Military reservists who receive a pension based in whole or in part on reserve service before 1988 have been subject to the WEP. However, P.L. 103-296 excludes the application of WEP to Social Security benefits where the pension is based, in part, on non-covered reserve duty before 1988, but after 1956.

The WEP no longer applies to the benefits of retired or disabled workers receiving military pensions based, in part, on inactive duty (including weekend drills) from 1957 to 1987. The WEP will not apply because of pensions based on military reserve service before 1988 and after 1956, but may still apply because of the receipt of another non-covered pension.

There is no time limit for a beneficiary to ask that we recompute their PIA to remove the WEP reduction. However, reductions based on this provision cannot be removed for occurrences before 1/95.

This provision applies to:

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  claimants whose date of entitlement to retirement or disability benefits is 1/95 or later; and

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  beneficiaries on the rolls as of 1/95 whose PIAs were computed under the modified formula because of a military pension based, in part, on non-covered reserve service after 1956 and before 1988.

Benefits for months before 1/95 may be subject to WEP. After removal of WEP caused by military reserve service, the WEP may still apply because of receipt of a pension based on non-covered employment.

Follow the procedure below when processing the “Request for WEP Exclusion”.

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  Computation of the PIA under the 1978 NS method, RS 00605.021

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  1977 Simplified OS PIA, RS 00605.030

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  WEP Computation and Recomputation Methods, RS 00605.369

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  WEP Postentitlement alerts, RS 00605.374