Beginning this week, Social Security recipients in the United States who are impacted by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) will start receiving their one-time retroactive benefits. The majority of beneficiaries will receive their money before the end of March, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which has stated that the payments will be distributed gradually over the course of the following month. These checks are separate from the SNAP Food Stamps checks that are due to arrive in the next few days.
These payments are for benefits due since January 2024 and are part of the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, which eliminated both provisions. Thanks to process automation, SSA has been able to drastically reduce waiting times, although some retirees with more complex cases may take longer to get their payments.
Beneficiaries will have to wait until April for consultations
SSA has advised beneficiaries to wait until April before contacting the agency to inquire about their payments, as many will not see the changes reflected until the end of March. Initially, SSA had estimated that the payment distribution process would take more than a year due to budget and staffing constraints, but the use of new technological tools has accelerated the timeline.
According to SSA Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek, this move seeks to ensure that beneficiaries get their payments as quickly as possible. “SSA has prioritized the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act to ensure that people affected by WEPs and GPOs get the benefits they are entitled to without further delay,” Dudek stated.
Who benefits from these payments?
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, eliminated the WEP and GPO provisions, which reduced or eliminated Social Security payments to certain public sector workers and their surviving spouses. These rules affected approximately 3 million people, including:
- Public sector retirees who also worked in the private sector and contributed to Social Security.
- Surviving spouses whose benefits were reduced by up to two-thirds due to GPO.
- Teachers, firefighters and police officers, among other public employees.
With the elimination of WEPs and GPOs, these beneficiaries will now be able to get their full Social Security benefits. For more information on the implementation of this measure, SSA has provided details on its official website.
