Thank you all for the great information! I just checked my Social Security statement online, and thankfully all my work history appears to be there. Based on your advice, I think I'll plan to work at least 2-3 years beyond my FRA to replace some of those zero years. The extra $150-200 per month would make a big difference over a 20+ year retirement. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

Great decision to check your earnings record online! One thing to keep in mind as you plan those extra 2-3 years - make sure you're also considering the tax implications of higher Social Security benefits. Since you're earning $87k now, you'll likely be subject to taxation on up to 85% of your SS benefits when you do retire. It might be worth meeting with a tax professional or financial planner to run scenarios comparing the increased lifetime benefit from working longer versus potentially being in a lower tax bracket if you retire earlier. Sometimes the math isn't as straightforward as it first appears, especially when you factor in Medicare premiums and state taxes. That said, for most people in your situation, working those extra years does pay off significantly over the long term. Just wanted to mention the tax angle since it's often overlooked in these calculations!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar WEP-related delay on my retirement application. Filed in December and it's been radio silence since then, with my online account showing the same "step 2" status for over two months now. I worked for the postal service for 20 years before switching to private sector work, so I'm sure that's what's causing the holdup. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening - especially learning about the Technical Expert route and the Congressional Rep option. I had no idea these specialized departments even existed! It's frustrating that the regular phone reps don't seem to have access to the same information or authority to actually help with these complex cases. @Ezra your success story gives me hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel. I'm going to start with contacting my Representative's office tomorrow morning based on all the positive feedback here. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical advice - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't get from the official SSA website!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - my application has been stuck for about 6 weeks and I also have a mixed employment history that includes some government work. Reading through all these experiences and solutions has given me a much clearer roadmap for getting this resolved. It's really eye-opening to see how many people are dealing with these WEP/GPO related delays, and how poorly the regular customer service handles these complex cases. The fact that you have to know specific terminology like "Technical Expert" or "WEP reconsideration" just to get transferred to someone who can actually help is pretty frustrating. I'm definitely going to try the Congressional Representative route first based on all the success stories here. It sounds like that's the most reliable way to get actual movement on stuck applications rather than just more promises that "it's being reviewed." Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and specific steps - this is the kind of practical advice that's impossible to find through official channels. Really appreciate this community!

One last thing to consider: Even though you're reaching FRA in January 2025, your payment date will be determined by your birth date. If you were born on the 7th, your payment will typically arrive on the second Wednesday of each month. So your January 2025 benefit would be paid on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Just something to keep in mind for your budgeting.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're currently receiving benefits from a former spouse's record or survivor benefits, those will automatically stop when you start receiving your own retirement benefits. The SSA should handle this transition automatically, but it's worth double-checking that your benefit estimate reflects your own work record and not any auxiliary benefits you might currently be receiving. Also, if you're married, your spouse may be eligible for spousal benefits on your record once you start receiving your own benefits, even if they haven't filed yet. Just another consideration for your overall retirement planning!

I'm in a similar boat - just submitted my SSA-131 last month after getting a final sales commission check. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the key is just being patient and following up by phone if needed. I'm keeping detailed records of everything including screenshots of my MySocialSecurity account before and after, plus copies of all the paperwork. It's frustrating that such an important form has zero online tracking, but at least we're not alone in this! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been really helpful to read through.

I actually had a different experience - I submitted my SSA-131 form about 6 months ago and while it didn't show up in my online account, I did receive a letter about 8 weeks later acknowledging they had processed it. The letter didn't say much, just that they had reviewed my special payments information and applied it to my record. Maybe it depends on your local office? I'd suggest keeping an eye on your mail too, not just the online portal. Also, make sure you have documentation that those commission payments were for work done BEFORE your retirement date - that's the key thing they're looking for with the SSA-131.

This is such valuable information! I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference. It's really helpful that you specified the exact document name "Medicare Premium Notice Detail" - I bet that will save other people a lot of time and frustration. The explanation about how WEP/GPO affects the payment display in their system is eye-opening too. Congrats on getting your BCBS reimbursement sorted out!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful thread that makes this community so valuable! I'm dealing with a similar Medicare premium verification issue for my employer's health savings account reimbursement. Like you, my SS benefit is reduced (in my case due to early retirement at 62), and I've been getting the runaround from both Medicare and SS about documentation. Reading through everyone's suggestions - especially the specific document names like "Medicare Premium Notice Detail" and asking for a Technical Expert - gives me a clear roadmap for my own situation. It's frustrating how these systems seem designed to make everything as confusing as possible, but threads like this really help navigate the bureaucracy. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to Ezra for following up with the successful resolution. This is going straight into my bookmarks for reference!