The Social Security Fairness Act: WEP and GPO Repealed

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in January 2025, repealed two long-criticized rules — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that had reduced Social Security benefits for millions of public-sector workers and their families. Here is what changed and who benefits.

What WEP and GPO did

Both rules cut benefits for people tied to a pension from work not covered by Social Security (common for some teachers, firefighters, police officers, and federal employees under older systems):

• WEP reduced a worker's own Social Security benefit if they also received a non-covered pension.
• GPO reduced spousal and survivor benefits for people receiving a non-covered government pension — often eliminating them entirely.

What the law changed

The Social Security Fairness Act fully repealed both provisions. Affected beneficiaries now receive their full Social Security benefit with no WEP or GPO reduction. The change applies to benefits payable for months after December 2023.

Who benefits, and the back pay

Roughly 3 million people — largely public servants and their spouses and survivors — are affected. Because the repeal reaches back to January 2024, the Social Security Administration:

• issued one-time retroactive payments covering the increase owed for 2024, and
• raised monthly benefit amounts going forward, with most adjustments processed during 2025.

If you have a non-covered government pension and previously saw your Social Security reduced — or were denied a spousal or survivor benefit — you may now qualify for more.

What to do

Most adjustments were automatic. Make sure the Social Security Administration has your current mailing address and direct-deposit details, and review your benefit in your my Social Security account.

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This article is for general education and is not financial advice. If you think you're affected, confirm your situation with the Social Security Administration.