More than 3.2 million Social Security recipients—including teachers, firefighters, and police officers—are set to receive a boost in their benefits following the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) under the Social Security Fairness Act.
With retroactive payments being processed now and increased monthly payments starting in April, here’s what you need to know about these changes and how they might affect you.
Contents
- 1 What Did the Social Security Fairness Act Change?
- 2 When Will You Receive Your Increased Social Security Payments?
- 3 How Much Will Your Benefits Increase?
- 4 How Many People Were Affected by WEP and GPO?
- 5 How Will You Know If You Will Receive a Larger Payment?
- 6 How Does This Affect the Future of Social Security?
- 7 Key Takeaways
- 8 FAQs:
What Did the Social Security Fairness Act Change?
The bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law last year, repealed two key provisions that reduced benefits for certain public sector retirees:
- Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP): Previously reduced Social Security benefits for those who worked in both covered (Social Security-paying) and non-covered public sector jobs.
- Government Pension Offset (GPO): Reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers receiving a government pension.
With these provisions rescinded, millions of retirees will now receive their full Social Security benefits.
When Will You Receive Your Increased Social Security Payments?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has already begun issuing payments, following an aggressive timeline to process increases quickly.
- One-time retroactive payments will be processed through March 2025.
- Increased monthly payments will begin in April 2025.
- Funds will be deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts on record with the SSA.
The SSA has asked recipients to wait until April before inquiring about missing retroactive payments, as processing will continue throughout March.
How Much Will Your Benefits Increase?
The amount of your benefit increase depends on whether you were affected by WEP or GPO.
| Affected Group | Estimated Monthly Increase |
|---|---|
| WEP Beneficiaries | $360 per month on average |
| GPO Beneficiaries | $700 – $1,190 per month on average |
These estimates are based on projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in September 2024.
How Many People Were Affected by WEP and GPO?
According to the Congressional Research Service, as of December 2023:
- 745,679 people (about 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries) had their benefits reduced by GPO.
- 2.1 million people (about 3% of all Social Security beneficiaries) had their benefits reduced by WEP.
How Will You Know If You Will Receive a Larger Payment?
The SSA will mail notices to those eligible for an increase in the coming weeks. If you already receive Social Security and were affected by WEP or GPO, you do not need to take any action—your payments will automatically adjust.
However, you may need to file an application if you never applied for benefits due to WEP or GPO.
How to Apply for Benefits
If you never applied for retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits due to WEP or GPO, you should:
- Apply online at the SSA website and select “Family Benefits” (this covers both retirement and Medicare).
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM ET).
- When prompted, say “Fairness Act.”
- You’ll be connected to a WEP-GPO trained representative who can assist with your claim.
How Does This Affect the Future of Social Security?
While this legislation provides immediate relief to public sector retirees, it will also accelerate the depletion of the Social Security trust fund.
- The 2024 Social Security and Medicare trustees report estimated that the program would be unable to pay full benefits by 2035.
- The Social Security Fairness Act will shorten the trust fund’s solvency by about six months.
With 72.5 million Americans relying on Social Security, the program’s future remains a hot-button issue in political debates.
Key Takeaways
- The Social Security Fairness Act repealed WEP and GPO, restoring full benefits to affected retirees.
- Retroactive payments are being processed now, with most issued by the end of March.
- Increased monthly payments will begin in April 2025.
- Most beneficiaries do not need to take action—payments will adjust automatically.
- If you never applied for benefits due to WEP or GPO, you may need to file an application.
- The law will hasten Social Security’s insolvency date by six months, adding to ongoing concerns about the program’s future.
If you are eligible, check your April payment statement and follow up with the SSA in April if necessary.
FAQs:
When will I receive my retroactive Social Security payment?
Most eligible beneficiaries will receive their one-time lump sum by the end of March 2025.
When will my monthly benefits increase?
The SSA will adjust monthly payments throughout March, with increases reflected in April’s payments.
How much more will I receive?
WEP-affected retirees will receive about $360 more per month.
GPO-affected retirees will receive $700 to $1,190 more per month.
