Will SSA rehire retired employees to handle WEP/GPO repeal workload?
I've been hearing tons about the WEP/GPO repeal and how it's creating a massive backlog at Social Security offices. My brother-in-law used to work for SSA before retiring in 2022, and he mentioned they sometimes bring back retired employees during crunch times. Does anyone know if SSA is planning to rehire retired workers to help process all these new claims from the WEP/GPO repeal? Or if they're planning any special hiring initiatives? Just curious since so many people seem to be waiting months for appointments these days.
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Yara Khoury
Yes, SSA does occasionally rehire retired employees under what they call their 'Return to Work' program, especially when there are major policy changes like the WEP/GPO repeal. These are usually temporary positions (6-12 months) and they're particularly valuable because these former employees already know the systems and policies. My cousin works at our local field office and said they're definitely discussing expanding this program because of the massive influx of recalculations needed. The challenge is that they need Congressional approval for expanded funding to support these temp positions.
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Keisha Taylor
•so glad to hear this!! my mom has been waiting since march to get her pension offset removed and we cant even get through on the 800 number to ask questions!!
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StardustSeeker
I work as a benefits counselor and can confirm SSA has already started bringing back retirees in limited capacities. These rehires are focused on specific tasks related to the WEP/GPO workload rather than general customer service. The process is moving slower than ideal because all rehires need to be retrained on the current systems, which have been updated considerably in recent years. The real issue is that even with these rehires, SSA was already understaffed by about 13% before the repeal passed. They're essentially trying to handle a 30% workload increase with resources that were already stretched thin.
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Connor O'Reilly
•Thanks for the insider perspective! Do you know if they're prioritizing certain cases over others? My neighbor was told her GPO recalculation might take 8-9 months since she's already receiving benefits.
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Paolo Marino
Has anyone tried calling the SS office lately??? I've been trying for WEEKS to get through to ask about my husband's WEP recalculation and it's IMPOSSIBLE!!! Either busy signals or 3+ hour waits and then I get disconnected!!! This is ridiculous!!! They need to hire THOUSANDS more people not just bring back a few retirees!!!
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Amina Bah
•I had the same problem trying to get through about my WEP recalculation. After getting disconnected four times, I tried using Claimyr.com and finally got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They basically hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much frustration after weeks of trying on my own.
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Oliver Becker
my friend's daughter works at SSA and she said theyre bringing back some retired people but only ones who left in the last 2 years because of all the new computer systems
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Connor O'Reilly
•That makes sense. I imagine there's been a lot of technology changes even in just the last couple years. Did she mention how many people they're bringing back?
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Natasha Petrova
In my experience, government agencies NEVER plan ahead for these kinds of policy changes. Congress passes these laws with zero thought about implementation! The WEP/GPO repeal is great for beneficiaries like me, but they should've included funding for staff to handle the workload. My ex-wife worked for IRS for 30 years and said it was always the same story - big policy change, zero resources to implement it, then everyone blames the agency when there are delays. SMH.
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Keisha Taylor
•your so right!!! my dad worked for the post office and said the same thing happens there too
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Yara Khoury
Just an update - I spoke with my cousin at SSA today and she confirmed they're now actively recruiting retired employees in most regions. They're offering higher than usual compensation for these temporary positions, especially for those with experience in recalculations and pension offsets. The focus is on processing the backlog rather than customer-facing roles. She also mentioned they're developing a streamlined training program specifically for retired employees to get them up to speed on the new systems more quickly.
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StardustSeeker
•This is accurate. They're also prioritizing cases in a specific order: First, beneficiaries with the longest time having WEP/GPO reductions applied. Second, those with the largest dollar impact. Third, more recent retirees. The estimated timeframe to work through the entire backlog is 18-24 months, even with the rehires and additional temporary staff. It's worth noting that once your case is assigned to a technician, the actual recalculation typically takes only 2-3 weeks to complete.
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Amina Bah
I think this shows why it's sometimes better to delay applying for benefits if you can. My financial advisor suggested I wait until this backlog clears before applying for my retirement benefits (I'm affected by WEP). That way my application will include the correct calculation from the start instead of waiting for a recalculation. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of waiting.
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Connor O'Reilly
•That's a really good point I hadn't considered. I'm going to pass that along to my sister who's planning to file next year. Better to get it right the first time than deal with the recalculation mess.
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