Social Security WEP reduction - based on age 62 or actual filing age? Will amount change?
I'm trying to figure out how much the Windfall Elimination Provision will reduce my Social Security benefits. I worked 19 years in covered employment but will also receive a pension from my non-covered government job. I'm turning 62 next March but planning to wait until 67 to start collecting SS. My question is: does the WEP calculation use the year I turn 62 (2026) or the year I actually file for benefits (2031)? And once they apply the WEP reduction, does that amount stay the same forever or can it change over time? The SSA website is so confusing about this!
18 comments
Join the conversation
Javier Mendoza
The WEP reduction is based on the formula in effect for the year you turn 62, not when you actually file for benefits. The maximum WEP reduction for 2025 is $627 per month, though your actual reduction will be less since you have 19 years of substantial earnings under covered employment. With 20 years, the reduction begins to decrease, and with 30 years of substantial earnings, the WEP doesn't apply at all. The reduction amount will stay the same, except for COLA adjustments that apply to all benefits.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•Thank you! That makes sense. So even if I wait 5 more years to claim, they'll use 2026's WEP formula, right? Does that mean I should try to work one more year in covered employment to hit that 20-year mark and reduce my penalty?
0 coins
Emma Wilson
Im in a similar boat - non-covered teacher pension + SS benefits. I was told the WEP is calculated when u turn 62 but honestly the SSA gave me three different answers when I called!!! So frustrating! Did u know there was legislation to repeal WEP but it never passes? They keep punishing us for having multiple careers.
0 coins
Malik Davis
•The SSA rep told me the same thing! The WEP reduction is based on when you turn 62. And yes, they've been trying to repeal or reform WEP for years but nothing ever happens. My brother got such conflicting info he just gave up and claimed early.
0 coins
Isabella Santos
A quick point of clarification about your specific situation: With 19 years of substantial earnings, your WEP reduction won't be the full amount. The formula reduces your first PIA bracket from 90% to 40% (for 2025), but with 19 years, you're very close to getting a smaller reduction. If you can get one more year of substantial covered earnings ($31,275 for 2025), your WEP penalty will be reduced by 5%. Each additional year reduces it by another 5% until you reach 30 years and it disappears completely.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•This is exactly what I needed to know! I'm still working part-time in covered employment, so I think I can earn enough this year to hit that 20-year threshold. Do you know where I can find the list of substantial earnings amounts for each year? I want to check my past years too.
0 coins
Malik Davis
dont mean to hijack this but does anyone know if WEP applies if u take SS survivor benefits?? my husband passed and im entitled to his SS but I also have a small pension from non covered work. the ssa website is SO CONFUSING bout this!!!!
0 coins
Javier Mendoza
•No, WEP doesn't affect survivor benefits. WEP only affects retirement or disability benefits based on your own work record. However, there's a different provision called GPO (Government Pension Offset) that can reduce spouse or survivor benefits if you receive a pension from non-covered work. GPO typically reduces spouse/survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension amount.
0 coins
Ravi Gupta
I've been dealing with WEP for 7 years now. The amount is determined when you turn 62, but it CAN change if you continue working in covered employment and earn enough to cross the threshold for an additional year of substantial earnings. I went from 18 years to 22 years of substantial earnings after I started receiving benefits, and my WEP reduction decreased. The SSA should recalculate automatically, but sometimes you need to request a recalculation. Keep records of all your earnings!
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•So it can actually change later! That's great news. I'm planning to work part-time for a few more years, so I'll definitely keep track of my earnings. Did SSA notify you when they recalculated your benefits, or did you have to check?
0 coins
GalacticGuru
Try calling Social Security directly. I spent weeks trying to get an answer about my own WEP situation and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent I spoke with was able to look at my specific earnings record and give me an estimate of my WEP reduction based on my work history. Way better than guessing!
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•Thanks for the tip! I tried calling SSA twice but got disconnected both times after waiting over an hour. I'll check out that service - at this point I'd try anything to get a clear answer about my specific situation.
0 coins
Freya Pedersen
the wep is a total scam anyway. i worked 40 yrs and paid into SS but bcause i have a small county pension they take away part of what I EARNED. its highway robbery!!!! why should i be penalized just because i worked for the county for 15 yrs?
0 coins
Isabella Santos
•It's not exactly a scam, but many find it unfair. The reasoning is that Social Security benefits are weighted to give lower-income workers a higher return on their contributions. When you have years of non-covered work, your SS earnings record looks artificially low. WEP attempts to adjust for this, but many argue it's too harsh and doesn't properly account for people's full work history. That's why there are ongoing reform attempts.
0 coins
Omar Fawaz
Just to add a practical note - make sure you also check the substantial earnings amount for each year you worked in covered employment. Sometimes people have years they didn't count because they fell just short of the threshold. The substantial earnings amount for 2025 is $31,275, but it was much lower in previous years. For example, in 1990 it was only $9,525. You might have more qualifying years than you think!
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•That's a great point! I worked some part-time jobs in the 90s that I wasn't sure counted. I'll check those earnings against the thresholds for those years. Where can I find a complete list of the substantial earnings amounts for each year?
0 coins
Emma Wilson
My friend said u can also reduce ur WEP if u keep working after u start getting SS??? Is that true? I'm so confused with all these rules!
0 coins
Javier Mendoza
•Yes, that's correct. If you continue working in covered employment after you start receiving benefits, you can increase your years of substantial earnings. The SSA is supposed to automatically recompute your benefits each year if you have new earnings, potentially reducing your WEP penalty as you reach additional years of substantial earnings.
0 coins