The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that retirees impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) can expect to receive their retroactive payments much sooner than originally anticipated. Beginning Feb. 24, the SSA will issue lump-sum payments to retirees penalized by the two provisions.
The retroactive payments will return withheld benefits from January 2024 onward and will be paid directly into retirees’ bank accounts on file. Most retirees can expect to receive these payments by the end of March. In addition to the retroactive payments, the SSA will begin adjusting new monthly benefit totals for retirees.
Because Social Security payments are paid out a month behind, most retirees can expect to see their increased benefits by the end of April. General President Edward A.
fairness for retirees
Kelly expressed his satisfaction with the SSA’s expedited process, stating, “Retired firefighters, police officers, teachers, and others have waited long enough to get the full benefits they earned and paid into. We’re glad to see the Social Security Administration has sped up its process and will now be getting payments out to retirees in a matter of weeks, not years.
Retirees impacted by the change to the WEP and GPO provisions will receive a notice in the mail from the SSA explaining the changes to their account. Some may receive two notices – one to certify the removal of the penalties and another detailing new adjusted monthly benefits.
However, some complex cases will still have to be processed manually, which may delay payments for certain retirees. The SSA is asking all retirees to wait until April before inquiring about any delays. The increased payments result from the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law by former President Joe Biden on January 5.
The act repealed both WEP and GPO, which previously reduced or eliminated benefit payments for certain public sector employees, retirees, and their surviving spouses. WEP and GPO impact Social Security payments for roughly 3 million public sector employees, retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses. Repealing these provisions is expected to have an immediate, positive impact on those who have waited decades for this relief.
