Confused about WEP repeal's impact on my Social Security application - automatic adjustment or do I need to do something?

The Social Security office handled this automatically for me! Filed in February and they calculated my benefit without the WEP reduction right from the start. When I spoke with the claims specialist, she confirmed that their systems have been updated to incorporate the repeal. Just make sure to have documentation of ALL your work history ready - both your state government work and your private sector employment. I brought my W2s from both jobs and it made the process go much smoother.

congrats on the WEP repeal! thats gonna mean more $$ for you! my dad was hit with WEP for years and got nothing back when they repealed it so at least your timing is good!

The WEP repeal has several important technical aspects you should be aware of: 1. The repeal is being phased in over time - it's not an immediate 100% elimination 2. For new applicants filing in 2025, the SSA systems will automatically apply the correct reduction percentage based on the phase-in schedule 3. You don't need to take any special steps during application, but you should verify all your non-covered employment is correctly documented in your earnings history 4. The key factor is ensuring SSA has accurate records of your 22 years of substantial earnings, as this affects the calculation I recommend requesting your complete earnings record from SSA before you apply, to make sure everything is accurate. You can do this through your my Social Security account online.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my experience last month wasn't as smooth as others are describing. I applied online and when I got my benefit amount, it was clear they were still applying the full WEP reduction. I had to call multiple times to get it fixed. Each agent gave me different information about the repeal implementation. Eventually, I got connected with a technical specialist who manually adjusted my benefit amount. Just be prepared to advocate for yourself!

Has anybody used Claimyr to get through to SSA about this WEP stuff? I was stuck in phone hell trying to get my WEP adjustment and found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to a real person in like 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it when you're dealing with something as important as retirement benefits. The agent I spoke with was able to confirm exactly how the WEP phase-out would affect my specific situation.

wait i thought WEP was for government pensions?? isnt that different from regular social security?? my neighbor gets both but idk how it works

I FINALLY got my WEP issue resolved last week after MONTHS of fighting with SSA!!! Their systems are NOT fully updated despite what they claim!!! I had to bring in documentation from THREE different sources proving my work history and DEMAND to speak to a supervisor!!! Then they suddenly "found" the correct calculation in their system. DON'T TRUST THEM to get it right automatically!!!!

When I filed last month, the claims specialist told me that the system automatically applies the correct WEP calculation based on the phase-in schedule. My initial benefit estimate letter showed the reduction was already less than it would have been before the repeal. The specialist explained that each year the reduction will decrease according to the schedule until it's fully eliminated. Make sure to mention the WEP situation specifically during your application. Having your complete work history organized before the appointment will save a lot of time. I created a spreadsheet showing all my covered and non-covered employment years with earnings amounts, which the specialist found extremely helpful.

My husband just went thru this. Apply online but then call to make sure they got it right. They messed up his first calculation and he had to call like 5 times to get it fixed!!