Washington, D.C. | May 3, 2025 – In a historic move, Congress has officially repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) two controversial rules that slashed Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public servants.
Signed into law under the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025, the repeal restores full benefits to eligible workers who contributed to both Social Security and separate public pension systems.
“This is long overdue,” said retired teacher Carla James from Texas. “I paid into Social Security for years and now I’m finally getting what I earned.”
Why Did WEP & GPO Matter?
- WEP reduced Social Security benefits for workers who also received pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security.
- GPO cut spousal or survivor benefits for retirees with government pensions—often wiping them out entirely.
These provisions disproportionately impacted educators, postal workers, and first responders, particularly in states like California, Texas, and Louisiana.
What Changes in 2025?
- WEP and GPO penalties are permanently eliminated.
- The changes are retroactive to January 1, 2025.
- Affected retirees will see adjusted benefit amounts in upcoming payments.
SSA has announced it will begin recalculating benefits for current retirees and notifying newly eligible recipients in phases throughout May and June.
What You Should Do
- Check your SSA payment history by logging into your mySocialSecurity account
- If you previously applied and were denied full spousal benefits due to GPO, you may now be eligible.
- For questions, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office.
“This is a win for fairness and financial dignity,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, a key sponsor of the legislation.
