60 rule provision of gpo. I left the state to teach overseas in 2011 for 7 years where there was no pension program. I want to know do I qualify for exemption from gpo?

Hi,

My wife filed for SS benefits at FRA, subject to WEP. I filed for spousal benefits on her record and am receiving half of her penalized amount.This year, I will file for my own benefits at 70, and she will file for spousal benefits on my record. How will they calculate her benefit with regard to GPO and Excess Spousal Benefits?

Hi,

I became a widow at the age of 51. I was born in 1950. I retired from a parish office in 2011 and collect my retirement check. I went to social security to collect my widows benefit and was denied because of the amount of my retirement check. I do not understand what my retirement check has to do with me trying to collect my deceased husbands social security. We were married 17 years and 11 months when he died. I have a phone appointment scheduled for April 9 2018 because I’m now handicapped and can’t go into the office. Please advise!

My SS payment is being reduced as they are using the Windfall clause . But this is totally wrong and unfair! I paid into the Canadian system for 20 years and same for US . They are mutually exclusive meaning that my us payment was based on what I made in the US and vice versa. To put it differently when I started working on US in 95 my Canadian contribution became zero. Any other interpretations are criminally wrong! I am willing to challenge this to the Supreme Court as our rights are being abused.

Hi,

My husband currently receives a govt (USPS) pension. I have just filed to receive SS, and expect to receive $1200/month. He currently pays $350 a month, and has done so for 13 years, in order to insure that I can keep a portion of his pension if he passes before I do. It is not clear how much I will receive, but he currently receives $3000. I understand that if I pass first, my husband will probably receive no spousal SS benefit. But if he passes first, and I receive say $1500 in widow's govt pension, will this affect my own SS benefits? If so, by how much?

Hi,
I would be subject to a WEP reduction if claiming benefits on my own record. My wife is claiming benefits and is NOT subject to WEP. If I elect the 50% spousal benefit, will the benefit be subject to a WEP reduction? Thank you.

Hi,

First off, you couldn't claim just spousal benefits without also claiming your own retirement benefits unless a) you were born prior to January 2 1954, and b) you file for benefits at full retirement age (FRA) or later.

I asked my Gov't rep but never receive an answer. I worked under social security approximately 20 yrs. I severed 4 yrs. in the US Air Force and worked at the Newport News shipbuilding beginning in 1959, AF 1960-1964, Shipyard 1964-1978. Worked under civil service under Civil Service Retirement. I had to pay back social security while I was in the AF. When I retired from the gov't I was only allowed to draw approximately one third of my social security.

I asked this question yesterday and gave the wrong information. My husband and I are both retired. He receives Social Security. Because I worked in a school for 20 years I did not pay into S.S. yet I was told I had to take a benefit when I retired which would be pro-rated because of my GPO work. Has this changed or do I still have to use the offset rule?

Hi,

Hello Larry. Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on my questions. I've talked with the Social Security office a couple of times, as well as the State of Massachusetts retirement office, and I am getting differing answers. When I dropped in to my local SS office to ask questions in person I got two different calculations from the same representative and wasn't sure if any of it was correct.

I am a currently employed with US Govt- year 36- - under CSRS retirement and currently qualify for full retirement(30 years 55 yoa) but am still employed and currently 56 years of age. I have heard that it may make sense for my husband is almost 62 now to collect his SS early at 62 because of the Windfall Elimination Provision? Is there any truth to that. I think I understand that I won't receive any spousal benefits until I reach my full retirement age which is 67 - but how will that affect the WEP and his SS? Thank you!

Hi,