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It has been confirmed that the Social Security Fairness Act increases benefits for thousands of retirees across the country.
If you are one of the millions of people who had your Social Security reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset, this is great news, as these penalties no longer exist, and many retirees are already receiving higher Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Equity Act increases benefits by eliminating both the Social Security Equity Act (WEP) and the Social Security Protection Act (GPO).
These two rules reduced Social Security payments for those who also received a pension for non-covered government employment, such as teachers, firefighters or police officers.
However, from the benefits of January 2024, which were paid in February last year, these reductions no longer apply, which means that retirees affected by the WEP or GPO are now entitled to receive full benefits, just like everyone else.
In December 2023, the rules of the Social Security Fairness Act and the Social Security Protection Act were last applied, so if you received reduced benefits before that date, your new benefit increase began with the January 2024 payment, even if you have not yet taken any action.
If you are entitled to back payments, these will begin with the January 2024 payment (received in February). So far, the Social Security istration (SSA) has received more than 182,000 new applications since the law was ed and says it has already processed 85% of them.
Are you on the list of retirees who receive the most?
Here is the full list of retirees receiving the most benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act:
- Retired workers whose Social Security checks were reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
- Workers with disabilities affected by the WEP
- Spouses whose benefits were reduced or eliminated by the Government Pension Offset (GPO)
- Surviving spouses whose Social Security was cut or denied due to the GPO
- Retirees who delayed their application because they knew the WEP or GPO would reduce their benefits
If you belong to one of these groups, you have already started receiving additional benefits or are next in line.
If you are already receiving Social Security benefits and were affected by the WEP or GPO, there is good news, as you do not need to do anything if your mailing address and bank information are up to date with the SSA.
To make sure your information is correct, to your My Social Security or call 1-800-772-1213.
If you never applied for benefits because the WEP or GPO would have reduced them:
You must apply now to start receiving them. Visit ssa.gov/apply to apply online, and if you are applying for survivor benefits, you should call the SSA, as that form is not available online.
The date you apply will determine when your benefits begin and how much you will receive, so don't wait.