Teachers, Police Among Millions Waiting Over a Year for Social Security Raises!

Race Day Live Government retirees, including teachers, police officers, and their spouses, who are set to benefit from the repeal of a Social Security penalty, might have to wait over a year for their monthly payments to be adjusted.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has stated on its website that processing these changes and issuing back payments will take time.

The Social Security Fairness Act, introduced by former Republican Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on January 5. However, SSA officials need to create a plan for putting the law into action.

SSA Says Budget Issues Are Causing Delays

According to the SSA, the agency is already working on helping some beneficiaries, but due to its current budget situation, it could take over a year to adjust benefits and issue retroactive payments.

The delay is primarily due to staff shortages and the lack of funding from Congress to implement the law efficiently.

The SSA explained, “SSA’s ability to implement the law promptly and without negatively affecting day-to-day customer service relies on funding. The Act did not provide money to implement the law.”

What the New Law Changes?

The new law eliminates two penalties from the 1980s, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

These penalties had previously reduced Social Security benefits for government retirees who earned pensions but also worked in jobs covered by Social Security.

Because of these penalties, about 3 million retirees across the country were unable to collect their full Social Security benefits. In Louisiana alone, about 94,000 people will benefit from this change.

SSA Facing Staffing Issues and High Call Volumes

The SSA is currently dealing with staff shortages, which has further complicated the process. The agency has been operating under a hiring freeze since November 2024, and officials believe this freeze will continue.

“Helping people with this new and unfunded workload is made more difficult by SSA’s ongoing staffing shortages,” the agency explained. “All SSA customers, including those not affected by the Act, will face delays and increased wait times as SSA prioritizes this new workload.”

The SSA also reported that it is receiving thousands of calls each day from people asking about the new law. Local offices are seeing an increase in visitors and appointment requests, and this trend is expected to continue for the next several months.

Lawmakers Pushing for Faster Implementation

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana played a key role in getting the bill passed in the Senate. He emphasized the importance of making sure the SSA moves quickly to implement the changes.

“Congress delivered a huge win for those who were harmed by WEP and GPO but nevertheless kept pushing,” Cassidy said in a statement to USA Today Network.

“Getting the Social Security Fairness Act through Congress was a big priority, and now making sure the Social Security Administration implements it quickly is just as important.”

How Much Will Monthly Benefits Increase?

On average, retirees affected by the law will see a monthly increase of about $360. However, some could receive raises of $1,000 or more.

Since the law is retroactive to January 1, 2024, eligible retirees will also receive a lump sum payment for past months in addition to their increased monthly benefits.

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What Retirees Should Do Now?

Those who have already applied for Social Security benefits do not need to submit a new application.

However, they should ensure their contact information and direct deposit details are up to date. Retirees can verify or update their information by logging into their SSA account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

When Can Beneficiaries Expect Their Money?

Because the SSA needs time to adjust benefits and process payments, retirees should prepare for a wait of more than a year.

The delay is frustrating for many retirees who were hoping for immediate financial relief. However, the SSA has assured the public that it is working on implementing the law as quickly as possible. In the meantime, those affected should stay informed by checking the SSA website for updates.

Final Thoughts

While the repeal of WEP and GPO is a significant victory for millions of government retirees, delays in implementation mean many will have to wait before seeing the financial benefits.

With funding and staffing shortages slowing down the process, retirees should remain patient but proactive by keeping their SSA accounts updated. Lawmakers continue to push for faster action, but for now, retirees may have to wait more than a year before receiving their full Social Security benefits.

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