Getting rid of WEP and GPO?

[Dreamer]

I am planning on continuing to live, but I told my DH and my kids, to be sure and file for an underpayment, if I do die before I receive anything.

I agree, that we will probably be waiting a long time. If not, I will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Drake3287]

I am planning on continuing to live, but I told my DH and my kids, to be sure and file for an underpayment, if I do die before I receive anything.

I agree, that we will probably be waiting a long time. If not, I will be pleasantly surprised.

Yep, for some and hopefully yourself, you might be looking at $20k or more if this takes until the end of the year. In a sense hopefully it'll be after January 1, 2026, if Trump is able to get rid of taxes on SS, it probably won't be in effect until January 1, 2026 anyway. These $20K+ lump sums are going to put a lot of people in a different tax bracket.

 

[Alan]

SHOCK!!

I just received a response from the FBU, although I’m not sure I believe it yet as I just logged onto my SSA account and the status as of November 12 still says it is being reviewed by an agent in London but I am definitely feeling more hopeful.

Thank you for contacting the Federal Benefits Unit at US Embassy London.

Thank you for alerting us as per your email. We have transferred the case for processing in the United States, if we need anything further from you we will let you know.


MHU
*****

 

[Drake3287]

I made it! 26 days since applying for spousal retirement benefits under the new WEP/GPO rules and it's been approved. I logged in tonight and STEP 3 is complete and my application has been officially approved. I assume I'll be getting a letter explaining the details including monthly amount at some point.

In my case I'm a retired public employee with a sizable pension and never payed into SS other than a few years when I was a teenager. Hopefully the rest of you will have the same luck I did. My application was proceeded through the Richmond, CA office if it helps anyone.

 

[PERSonalTime]

I made it! 26 days since applying for spousal retirement benefits under the new WEP/GPO rules and it's been approved. I logged in tonight and STEP 3 is complete and my application has been officially approved. I assume I'll be getting a letter explaining the details including monthly amount at some point.

In my case I'm a retired public employee with a sizable pension and never payed into SS other than a few years when I was a teenager. Hopefully the rest of you will have the same luck I did. My application was proceeded through the Richmond, CA office if it helps anyone.

Congratulations! You’ll probably get the letter within two weeks.

 

[Drake3287]

Congratulations! You’ll probably get the letter within two weeks.

Turns out I found the letter detailing the amounts, etc on the web site itself once I downloaded it. In my case I start SS today, February 1st and my first check will be next month which covers the month prior. Now I just need to submit Form W-4 to voluntary withhold taxes. Be interesting to see if the current administration actually gets rid of Social Security taxes. Even if they do pull it off I'm sure it wouldn't be effective until 2026.

 

[Sue J]

Turns out I found the letter detailing the amounts, etc on the web site itself once I downloaded it. In my case I start SS today, February 1st and my first check will be next month which covers the month prior. Now I just need to submit Form W-4 to voluntary withhold taxes. Be interesting to see if the current administration actually gets rid of Social Security taxes. Even if they do pull it off I'm sure it wouldn't be effective until 2026.

So nice to see these updates. This is really happening! Is the benefit amount what you were expecting based on your spouse's PIA? Were you able to do the backdating for 6 months to get a lump sum?

We got our certified marriage certificate in the mail and DHs appointment is Monday, the 10th.

 

[FIYes]

Thanks for the updates. My appointment is not until February 27, so I’m very interested in what others are finding out.

 

[Drake3287]

Thanks for the updates. My appointment is not until February 27, so I’m very interested in what others are finding out.

Make sure you bring your Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate (not copies) if they don't already have it on file. You'll also need to fill out form SSA-3 which your spouse will need to sign.

 

[1242Vintage]

Following …

Wife was in private sector for a decade and then a part-time school teacher (when kids were little) for another decade. She’s 61 now and will apply for SS this Summer.

 

[PERSonalTime]

Make sure you bring your Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate (not copies) if they don't already have it on file. You'll also need to fill out form SSA-3 which your spouse will need to sign.

I'm not sure you'll need to complete the SSA-3 since you'll have your actual marriage certificate, but take everything you think you may need to complete the application process. Good luck!

 

[Drake3287]

I'm not sure you'll need to complete the SSA-3 since you'll have your actual marriage certificate, but take everything you think you may need to complete the application process. Good luck!

In my case I did. I filed for Medicare under my wife's work history last year and at the time I supplied both my birth certificate and marriage license. When I just recently applied for this spousal SS benefit they sent me a letter stating they needed form SSA-3 to complete my application. Easy form to fill out anyway.

 

[Alan]

SHOCK!!

I just received a response from the FBU, although I’m not sure I believe it yet as I just logged onto my SSA account and the status as of November 12 still says it is being reviewed by an agent in London but I am definitely feeling more hopeful.

just checked my application online and the FBU in London have indeed kicked it back to the USA as my status is now waiting on a review by an agent in Baltimore. Very promising indeed.

 

[FIYes]

Thanks Drake, since I filed for Medicare under DH’s work history I will probably be in the same situation. The interview that I have is a phone interview.

 

[zl55lz]

Please note the ssa.gov site has a new update as of today, Feb 3. Some additional info in Q&A, especially about how to get directed via the prompt when calling the national phone number.

Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update | SSA

Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update

www.ssa.gov

 

[Gumby]

Please note the ssa.gov site has a new update as of today, Feb 3. Some additional info in Q&A, especially about how to get directed via the prompt when calling the national phone number.

Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update | SSA

Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update

www.ssa.gov

Thanks for the new info.

 

[Dreamer]

https://www.collins.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/252025_letter_to_ssa_re_hr82wepgpoimplementation.pdf

This is making me more hopeful that it will not be over a year.

 

[zl55lz]

https://www.collins.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/252025_letter_to_ssa_re_hr82wepgpoimplementation.pdf

This is making me more hopeful that it will not be over a year.

My understanding is that those who are filing a new claim now--those who had not previously filed a claim under the old law--will have their claims processed fairly quickly and payment processed, possibly including retroactive benefits, shortly thereafter.

For those claims processed previously, it could take some time to do the adjustment. As there are a variety of situations involving those previously impacted by GPO/WEP, perhaps some will be easier to adjust and thus sooner.

Thanks for the info. Please post if any response to the letter is seen.

 

[Drake3287]

That letter to Social Security from the Senators is a great start but you still can't blood out of a turnip. I don't think most people understand the monumental task it's going to be to go through millions of SS accounts and figure out the new amount not to mention retroactive payments. Even during normal times anything from a Federal office takes forever. SS will need additional funds to either hire more people or pay lot of OT. It'll be interesting to watch it unfold.

 

[Backpacker]

It just doesn't seem that hard to me. My mother is affected by this and I have a letter from SSA from last year stating exact amount of her reduction. Write a file maintenance report and run a batch job and boom, all done.

 

[aldo]

This issue has been off my radar. I wonder if I now qualify for SS spousal benefits. DW and I both collect CSRS pensions; DW also collects SS benefits but I only have 2 quarters so don't qualify. We've been retired over 15 years. If I now qualify, how do I proceed? TIA

 

[ronin]

I couldn't get into my wife's mySocialSecurity account without creating a login.gov. That gave me problems and I had to wait for a letter with a PIN code which didn't arrive for 3 weeks. So we filed out the application for a new claim for her on my benefit (which was WEPed originally and her spousal was GPOed completely so we never applied for her before) and then sent it to the local office through the mail. That was mid-January. Haven't heard anything back yet. Naturally, a week later the letter with the PIN arrive and I was able to finally access her mySS account online. Didn't want to file an online application on top of the paper one already sent in. Not sure what to do other than wait a while longer and then try to contact the local office to see what's up.

 

[Dreamer]

This issue has been off my radar. I wonder if I now qualify for SS spousal benefits. DW and I both collect CSRS pensions; DW also collects SS benefits but I only have 2 quarters so don't qualify. We've been retired over 15 years. If I now qualify, how do I proceed? TIA

I would call the toll free number for social security or your local social security office and tell them that you need to file for spouse's benefits. If you are over full retirement age, you need to contact them before the end of the month, so that you can get your retroactive benefits due plus your current benefits.

 

[youbet]

I would call the toll free number for social security or your local social security office and tell them that you need to file for spouse's benefits. If you are over full retirement age, you need to contact them before the end of the month, so that you can get your retroactive benefits due plus your current benefits.

Why would there be retroactive benefits if this is the initial application?

 

[Dreamer]

You can receive up to six months retroactive benefits if you are at least FRA plus 6 months. For instance, if he is 70, he would be eligible for 6 months retroactive benefits. If he is not FRA, then he would not be eligible.