Social security payments to increase for millions

The Social Security Fairness Act has been signed into law. This marks a major victory for retirees across the U.S. The new legislation repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two rules that significantly reduced Social Security benefits for public-sector retirees. The repeal will result in an average monthly boost of $360 for over 3.2 million retirees. They will also receive retroactive lump sums averaging $6,710. The SSFA represents a significant victory for retirees who dedicated their lives to public service.

Gutting Social Security isn’t "efficient" — it’s a broken promise.

Democrats and Republicans should stand up and fight back to protect it.

My op-ed in Fox News:https://t.co/soEvuggNRJ

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 15, 2025

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) were enacted in 1983 as part of broader Social Security reforms. However, these rules unintentionally penalized millions of public-sector workers.

I am hearing every single day from constituents who are worried about their Social Security checks. Let me be clear: Social Security is an EARNED BENEFIT.

Trump and Musk’s attempts to steal Social Security checks from Americans are illegal and we will not stand for it. pic.twitter.com/cKfCy9qjR4

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 16, 2025

This was especially true for those who earned both a public pension and qualified for reduced Social Security benefits due to other employment. The provisions often resulted in unexpected cuts to retirement income. This caused financial strain for many retirees. Consider the case of a retired schoolteacher in Texas. Despite working 25 years in education, her school district didn’t pay into Social Security. She also worked part-time in the private sector, contributing to Social Security for 10 years.

It isn’t “efficient” to skip out on paying a contract, so it isn’t “efficient” to gut Social Security. This isn’t a partisan issue—it’s an ironclad promise we must keep. https://t.co/4mYzMTSpSV

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 15, 2025

Under WEP, her expected $1,200 monthly Social Security benefit was reduced to just $600. Now, with the Social Security Fairness Act in place, her benefit will return to the full $1,200 per month. She will also receive a retroactive payment of over $6,000 to cover the missed payments. The push to repeal WEP and GPO had been ongoing for decades. It often had bipartisan support but little progress.

My friend @RepHorsford is right. Democrats have a plan to strengthen Social Security – by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share, just like everyone else.

What’s the Republican plan? They want to slash & privatize your earned benefits to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. pic.twitter.com/cZVBzMP3TU

— Rep. John Larson (@RepJohnLarson) April 14, 2025

Social Security Fairness for Retirees

In 2023, over 300 co-sponsors in the House supported the bill but failed to reach a full vote. In 2024, the bill gained new momentum thanks to growing public pressure and advocacy from organizations like the National Education Association (NEA) and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). It received support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. In January 2025, the President signed the SSFA into law after it passed both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support. This legislation primarily impacts public school teachers, police officers and firefighters, municipal employees, federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and spouses and survivors of government workers. It’s estimated that over 3.2 million Americans were negatively affected by WEP and GPO. Most of them will now receive a significant boost in their retirement income. If you think you may be eligible, verify your eligibility. Check your SSA records to confirm your accurate earnings history and pension information. Update your contact information with the SSA. If you’re impacted, they will notify you by mail. Monitor your payments. Retroactive payments started in February 2025, with monthly benefit increases beginning in April 2025. If you haven’t received your payment, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. This legislation signals a shift in how policymakers approach Social Security fairness and sustainability. While the law addresses a long-standing inequity, it also raises important questions about future Social Security reforms, the system’s financial health, and how this will impact future retirees in hybrid or multi-pension systems. Financial planners and retirement advisors should revisit client strategies, particularly for public-sector workers, to incorporate the increased benefit streams. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), a strong supporter of the bill, said: “For decades, teachers, firefighters, and police officers were unfairly punished by outdated rules. The Social Security Fairness Act corrects that injustice and restores dignity to their retirement.” David Certner, AARP’s legislative policy director, added, “This is a major step forward in equitable retirement policy. We rarely see legislation with such immediate and direct impact.” Image Credits: Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash