On January 5, 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, which is considered a historic decision. Through this new law, the old rules WEP and GPO will be abolished and both these rules have been reducing the social security of such government employees for a long time and they also took non-social security pensions such as teachers, policemen or firefighters.
And since these rules have been implemented, millions of retirees have begun receiving their full Social Security pension, and some others have seen their pensions increase by as much as $3,455 per month, making their retirement lives more comfortable.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Law Signed | January 5, 2025 |
| Signed By | President Joe Biden |
| Key Provisions Repealed | Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), Government Pension Offset (GPO) |
| Affected Individuals | Over 3.2 million public sector retirees |
| Average Monthly Increase | Approximately $360 |
| Maximum Monthly Benefit | Up to $3,455 |
| Retroactive Payments | Averaging $6,710, dating back to January 2024 |
| Full Implementation Expected By | November 2025 |
| Official SSA Portal | ssa.gov |
What is the Social Security Fairness Act?
What did WEP and GPO do?
- WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision): If someone was receiving a non-Social Security pension, their Social Security pension was reduced.
- GPO (Government Pension Offset): If you were receiving a government pension, then the amount received from your spouse’s social security was also deducted.
These two rules mostly affected government employees, due to which they were not able to get full pension.
What has changed now?
With this new law, both WEP and GPO have now been removed. That is, people whose social security pension was reduced earlier, will now start getting the full amount.
Not only this, this change has been considered effective from January 2024. This means that people whose pension was reduced earlier, are being given the previous amount in one go (lump sum).
Who will be benefited from this?
Eligibility criteria:
- You must have suffered loss due to WEP or GPO earlier.
- You must have done a government job in which social security was not applicable.
- You are receiving or eligible for social security pension.
Benefits:
- An average increase of $360 every month.
- Some people are getting up to $3,455, depending on their age and job history.
- Pending amount from January 2024 to now: $6,710 on average.
Implementation timeline:
- January 5, 2025: The law is passed.
- February 2025: The SSA (Social Security Administration) begins sending retroactive payments.
- March 2025: More than $7.5 billion is sent to 1.1 million people.
- April 2025: New monthly pension with higher amount begins.
- By November 2025: The SSA aims to complete all adjustments.
What to do if you also want to get this increased money?
- Check your eligibility – Visit the SSA website to see if you were affected by WEP or GPO.
- Login to your account – Go to ‘my Social Security’ account to get information about the new amount.
- Check SSA notifications – SSA is sending information through letters and emails. Keep your address and email updated.
- Seek financial advice – Pension increases may have tax implications, so talk to a financial advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to apply for this?
No. SSA is updating the pensions of eligible people on its own.
When will I get retroactive payments?
It has started coming in from February 2025, and everyone will get it by November 2025.
Will this increased pension be taxed?
It depends on your total income. Consult a tax expert.
I think I am eligible but the pension has not increased?
In such a situation, contact SSA directly or visit the nearest SSA office.
Conclusion:
If you ever felt that you were wronged because your pension was cut despite your hard work, this new law brings relief to you. Now you will get full pension – that too with past dues. The process has already started from SSA, so keep an eye on the updates and seek help if needed.
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