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Social Security Fairness Act

Financial Planning Insights Retirement Planning Social Security


Benefits Increasing for Some Public Service Retirees

Social Security changes often make headlines, and it’s easy to see why. With nearly 68 million Americans receiving benefits each month, plus millions more contributing to the system, Social Security has become an integral part of financial security for Americans since its establishment in 1935.

Over the years, the program has seen numerous adjustments; the most recent change coming with the Social Security Fairness Act which was signed into law in early January 2025. This new legislation directly affects a smaller subset of people who were subject to reduced benefits through the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

This act repeals GPO and WEP, restoring full pension benefits to public service retirees. Importantly, these changes will increase benefits for some people and have no impact on the rest – no one will see a reduction in benefits based on this change.

The Social Security Administration is evaluating the implementation of the act and will provide more information through their dedicated webpage as it becomes available.

What is the Government Pension Offset and Who Does It Affect?

The GPO is a provision that reduces spousal and survivor benefits for individuals who receive a pension from government employment not covered by Social Security. If you’ve worked in a federal, state, or local government job that didn’t pay into Social Security, and you're claiming, or planning to claim, spousal or survivor benefits, the GPO could apply to you.

What is the Windfall Elimination Provision and Who Does It Affect?

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive a pension from an employer that did not withhold for Social Security. This typically applies to workers from state or local government positions, or those employed by non-U.S. companies. Unlike the GPO, which affects spousal or survivor benefits, WEP specifically reduces your personal Social Security benefits.

What Should You Do If You’re Affected?

  • Stay Informed: The Social Security Administration is currently working on how to implement the changes from the Social Security Fairness Act and will provide additional information soon.
  • Update Your Information: Make sure the Social Security Administration has your most current contact details, including your mailing address and direct deposit information. You can easily update your information online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. 

As always, please reach out to your advisory team if you have questions, would like to discuss the impact of this change on your situation, or would like our assistance in determining whether you’re impacted at all.

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