Niuatoputapu
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2014
- Messages
- 225
Here is a recount of my Social Security claiming journey.
Until 2025, I always planned to claim benefits at age 70. DW is eligible for a California teacher’s pension, but until 2025, she had less than 20 years of service. Because she had less than a full career (30-40 years) teaching in California, her pension was smaller and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) would not fully erase potential survivor benefits based on my SS. Delaying SS until 70 would increase my benefits about 8%/year, but it increased potential survivor benefits about 20%/year of waiting. Survivor benefit-wise, it made a lot of sense for me to delay filing until age 70.
The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025 changed things. DW’s own SS ($548/month in 2024) more than doubled due to the elimination of Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). She also became eligible for spousal benefits. She could have received $639/month spousal benefit in 2025, if we had filed. Most importantly, she became eligible for survivor benefits of my SS, without reduction for government pension.
Interestingly, the CA Teacher’s pension increases upon the death of the teacher’s spouse (at least for us). Apparently, the system was designed recognizing that GPO would negate most or all SS survivor benefits, so it boosts the pension if the teacher loses their spouse. Prior to 2025, our concern was the loss of most of my SS income upon my death. With the elimination of GPO, DW, as a widow, would now get full SS survivor benefits plus a boost to her pension. She is now better positioned. Me filing at age 70 became less important.
Note, if one delays their own benefits after FRA, their future benefit increases by 8% in the first year, then 7.4% in the second year, then 6.9% in the third year. If one delays spousal benefits, they are simply lost.
I filed for SS benefits in December 2025, age 68 nine months – 2 years/3 months past FRA. DW filed for spousal benefits to start in December 2025. Her spousal benefits will be $657/month in 2026.
Opensocialsecurity.com analysis of our situation indicated there was a very narrow range of benefit enhancements. Apparently the NPV of the $657/month “get it or lose it” money was about equal to the NPV of benefit enhancements of me waiting until age 70. I summarize my findings as (1) if neither live to age 88, we should have filed already, (2) if either live to age 89 to 93, December 2025 filing is best, (3) if either live to age 94, April 2026 filing is best, and (4) if either live past age 94, a March 2027 filing would maximize benefits. I’m happy I filed when I did.
Other:
SSA would not allow my wife to file for spousal benefits online. We had to schedule a phone appointment with the local office. That was a six-week wait. The agent said he thought the system prevented the online application because DW was already receiving benefits on her own record. I would have thought “already receiving benefits” would make it easier to file online, but not so.
I was shocked by the monthly benefit amount stated in my September 2025 initial approval letter. I filed for a December 2025 start, but the approval letter stated my benefit amount that existed as of March 2025. The amount has since been adjusted via a new letter in December and all is good. But apparently, when filing between FRA and age 70, initial approval is based on your most recent birth month, and they true it up later. Don’t get fooled by the initial letter.
Until 2025, I always planned to claim benefits at age 70. DW is eligible for a California teacher’s pension, but until 2025, she had less than 20 years of service. Because she had less than a full career (30-40 years) teaching in California, her pension was smaller and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) would not fully erase potential survivor benefits based on my SS. Delaying SS until 70 would increase my benefits about 8%/year, but it increased potential survivor benefits about 20%/year of waiting. Survivor benefit-wise, it made a lot of sense for me to delay filing until age 70.
The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025 changed things. DW’s own SS ($548/month in 2024) more than doubled due to the elimination of Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). She also became eligible for spousal benefits. She could have received $639/month spousal benefit in 2025, if we had filed. Most importantly, she became eligible for survivor benefits of my SS, without reduction for government pension.
Interestingly, the CA Teacher’s pension increases upon the death of the teacher’s spouse (at least for us). Apparently, the system was designed recognizing that GPO would negate most or all SS survivor benefits, so it boosts the pension if the teacher loses their spouse. Prior to 2025, our concern was the loss of most of my SS income upon my death. With the elimination of GPO, DW, as a widow, would now get full SS survivor benefits plus a boost to her pension. She is now better positioned. Me filing at age 70 became less important.
Note, if one delays their own benefits after FRA, their future benefit increases by 8% in the first year, then 7.4% in the second year, then 6.9% in the third year. If one delays spousal benefits, they are simply lost.
I filed for SS benefits in December 2025, age 68 nine months – 2 years/3 months past FRA. DW filed for spousal benefits to start in December 2025. Her spousal benefits will be $657/month in 2026.
Opensocialsecurity.com analysis of our situation indicated there was a very narrow range of benefit enhancements. Apparently the NPV of the $657/month “get it or lose it” money was about equal to the NPV of benefit enhancements of me waiting until age 70. I summarize my findings as (1) if neither live to age 88, we should have filed already, (2) if either live to age 89 to 93, December 2025 filing is best, (3) if either live to age 94, April 2026 filing is best, and (4) if either live past age 94, a March 2027 filing would maximize benefits. I’m happy I filed when I did.
Other:
SSA would not allow my wife to file for spousal benefits online. We had to schedule a phone appointment with the local office. That was a six-week wait. The agent said he thought the system prevented the online application because DW was already receiving benefits on her own record. I would have thought “already receiving benefits” would make it easier to file online, but not so.
I was shocked by the monthly benefit amount stated in my September 2025 initial approval letter. I filed for a December 2025 start, but the approval letter stated my benefit amount that existed as of March 2025. The amount has since been adjusted via a new letter in December and all is good. But apparently, when filing between FRA and age 70, initial approval is based on your most recent birth month, and they true it up later. Don’t get fooled by the initial letter.
