Should I contact SSA about WEP repeal affecting my reduced spousal Social Security benefits?

wait are u sure WEP is actually gone?? i thought that was just being discussed but hadnt actually happened yet. my dad is in same boat - teacher with pension getting less SS.

Hi there. I need to clarify something important: WEP has NOT been repealed yet. There are several bills in Congress proposing changes or elimination of WEP/GPO, but none have become law at this time. The Social Security Fairness Act (which would repeal both WEP and GPO) has gained significant support but hasn't passed both chambers of Congress and been signed into law. You're likely experiencing GPO (Government Pension Offset) rather than WEP. WEP reduces your own Social Security benefits if you have a pension from non-covered employment, while GPO reduces spousal or survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension. Either way, since no legislation has passed yet, there's no need to contact SSA about recalculating your benefits. If legislation does pass in the future, SSA would likely implement changes systematically, though it never hurts to follow up if you don't see changes within a reasonable timeframe after any law takes effect.

I was hit by BOTH of these unfair provisions!!! I worked as a firefighter for 22 years (non-SS covered job) and also had enough quarters from previous jobs to qualify for my own SS benefit. My own benefit got reduced by WEP and then when my wife passed, my survivor benefit got slashed by GPO!!! Congress keeps PROMISING to fix this but NOTHING ever happens!!!!

To add some factual clarification: The most recent version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) has widespread bipartisan support but remains in committee. If you want to follow its progress, you can check congress.gov for updates. One important detail: If legislation does eventually pass, implementation would likely be phased in gradually rather than happening all at once. Most proposals include a multi-year implementation to manage the fiscal impact. When legislation does pass (if it does), SSA will likely send notices to affected beneficiaries explaining the changes and timeline. You would see adjustments reflected in your benefit payments according to the implementation schedule in the law. While SSA might implement changes automatically, it's always wise to monitor your benefits and follow up if you don't see expected changes. In the meantime, I'd recommend signing up for updates from advocacy groups tracking this legislation, such as the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association or similar organizations for state government retirees.

I was in the exact same situation last year - retired teacher with pension and reduced spousal benefits. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to SSA to ask similar questions. Kept getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. I showed up on their caller ID so they actually answered. The agent explained everything about my GPO situation and confirmed no legislation had passed yet. Saved me so much frustration! You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

my wife is teacher too. been dealing with this GPO garbage for 3 yrs now. she gets $1800 pension but only $175 from my ss record because of that 2/3 reduction. total bs system if you ask me. punishes public servants

I think there's some confusion in this thread about WEP vs GPO. They're different provisions: WEP - Reduces your OWN Social Security benefit if you receive a pension from non-SS-covered work GPO - Reduces SPOUSAL or SURVIVOR benefits by 2/3 of your government pension Sounds like the original poster is affected by GPO since it's reducing spousal benefits. Either way, no repeal has happened yet, so no need to contact SSA.

Just a heads-up for everyone following this issue - the Social Security Fairness Act has been introduced in multiple Congresses but hasn't passed yet. The current version (H.R. 82 in the House and S. 1398 in the Senate) would eliminate both WEP and GPO if passed. While we wait to see if legislation passes, here's what affected individuals should do: 1. Stay informed through official channels (SSA.gov and Congress.gov) 2. Consider joining advocacy groups focused on this issue 3. Keep documentation of your earnings history, both from covered and non-covered employment 4. If legislation does pass, wait for official guidance from SSA about implementation In most cases, if changes are made, SSA would implement them systematically, but it's always wise to follow up if you don't see adjustments within the timeframe specified in the legislation.

After trying to navigate this WEP/GPO situation myself, I found that having a one-on-one conversation with an SSA representative was really the most helpful. They explained exactly how my benefits were calculated and what would happen if the law changed. But getting through on the phone was nearly impossible until I used that Claimyr service I mentioned. If you do end up needing to speak with someone at SSA, I'd recommend trying them rather than wasting days getting disconnected. The agent I spoke with was surprisingly knowledgeable about the proposed legislation too.