WEP-affected retirees can't set up direct deposit for upcoming Social Security payments - any solutions?

I faced a similar situation last year when I needed to set up direct deposit for survivor benefits. After trying the phone route unsuccessfully (kept getting disconnected after 2+ hour holds), I discovered a lifesaver service called Claimyr that got me through to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU They call SSA for you, navigate the phone tree, sit on hold, then call you once they reach an agent. Seriously worth it for something important like setting up your direct deposit. The agent I spoke with was able to set up my banking information right away.

For direct deposit setup when you've never received payments, you actually have 3 options: 1. Phone: Yes, it's frustrating but currently the most reliable method. Best times to call are Wednesday-Friday at 8:30am ET or 4:00pm ET when call volumes are lower. 2. In-person appointment: Schedule through the online appointment system at ssa.gov (often 2-3 week wait but guaranteed service) 3. Faxed request: Complete form SSA-1199 (Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form), attach a voided check, and fax to your local office with a cover letter explaining your WEP situation and anticipation of potential payments. Regarding WEP reform - while there are several proposals, nothing has passed yet. The most prominent bills would either repeal WEP entirely or replace it with a proportional formula that would increase benefits for many affected teachers, but implementation timelines remain unclear.

Quick point of clarification - if you're currently paying for Medicare Part B out-of-pocket because your SS benefit is less than the premium, you're in what's called "direct billing" status. Once any WEP reform passes that increases your benefit amount above the Part B premium threshold (currently $174.70/month for most people in 2025), you'll automatically be switched from direct billing to having premiums deducted from your SS payment - this is mandatory. Setting up direct deposit now is smart planning. You're absolutely right that you want this in place BEFORE any backpay or adjusted payments begin. Your state retirement pension direct deposit setup is completely separate from your SSA direct deposit setup, which causes confusion for many dual-pensioners.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST TEACHERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS!!!! I spent 32 years teaching and lost nearly $800/month because of WEP even though I had enough quarters from summer jobs!!!!! They STEAL our earned benefits and then make it IMPOSSIBLE to even contact them!!!! This is why I tell young teachers to AVOID public service careers!!!! The direct deposit process is deliberately complicated because they don't want to pay us what they OWE!!!

my brother in law had this same problem last yr. he ended up going in person to the ssa office and got it fixed in one visit. took like 2 hrs total but at least it was done

Have you tried scheduling a callback through the SSA website? It's a fairly recent feature but has worked well for me twice now. You provide your number and they call you back in the specified window instead of waiting on hold. Also, regarding the WEP reform - I've been tracking this closely. The current leading proposal would replace WEP with a proportional formula that would increase benefits by around 40% for most affected teachers. It would be fully implemented for anyone receiving benefits by the end of 2026, with partial implementation starting in 2025. The backpay component would likely only cover a few months, not the entire period you've been affected by WEP. Your state teacher association might also have resources for helping members navigate these SSA issues. Many larger teacher associations have dedicated retirement specialists who can guide you through SSA processes.

I was affected by WEP too after 25 years of teaching in Texas. What worked for me was mailing in the Direct Deposit form with a copy of a voided check. Took about 3 weeks to process but I got a confirmation letter. Just google "SSA-1199 form" to download it. My brother tried the phone for weeks with no luck, but my mailed form worked first try.

UPDATE: We took everyone's advice and tried multiple approaches simultaneously. We mailed in the SSA-1199 form with a voided check, AND used the Claimyr service mentioned above to get through by phone. The phone method worked fastest - got us connected to an agent in about 25 minutes, and they set up the direct deposit immediately. They confirmed it's now in the system and ready for any future payments or backpay if the WEP reform goes through. Thank you all for your help!

As a fellow educator dealing with WEP, I wanted to share another option that worked for me. If you have a local SSA office that offers walk-in services (not all do anymore), you can sometimes get helped without an appointment during off-peak hours. I went to my local office at 2pm on a Tuesday and waited about 45 minutes, but the representative was able to set up my direct deposit on the spot. They also updated my address and verified all my information while I was there. It might be worth calling your local office first to confirm they still accept walk-ins for this type of service request. Having everything ready in one visit was definitely worth the wait time for me.