The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that starting the week of February 24, 2025, it will begin to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payment to individuals whose monthly Social Security benefits have been affected by the Windfall Government Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
On January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) was signed into law. The SSFA passage resulted in the elimination of the WEP and the GPO. The WEP provision was passed into law in 1985 by Congress and reduces the Social Security of an individual who is receiving a federal, state or local pension in which the individual while working for the government employer was not covered by Social Security. An example is a CSRS retiree. It needs to be emphasized that the WEP is a reduction (does not eliminate) an individual’s monthly Social Security benefit. The WEP has no effect on a CSRS retirement annuity.
SEE ALSO: How Will The Social Security Fairness Act Affect Federal Employees & Retirees?
The GPO was passed into law in 1977. The GPO is a reduction and most likely a total elimination of an individual’s spousal (or former spouse) Social Security benefit and a widow/widower Social Security benefit. The GPO affects individuals receiving a federal, state or local pension in which the individual while working for the government employer was not covered by Social Security. An example is a CSRS retiree.
A Social Security beneficiary who has been receiving their own Social Security benefit subject to the WEP, or a spousal benefit/widow(er) Social Security benefit subject to the GPO, is due to receive a retroactive lump sum payment benefit, a result of the SSFA passage. They will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account that the SSA has on file by the end of March 2025. This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their monthly benefit amount back to January 2024, the starting month when the WEP and GPO no longer applied.
When Adjusted Monthly Social Security Benefits Begin
Social Security benefits are paid one month behind. Most Social Security beneficiaries affected by the WEP or the GPO will begin receiving their new and full monthly benefit with no adjustment for the WEP or the GPO in April 2025. The payment in April 2025 is their March 2025 benefit.
Any individual whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from the SSA explaining the monthly benefit change or retroactive payment.
Note that a beneficiary may receive two mailed notices from the SSA. The first notice will discuss when the WEP or GPO is removed from their record and a second notice when the monthly benefit is adjusted for their new monthly payment amount. The beneficiary may receive the retroactive payment before receiving the mailed notice.
The SSA urges beneficiaries to wait until April 2025 to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment. This is because these retroactive payments will be processed incrementally throughout March 2025.
The amount of the new (and adjusted) monthly benefits can vary greatly in amount, depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefits received and the amount of a Social Security beneficiary’s government pension. Some beneficiaries’ monthly benefit will increase little while other beneficiaries may be eligible for over $1,000 more each month.
The SSFA applies to benefits an individual receives based on their own record, retirement or disability benefits, and to spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits based on another individual’s record. What action an individual needs to take depends on the individual’s situation and on what benefits the individual is eligible for:
Scenario 1. (1) An individual is entitled to his or her own Social Security retirement or disability benefit, and these benefits are being reduced by the WEP; or (2) An individual is entitled to half of their spouse’s (or former divorced spouse’s monthly benefit, or all of their deceased spouse’s (or deceased former divorced spouse’s) monthly benefit, and the benefits are currently being reduced and possibly eliminated by the GPO.
• If the individual knows that the SSA has his or her mailing address and/or direct deposit information on file, then no other actions are needed from the individual at this time.
• If the individual wants to verify that the mailing address and/or direct deposit information that the SSA has on file is accurate and up to date, then the individual:
a. The individual should check their online Social Security account by going online to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount in order to sign in or create an account, and
b. If the individual is unable to create an account, they should call 1-800-772-1213 to verify the information that the SSA has on file.
Scenario 2. An individual is not sure whether he or she has ever applied for: (1) His or her Social Security disability or retirement monthly benefit; or (2) Half of a spouse’s (or a former spouse’s) monthly benefit or all of a deceased spouse’s (or former deceased spouse’s) monthly benefit.
The individual may need to file an application with the SSA. The date of the application may affect when the individual’s benefits begin.
Scenario 3. An individual never applied for his or her Social Security retirement monthly benefit due to the WEP, or a spousal/surviving spouse month retirement benefit because of the GPO.
In this scenario, the individual may need to file an application. The date of the application may affect when the individual’s Social Security retirement benefit begins and the benefit amount. However, each case is different and all other Social Security laws and policies, such as reductions for claiming benefits before full retirement age, the retirement earnings test and other laws still apply.
Applying for One’s Own Retirement Benefit or a Spouse/Retirement Benefit
The most convenient way for an individual to apply for his or her Social Security retirement benefit or for a spouse’s retirement benefit is online at https://www.ssa.gov/apply. If applying for a spouse’s retirement benefit, please note that selecting “Family Benefits” will take the individual to the application for Retirement/Medicare benefits. This process ensures that the individual will be considered for all benefits the individual is entitled to.
The SSA can take an application by telephone for individuals who did not previously apply for their retirement benefit because of the WEP or GPO. If either of these situations exist, then the individual should call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00pm, Eastern Time. When the system asks: “How can I help you today?,” the individual should say “Fairness Act.” At that time, the individual will be asked a few questions. The individual’s answers will help the SSA to connect the individual to a WEP-GPO trained representative to take to the individual’s application.
Applying for a Surviving Spouse’s Retirement Benefit
Note a Social Security survivor retirement benefit application is not available online. An individual applying for a surviving spouse retirement benefit needs to call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00pm Eastern Time. When the system asks: “How can I help you today?,” the individual should say “Fairness Act.” At that time, the individual will be asked a few questions. The individual’s answers will help the SSA to connect the individual to a WEP-GPO trained representative in order to take to individual’s application.