12/21/2024
The Social Security landscape is about to change significantly. On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, with a bipartisan vote of 76-20, and is now headed to President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval. This groundbreaking legislation eliminates two provisions that have long reduced Social Security benefits for millions of public servants and other retirees.
What You Need to Know
Repeal of WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision): Restores full retirement and disability benefits for individuals with non-Social Security pensions, such as teachers and firefighters.
Repeal of GPO (Government Pension Offset): Ensures equitable spousal and survivor benefits for public servants.
Effective Date & Retroactive Payments:
Changes will apply to Social Security benefits payable for months after December 2023, with retroactive benefits available for payments lost during that period.
This reform will affect approximately 2.5 million beneficiaries, particularly in states like California, Texas, Illinois, and Massachusetts. However, concerns remain about the broader fiscal impact on Social Security's solvency.
FULL ARTICLE HERE:
December 21, 2024 — For Immediate Release In a landmark decision, the U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, with a resounding bipartisan vote of 76-20. This legislation repeals two provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension ...