The Social Security Administration has officially begun issuing retroactive payments to retirees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) rules.
This move follows mounting pressure from advocacy groups and recent progress on the Social Security Fairness Act, aimed at addressing long-standing payment reductions that disproportionately impacted public sector retirees like teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
Affected individuals may now:
- Receive back pay covering up to 12 months of benefits
- See increased monthly Social Security payments moving forward
- Gain clarity on their total eligibility if they previously received reduced benefits due to WEP/GPO
“It’s a long-overdue step toward equity,” said one SSA spokesperson. “We’re contacting eligible individuals now and processing back payments in phases.”
If you’ve worked in a non-covered public job and also paid into Social Security, now is the time to check your benefit records.
What to Do:
- Log into your My Social Security account to review updates
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 if you suspect you’re eligible but haven’t received notice
- Watch for official correspondence with back payment details
