I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience. I'm 74 and have been affected by WEP for about 8 years - my monthly benefit has been reduced by roughly $650. I haven't received any adjustment yet, but after reading through all these comments, I feel a bit more hopeful! It's reassuring to hear that Jamal actually got his increase, even though the timeline seems all over the place. I tried calling SSA twice this month but gave up after waiting over an hour each time. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like we just need to be patient and keep checking our accounts. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service Zoe mentioned to avoid those long hold times. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're all in this together!

I just wanted to add my experience to this discussion. I'm 69 and have been dealing with WEP reductions for about 12 years due to my state teacher's pension - losing around $720 per month from my Social Security benefits. Like many of you, I've been eagerly waiting for news about the WEP repeal adjustments. I called SSA two weeks ago and was told the same thing about automatic processing, but the representative couldn't give me any specific timeline. What's encouraging is reading Jamal's experience about actually receiving the adjustment! It gives me hope that this is really happening, even if the rollout seems chaotic. I've been checking my bank account daily like it's Christmas morning. One thing I wanted to mention - I've been keeping detailed records of all my calls to SSA and taking screenshots of my online account, just in case there are any issues down the line. I'd recommend others do the same. The inconsistent information from different reps is definitely frustrating, but at least we have this community to share real experiences and keep each other updated!

don't forget you need your marriage certificate and divorce decree when you apply! learned that the hard way

I just went through this process myself last year! A few practical tips that might help: 1. **Call SSA early in the morning** (right at 8 AM) or late in the afternoon for shorter wait times. Tuesday-Thursday seem to be less busy. 2. **Have all your documents ready** before calling: marriage certificate, divorce decree, your Social Security card, and your ex's full name and DOB if you have it. 3. **Use the exact phrase "restricted application for divorced spouse benefits only"** when talking to the representative. Don't just say you want ex-spouse benefits - be specific that you want to delay your own retirement benefits. 4. **Get confirmation in writing** - ask them to mail you a summary of what you applied for to avoid any mix-ups. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got through to someone, and my first payment came about 6 weeks later. Even if you're not 100% sure about your ex's benefit amount, it's worth applying now since you can always withdraw the application within 12 months if you change your mind. Good luck!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful and informative this entire thread has been! CosmicCruiser, congratulations on your new job - what a wonderful outcome! Reading through everyone's responses really highlights how important it is to get accurate information from people who've actually dealt with these situations firsthand. The consistent message from experienced community members that your income won't affect your children's survivor benefits must have been such a relief to hear. It's also educational to see the clarifications about different types of benefits (survivor benefits vs. SSI) and how the earnings limits work. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a difference for families navigating these complex systems. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - it's clear this community is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with Social Security benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to express how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been to read! CosmicCruiser, huge congratulations on your new job - what an amazing outcome! This thread is such a perfect example of why community support matters so much when dealing with Social Security benefits. Seeing how you went from genuine worry about potentially losing your children's benefits to confidently accepting a great career opportunity really shows the power of getting accurate information from people with real experience. The consistent reassurance from multiple members that your income has zero impact on your kids' survivor benefits must have been such a weight off your shoulders. I've learned so much just from reading through everyone's responses, especially the important distinctions between different benefit programs. It's wonderful that your family now has both the continued survivor benefits AND the stability of your new full-time position. Thank you to all the experienced members who shared their knowledge - this community is clearly an invaluable resource for navigating these complex systems!

Glad you got confirmation! One last tip - schedule the appointment for AFTER you've submitted your own retirement application. Her benefits are dependent on yours being processed first. You can actually apply for both at the same time, but make sure your retirement application is mentioned first when you schedule the appointment.

Just wanted to add another piece of info that might be helpful - when you do apply for your daughter's benefits, they'll be retroactive up to 6 months from your application date (but not before your retirement benefits start). So even if there's a delay in getting the appointment scheduled, you won't lose out on those monthly payments. The SSA will calculate back to when she first became eligible and issue any back payments in a lump sum with her first check. This was really helpful for us when there was a 2-month delay getting all our paperwork processed!

By the way, it's worth checking if your state has any supplemental programs to offset the WEP reduction. A handful of states have recognized how WEP hurts their public employees and created special supplemental benefit programs. I know Colorado, Massachusetts, and Ohio have something like this. Might be worth asking your HR department if there's anything similar in your pension system.

Carmen, regarding your question about working part-time in a SS-covered job to get more substantial earnings years - it can be worth it, but you'd need to run the numbers carefully. Each additional year of substantial earnings reduces your WEP penalty by about 5% of the maximum reduction. So going from 12 to 15 substantial years would save you roughly $94/month ($627 × 15%). The substantial earnings threshold for 2025 is expected to be around $31,275, so you'd need to earn at least that much in SS-covered employment for the year to count. If you can find part-time work that pays well enough and you're physically able to do it for a few years, it might make financial sense - especially since you'd also be earning additional SS credits that increase your base benefit amount. Just remember that your state pension system might have restrictions on working after retirement, so check those rules first. Some systems reduce your pension if you work for another government entity or work too many hours.