In 2007 I was widowed at age 47, my deceased spouse was 57.

I worked for 12 years for a university that did not pay into social security so am subject to WEP and GPO. I also received a lump sum retirement in lieu of actual pension from that university so it gets converted to a monthly pension value for the WEP & GPO formulas.

As I tried to calculate a SS strategy, I get conflicting info from SS offices through the years. I don't have ready access to the survivor benefit number and how it changes from 2007.

Eight months ago, at 62 I filed with SS to my benefit, with plan to switch to survivor benefit. I was given a survivor benefit higher at age 66 and 6 months than if I left my own SS value at age 70. After reading your latest email on SS practices with widows, I am concerned that the survivor benefit number given to me by SS might be reduced because I filed for my SS before FRA. Is this the case?

I have been so frustrated trying to work with SS and get information that is financially sound for my situation as a widow. I bought your Maxifi software but can't figure out how to put in the penalty for WEP and GPO.

Would appreciate your feedback, especially since it is less than one year since filing for SS and I could payback what I have received.

Thanks for looking at my question.

Kate

Hi Kate. I'm sorry for your loss. I should first explain that I answer general Social Security questions submitted to this forum, but I don't have access to our software customers' records. If you're having any issues using the Maxifi software, you should submit your questions using the help menu in the software. Your question(s) can then be answered by one of our experts with access to your data.

What I can tell you is that drawing your own Social Security retirement benefits early at a reduced rate will NOT cause your survivor benefit rate to be reduced. Filing for your own benefits at age 62 and then filing for survivor benefits at your full retirement age (FRA) for survivor benefits is likely your best filing strategy if you're correct about your unreduced survivor rate being higher than your own benefit rate would be even if you waited until age 70 to claim your own benefits.

However, in order for you to be sure that you're choosing the proper filing strategy, it's very important to accurately calculate the effect that WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset) will have on your respective retirement and survivor rates. Our software should be able to help you with that.

Best, Jerry