The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law in January after strong bipartisan support. This law removes old rules that reduced Social Security benefits for certain workers who also received pensions.
Over 3.2 million people are affected, and while the law promises higher benefits, many are still waiting for their payments to be adjusted.
What the New Law Changes?
Previously, two rules—Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)—reduced benefits for people who worked in jobs that did not require Social Security tax payments.
These rules affected teachers, firefighters, police officers, federal employees, and workers under foreign social security systems.
Now that these rules are repealed, affected individuals could see benefit increases ranging from a small amount to over $1,000 per month.
The increase applies to future payments and retroactive benefits dating back to January 2024.
Delays in Benefit Adjustments
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has said it could take more than a year to process all the changes.
Many retirees who fought for the law are happy with the win but frustrated with the wait. The SSA advises beneficiaries to update their records to ensure smooth processing.
A Retired Teacher’s Long Fight
Roger Boudreau, a 75-year-old former English teacher, has been advocating for this change for years. He helped create the National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force and was proud to see the bill signed into law.
For years, Boudreau lost about $5,000 annually due to benefit reductions. Despite teaching for 30 years, he had to work additional jobs, such as driving taxis and selling swimming pools, to support his family. Now, he is waiting to see how much his benefits will increase.
“We understand it will take time,” he said. He urges retirees to contact their local SSA office to ensure their records are accurate.
A Firefighter’s Unexpected Setback
Carl Jordan, a retired fire captain from Canton, Ohio, was shocked to learn that his Social Security benefits would be reduced.
Over his 33-year career, he worked as a firefighter and medic, earning a pension. However, he also worked as a phlebotomist and blood technician, paying into Social Security separately.
Jordan estimated that his benefit reductions have cost him around $27,000, enough to cover over two years of mortgage payments.
The additional Social Security money will help him pay off his mortgage faster and make home improvements.
Despite attending the bill’s signing in Washington, D.C., he still has no clear timeline on when he will receive his increased benefits.
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A Young Advocate’s Effort
Eliseo Jimenez, an 18-year-old from Texas, played a surprising role in the fight for the Social Security Fairness Act.
His grandmother, a former teacher, relied mainly on her pension because of the old rules. Seeing how it affected his family, Jimenez walked from Texas to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness.
His efforts gained attention, and he was present when the bill was signed. President Joe Biden and other lawmakers even sang “Happy Birthday” to him during the event.
Jimenez is now planning another awareness walk in Texas, saying, “I want to keep advocating for Social Security reform.”
A Victory with Ongoing Challenges
The Social Security Fairness Act is a major win for millions of retirees. However, delays in benefit adjustments mean many are still waiting for their increased payments.
While the law corrects past unfairness, the long processing time highlights ongoing challenges in the Social Security system.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay updated on their records and remain patient as the SSA works through the backlog.
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