The U.S. Social Security Administration is making waves by announcing massive payments to over a million Americans. This comes after two provisions, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), were repealed, which had previously reduced or eliminated benefits for certain individuals.
As of March 4, the SSA has already distributed over $7.5 billion in retroactive payments to more than one million people, with the average check amounting to $6,710.
The WEP and GPO provisions had been affecting over 3.2 million folks who receive a pension from jobs not covered by Social Security. But thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act signed by President Joe Biden in January, these provisions are no longer in play. This means millions are now eligible for retroactive payments, marking a significant win for many Americans.
Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Lee Dudek, highlighted how President Trump pushed for the swift implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act. The SSA rose to the challenge and is successfully delivering for the people. The agency continues to distribute the remaining retroactive payments, ensuring everyone gets what’s owed to them.
With the WEP and GPO out of the picture, many beneficiaries will see a boost in their monthly benefits starting in April. The increase will vary based on factors like the type of Social Security benefit received and the pension amount.
This change stands to benefit teachers, police officers, firefighters, federal workers under the Civil Service Retirement System, and those whose work is covered by a foreign social security system.
Beneficiaries expecting retroactive benefits or adjustments in their monthly checks will receive a notice in the mail from the SSA. Most people should see this notification two to three weeks after their payments are issued. It underscores the administration’s dedication to ensuring people receive their due payments promptly.
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska expressed her approval of the SSA’s announcement regarding the retroactive payments. She was instrumental in urging the swift implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act and has been an advocate for this cause for over two decades. Her efforts aim to ensure that public servants in Alaska receive the benefits they are rightfully entitled to.
Murkowski pointed out that the WEP reduced benefits for those receiving government pensions, while the GPO cut benefits for widows, spouses, and widowers whose partners had government pensions. Her focus has always been on making sure Alaskans, and indeed all Americans, get what they’ve worked hard for. Her gratitude towards the administration for acting quickly reflects her long-standing dedication to this issue.
Not everyone is on board with the Social Security Fairness Act, though. The Concord Coalition criticized the Act in December, claiming it overlooks the “real injustice.” They argue that many government employees, who pay into both Social Security and public pensions, are not being unfairly treated.
The Coalition highlighted that less than 30 percent of state and local government workers don’t participate in Social Security because they don’t pay the related payroll taxes.
They claim that these non-covered workers aren’t being denied benefits due to their public service but rather because they didn’t contribute to the system. Repealing the GPO and WEP, according to them, results in these individuals getting more than they paid for.
On the brighter side, the increase in monthly benefits starting in April is more than just a cost-of-living adjustment. The SSA had already raised benefits by 2.5 percent this year for over 72.5 million beneficiaries, which meant an average bump of $50 each month. This new change, however, offers an even greater financial lift for certain beneficiaries.
The adjustments reflect the administration’s commitment to ensuring that Social Security serves its purpose effectively. By addressing these longstanding issues with WEP and GPO, the SSA is taking significant strides towards fairness and justice for countless Americans.
It’s a move that undoubtedly aligns with principles held by leaders like Reagan and Goldwater, who emphasized fairness and efficient governance.
1 Comment
Certain beneficiaries, sounds great doesn’t it? The way I read it even those who never paid into the SS program is going to get it too , Who isn’t going to get , those of us that have paid into it for our entire adult life. But hey we get maybe 50.00 a month COLA. Hey and if you’re a Federal worker you will get it, Guess it will always be about the government. But hey, us little people can make due and pay a lot with that 50.00 extra a month even tho some of us didn’t even get that much. How about the government just repay all the money they’ve stolen over the years to fund all those wars , we didn’t have a say in , or as we’re finding out now , thanks to DOGE , all those idiotic programs we had our money stolen for.