On January 5, 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, marking a monumental win for public employees nationwide. This long-awaited legislation repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)—policies that unfairly reduced Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, and other public servants for more than 40 years.
What Does This Mean for Public Workers?
With the repeal of WEP and GPO:
- Nearly 3 million public workers will now receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned.
- Beneficiaries will see an average increase of $360 per month in their Social Security payments.
- Many will receive lump sum payments to compensate for lost benefits in 2024.
- Spouses, widows, and widowers impacted by GPO will no longer see unfair reductions in their benefits.
These changes bring long-overdue financial relief to those who dedicated their careers to serving their communities.
A Decades-Long Fight for Fairness
The fight to repeal WEP and GPO has spanned decades, with advocacy groups and individuals tirelessly working to ensure that public employees are treated fairly in retirement. The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act is a testament to the power of advocacy and persistence.
“This victory is more than 40 years in the making,” said William Shackelford, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. “While we celebrate today, we also reflect on those who were impacted by these provisions but are no longer here to witness this change.”
Looking Ahead
This repeal represents a significant step forward in securing retirement equity for public workers. While we celebrate this historic moment, we remain committed to advocating for fair retirement benefits for all public servants.
To all those who contributed to this effort—thank you. This victory belongs to you. Together, we’ve made history.
Stay tuned for updates on implementing these changes and what they mean for you and your family.
To stay on top of pension news and more, sign up to get NPPC Daily News Clips delivered directly to your inbox, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.