The Social Security Fairness Act: WEP and GPO Repealed
Watch on YouTube The Social Security Fairness Act (P.L. 118-273) repealed both the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset retroactive to January 2024. Over 3.2 million public employees - teachers, firefighters, police officers, and CSRS federal workers - saw average monthly increases of $360. This video explains what WEP and GPO did, who was affected in all 15 non-covered states, why the fight took 40 years, and what affected retirees need to do now. Next video covers the $17 billion in retroactive lump-sum payments and their tax consequences. Verify your updated benefit at SSA.gov.
▶ Watch next: Social Security Fairness Act Payout: The Retroactive Lump-Sum Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=222ijufX6PY
📺 Full playlist: Social Security (US - 2026) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIAFxS296491LWfYsLp6anRyo6_DO_pI
Chapters
On January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law, fully repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset retroactive to January 2024. About 3.1 million retirees — teachers, firefighters, police officers, and federal CSRS retirees — saw average benefit increases of $360/month. This was the largest SS rule change in a generation.
Key Topics
- What WEP did (reduced own SS for those with non-covered pensions)
- What GPO did (reduced spousal/survivor SS by 2/3 of non-covered pension)
- The decades-long fight for repeal
- Retroactive date: January 2024 (payments through 2025-2026 catch-up)
- Who was affected: CSRS feds, state teachers (CA, TX, OH, IL, MA), municipal workers
- Average benefit increase: $360/month
- No application required for most — recalculation is automatic