WEP and GPO Repeal: A Landmark Win for Retired Public Servants

Time to Revisit Your Benefits

Following decades of advocacy, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) have officially been repealed. Signed into law on January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits to millions of public-sector retirees whose benefits were previously reduced – and it does so retroactively.

For retired teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others affected by these provisions, this moment brings long-overdue recognition and financial relief.

What Were WEP and GPO?

• WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) reduced Social Security retirement benefits for individuals who also received a pension from employment that didn’t pay into Social Security – such as certain state and local government roles.
  
• GPO (Government Pension Offset) reduced or eliminated spousal and survivor benefits for those receiving similar government pensions.

Together, these provisions impacted more than 2.8 million retirees, most of whom dedicated their careers to public service without paying into the Social Security system for part of their working lives.

What Has Changed – and When?

• Effective Date: The repeal applies retroactively to January 1, 2024.
  
• Who Benefits: Individuals receiving pensions from non-covered employment (i.e., work not subject to Social Security taxes) who saw their benefits reduced under WEP or GPO.
  
• Not Affected: Most public-sector workers today – roughly 72% – are covered by Social Security and were not subject to these reductions.
  

How and When Benefits Are Recalculated

For Those Affected by WEP:

• Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is now recalculated using the standard Social Security formula – without the WEP reduction.
  
• You are entitled to retroactive payments covering the difference from January 2024 onward.
  

For Those Affected by GPO:

• Spousal and survivor benefits are now fully restored.
  
• Retroactive payments also apply from January 2024.
  

Most eligible retirees received a one-time retroactive payment by the end of March 2025, followed by higher monthly benefit amounts starting in April 2025 (for March benefits). Cases requiring manual review may take longer, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) expects all adjustments to be completed by early November 2025.

How Much Will You Receive?

Benefit increases vary based on:

• Your lifetime Social Security earnings
• The size of your non-covered pension
• When you began receiving benefits

Example:
A retired teacher with a $1,000/month pension and a WEP-reduced Social Security benefit of $800 (instead of the full $1,200) would now receive the full $1,200. They would also receive a retroactive payment of $400 per month for every month since January 2024 – plus the adjusted monthly benefit going forward.

If you're unsure what your benefit should be, several financial planning tools and calculators are now available to help project your unreduced amount.

What Should You Do Next?

• No Action Required: The SSA is automatically recalculating and issuing payments for most affected beneficiaries.
  
  
• Watch for Notices: SSA will send letters outlining the benefit increase and any retroactive payment amounts. Some may receive multiple notices as changes are processed.
  
  
• Check Your Record: Visit SSA.gov to confirm your earnings history and benefit details.
  
  
• If You Never Applied: If you were previously ineligible for spousal or survivor benefits due to GPO, you may now apply by contacting SSA and referencing the Social Security Fairness Act.
  
  
• Haven’t Heard by Now? If you believe you are eligible and have not received a notice or payment, reach out to SSA.
  

A Step Toward Fairness

The repeal of WEP and GPO is more than a technical change – it represents long-overdue progress for those who devoted their careers to serving the public. While recalculations may take time in certain cases, the outcome is clear: higher monthly benefits, retroactive compensation, and a more equitable system for millions of Americans.

Source:
Information in this article is current as of May 2025, based on official guidance from the Social Security Administration and leading retirement policy organizations.