Social Security application stuck at step 2 for 3 months - different answers from SSA about WEP issue

I had the EXACT same thing happen!!! Applied online in September, got stuck at step 2 for like FOUR MONTHS, no letters, nothing. Turns out they needed more info about my self-employment income from 2018-2020 but never actually TOLD me! I kept calling and getting different stories too. One rep said it was "pending review" another said "we have no record of any issues" - SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

yeah this is pretty normal for SSA unfortunately. they're really backed up with applications right now. my mom's application took almost 5 months to process last year and she never got any updates either. just keep checking the online portal every few days.

@Original poster - I got it fixed but only after I went IN PERSON to my local office. Had to wait 3 hours but finally got to talk to someone who could actually see what was happening. They needed verification of my non-covered employment (I worked for a school district) but the letter requesting it got lost or never sent. Once I provided that info it processed within 2 weeks.

The WEP issue is definitely what's causing your delay. When there's potential Windfall Elimination Provision involvement, your application gets routed to a specialist team that reviews government pension information. Since your situation changed and WEP no longer applies, you need to specifically request a "WEP reconsideration" from a Technical Expert (TE). The regular representatives you speak with when calling the main number don't have authority to remove WEP flags. Next time you call, specifically ask to speak with a "Technical Expert regarding WEP determination" - those are the magic words. They'll likely tell you they can't transfer directly to a TE, but ask them to make a case note requesting TE review for WEP recalculation. Also, make sure you have documentation ready showing why WEP no longer applies to your situation - they'll need proof before removing the flag.

btw my mom's just suddenly started processing after like 4 months of nothing. no explanation. i think sometimes they just sit in a virtual pile and whoever picks it up is random. the whole system is kinda broken tbh

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's the only way I could get through to SSA after weeks of trying. I was in a similar situation with my disability review that was stuck for months. Claimyr connected me with an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with was able to see my application was flagged for manual review due to my previous state government employment. She escalated it to the proper department while I was on the phone. My application started moving again within days after being stuck for almost 3 months.

Former SSA employee here. Applications with government employment history almost always require manual verification of pension information, even when WEP doesn't ultimately apply. Here's what you should do: 1. Gather documentation proving your exact dates of federal service AND documentation showing why WEP doesn't apply in your case (usually this means proving you have 30+ years of substantial earnings under Social Security) 2. Request a formal status update in writing through your online account messaging system - specifically mention "Application Status Request: Government Pension/WEP Review" in the subject line 3. If that doesn't work within 5 business days, contact your Congressional Representative's office and request casework assistance with your Social Security application. This often works wonders for stuck applications. 4. As others mentioned, the Technical Expert route is also good, but they're difficult to reach directly. Don't just keep calling randomly - you need to get your case in front of the right specialty unit that handles government pension verification.

SS is absolutely terrible with communication. I swear they intentionally leave people in the dark. My husband and I both applied for retirement at the same time last year. His went through in 3 weeks, mine took 4 months!!! Same work history type, same everything. When I finally got through to someone they said "oh we needed to verify your name change from your divorce 22 years ago" - but never bothered to TELL ME that! Just ridiculous.

UPDATE: I tried several of your suggestions! First I used Claimyr to actually get through to someone without waiting for hours. The agent confirmed my application was indeed flagged for WEP review and sitting in a specialty queue. She couldn't transfer me to the right department, but did add detailed notes to my file. Then I followed the advice to contact my Congressional Rep. Their office was AMAZING - they have a staff person who handles Social Security cases. She sent a formal inquiry and got a response in 2 days! Turns out they never processed the additional documentation I submitted showing I had enough substantial earnings years to be exempt from WEP. The application is moving again and they said I should still receive my payment on the expected date. THANK YOU all for your help!