Sep 25, 2025

Social Security Fairness Act and Your Benefits

The Social Security Fairness Act repeals two long-standing rules that reduced Social Security benefits for many government and public sector workers. Read through to learn more about the act and whether these changes affect you.

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on Jan. 5, 2025, repeals two long-standing provisions: the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. The repeal of these provisions restores Social Security benefits to millions of public workers who had seen their monthly checks reduced under these rules, which were enacted in 1977 (the GPO) and 1983 (the WEP, with an update to the GPO).

Both the GPO and the WEP were designed to prevent certain retirees from receiving what lawmakers considered "extra" Social Security benefits.

• The GPO reduced Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for people who also received a government pension from a job where they did not pay into Social Security. It cut the Social Security benefit by two-thirds of the pension amount.
• The WEP reduced Social Security benefits for people who also received a pension from a job where they did not contribute to Social Security. This primarily affected state and local workers — such as teachers, librarians, police officers and firefighters — whose employers did not withhold Social Security taxes from their pay.

The Social Security Fairness Act applies retroactively to Jan. 1, 2024. Retirees whose benefits were reduced under the GPO or WEP will now have their benefits recalculated without those reductions, typically resulting in a higher monthly Social Security payment.

What you should do next

• Review your benefits. Go to ssa.gov to check your earnings record and benefit estimates. You may need to create an account to access this data and utilize the online tools.
• Verify your record. Make sure your earnings history is accurate; errors could affect your benefit amount.
• Contact the Social Security Administration. Call or visit the SSA for assistance with your specific situation and paperwork. Wait times may be longer than usual, even if you have scheduled an appointment.

If you are a retired public servant who has been subject to GPO or WEP reductions, checking your data is especially important. If you're unsure how the repeal affects you, consult a tax or financial professional to make sure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.

  ©2025