WEP/GPO Repeal FAQ Updates: Retroactive Payments to Begin

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that starting the week of February 24, 2025, it will pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

If a beneficiary is due retroactive benefits as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act, they will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account SSA has on file, by the end of March. This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their benefit amount back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer apply. Read the latest update under “When will a person see their Social Security benefit increase because of the Social Security Fairness Act?”

The SSA also announced a new way to apply for retirement, spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s benefits if you did not previously apply because of the WEP and GPO. According to their website, the SSA “will take an application by telephone for people who did not previously apply for retirement benefits because of WEP or spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits because of GPO. If you meet these conditions, call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 6 PM ET. When the system asks, ‘How can I help you today?’ say ‘Fairness Act.’ Then, you’ll be asked a few questions. Your answers will help us connect you to a WEP/GPO trained representative to take your claim.

As the SSA shares updates on WEP/GPO repeal, NARFE wants to make sure its members are in the know on relevant information as it becomes available. NARFE’s Social Security Fairness Act FAQ can be found on our website here, and the SSA FAQ can be found here.