You could be one of millions of people who may see their monthly Social Security payments increase by up to $1,190, depending on your situation, thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act. Find out if you qualify! For more detailed information, please visit the SSA’s dedicated webpage: https://www.ssa.gov/
In one of his final acts in office, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5, 2025. This new law could provide a significant financial boost for over 3.2 million Americans, especially those who work in public service jobs like teaching, law enforcement, and firefighting.
The law repeals two rules—called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—that had been reducing the Social Security benefits of some public workers. Here’s what you need to know about how it could affect you.
What Were the Problems with WEP and GPO?
The WEP and GPO were designed to stop people from “double-dipping” by getting both a public pension and Social Security benefits. These rules hurt people who worked in jobs where they didn’t pay Social Security taxes, like many teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
- WEP reduced Social Security benefits for people who earned a pension from non-Social Security jobs.
- GPO took away a person’s ability to receive Social Security benefits from their spouse, ex-spouse, or deceased spouse if they had a public pension from a non-Social Security job.
As a result, many workers who had paid into Social Security elsewhere or through side jobs were not getting the full benefits they were owed.
How Does the New Law Help?
The Social Security Fairness Act gets rid of these two rules, meaning millions of people could see their monthly Social Security payments increase by up to $1,190, depending on their situation.
For example, a teacher in Massachusetts who worked in a job where they didn’t pay Social Security taxes but also had side jobs where they did, may see their benefits go up once they start receiving Social Security. They will also get retroactive payments—back pay for the amount they should have received since January 2024.
Who Will See a Boost in Benefits?
The new law mostly helps public workers who were hurt by these rules, like:
- Teachers
- Firefighters
- Police officers
- Other public employees who don’t pay into Social Security
If you’re one of these workers and you had a pension from a job that didn’t contribute to Social Security, you may be eligible for higher benefits. For example, if you qualify for Social Security benefits based on your own work history or your spouse’s work history, you’ll now receive the full amount.
When Will the Changes Take Effect?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has already started adjusting payments. If you were already receiving Social Security before January 2024, your monthly payments will be recalculated, and you’ll receive retroactive payments for the months you were underpaid.
Most people will see their new, higher benefits starting in April 2025. And if you haven’t applied for Social Security yet, you’ll get the correct payment when you do, based on your eligibility.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve been impacted by the WEP or GPO, the Social Security Fairness Act is great news. Public workers who have been underpaid for years could now see a significant increase in their Social Security checks, along with a lump-sum payment for missed benefits.
The Social Security Administration has promised to process these changes quickly, with most retroactive payments expected by the end of March 2025.
For more information, or to check if you’re eligible for these benefits, visit the SSA’s dedicated website.
Some Things to Keep in Mind
While the new law will help many people, some experts worry that increasing benefits for millions of people could make Social Security’s financial issues worse. The Social Security trust fund is only expected to be able to pay full benefits until 2035, and these new payments could speed up the need for reforms.
But for now, if you’re a public worker who has been affected by the WEP or GPO, this is a big win. You may be getting more money in your pocket very soon.
