Social Security Fairness Act has marked a major reform for various public sector workers around the U.S, as it has eliminated the long-standing issues with previous provisions such as Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which primarily intended to protect the Social Security Benefits.
Social Security Fairness Act 2025
With widespread support from various legislative houses and the Senate, the Social Security Fairness Act became law on January 5, 2025. It ended the two major provisions, WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset), which have eliminated or reduced the Social Security Benefits of around 3 million people. These individuals received their pension based on their work, which was not covered under Social Security, as they did not pay the taxes.
This Act will increase the Social Security Benefits of various public sector workers, such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers, whereas it will also provide benefits to the federal employees of the Civil Service Retirement and individuals covered under the foreign social security system.
In this article, you will get the detailed information about the previous Social Security Benefits as well as the full details about the Social Security Fairness Act.
Social Security Fairness Act: Overview
| Article On | Social Security Fairness Act |
| Administered by | Social Security Administration |
| Country | U.S. |
| Implemented on | January 5, 2025 |
| Repealed provisions | Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)Government Pension Offset (GPO) |
| Affected individuals | Over 3 million |
| Beneficiaries | Public Sector Workers |
| Category | Government Aid |
| Official Website | ssa.gov |
Social Security Fairness Act: Introduction
The Social Security Fairness Act is introduced for those workers who worked in the public sector. This law aimed that all the employees of the public sector should receive the benefits of the Social Security, and no penalties should be charged on their earnings. Repealing the two previous provisions passed by the government will simplify their Social Security Benefits and reduce unwanted confusion and administrative burdens. These provisions were: –
- The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP): This provision had eliminated or reduced the Social Security Benefits of state or local public employees who received the pension or disability benefit and did not pay the Social Security taxes. In this provision, the individual had to work for nearly 10 years to avail the benefits.
- The Government Pension Offset (GPO): It impacted the Social Security Benefits that were paid to the partners and widows of state and local government employees. Under this provision, the spouses must have received the non-government pension. It had created a great financial burden for the retirees as well as their families.
Who Will Get the Benefit from the Social Security Fairness Act?
All the non-covered public sector workers will get benefits from this law, which includes: –
- All Local and State level public sector workers such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers working in major parts of the U.S., such as Alaska, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Nevada, and Illinois.
- Employed covered under the Civil Service Retirement System.
- Individuals whose work is covered by the foreign Social Security System.
According to the Social Security Administration, 72 per cent of the state and public sector workers have coverage under their employment, and these workers will not receive the increased benefit with the introduction of the new law.
What Steps Should to Receive the Benefits?
To avail the benefits provided by the Social Security Fairness Act, you must follow these steps:
- Check your eligibility: If you were previously affected by the WEP or GPO, or have experienced reduced benefits of the Social Security, or have received a non-covered pension, you will get the increased benefits.
- Apply for New Benefits: In case you have not received the previous benefits of Social Security due to WEP or GPO, you should fill out an application to avail the benefits. You have to submit your application on the official website of the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov. If you still have any queries, you can get direct assistance by calling call on 1-800-772-1213, from Monday to Friday between 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM.
- Update your personal information: Make sure that your personal information is updated with the SSA, as it will facilitate timely payments.
- Check the official website of SSA: As SSA is issuing additional payments and giving monthly benefits, you need to constantly check your emails and other sources of information regarding your benefits.
What Challenges Did the Law Face Before Implementation?
Strong decisions often face criticism. This law adjusted the Social Security benefits of nearly 3 million people, and now the administration is required to adjust the past and future benefits of these people. Till now, the administration has helped most of the affected beneficiaries, but looking at the current budget of the SSA, it is expected that the complex cases need an additional year to adjust the benefits; thereafter, the payment will be credited.
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Homepage | Moyle-Council.org |
FAQs on Social Security Fairness Act
When did the New Law of Social Security Fairness come into Effect?
The Social Security Fairness Act came into effect on January 5, 2025, under former President Joe Biden.
Will all the state and local public sector workers receive the increased benefit?
No, not all the public sector workers will receive the increased benefit.
By How Much Will an Individual’s Monthly Benefit Increase?
The monthly benefit amount may vary from person to person, as it depends on the type of social security benefit and the pension amount. The maximum benefit amount an eligible individual can get is $1,000 per month.
