Affected individuals, primarily those with pensions from non-covered employment, will see an average Social Security benefit increase of approximately $360 per month due to the Social Security Fairness Act. The law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), resulting in increases ranging from small amounts to over $1,000 monthly, plus retroactive payments to January 2024.
Second, How Much Will You Get (and What About Taxes)? The Social Security Administration says benefit increases can range from a small amount to more than $1,000 a month (the exact amount depends on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person's pension).
When will a person see their Social Security benefit increase because of the Social Security Fairness Act? Starting February 25, 2025: SSA began adjusting monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the WEP and GPO.
Yes, Social Security recipients received a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025, but the bigger news is that they are getting a larger 2.8% COLA for 2026, announced in October 2025, which began with January 2026 payments, increasing average benefits by about $56 per month. The 2025 COLA was a smaller 2.5% increase, while the 2026 adjustment reflects moderating inflation, leading to higher payments starting in the new year.
The legislation eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO.) It will stop the reduction of Social Security benefits for certain retirees who receive public pensions.
The Act is retroactive to January 2024, meaning December 2023 is the last month the WEP and GPO apply. The Social Security Administration (SSA) started issuing lump-sum payments to retirees in February 2025, effectively returning any withheld benefits from January 2024 onward.
What actions do you need to take? If you're already receiving a Social Security benefit, you do not need to take any action. However, you should ensure that your information is accurate by visiting ssa.gov/myaccount. If you or your spouse (if applicable) never applied, you can do so by visiting ssa.gov/apply.
The dollar amount increase to checks will vary depending on a person's benefit amount, but the average Social Security Retirement benefit, $2,008.31 in July 2025, will grow by about $56.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
President Biden signed the federal Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) into law on Sunday, January 5, 2025, impacting many CalSTRS members.
What's changed? The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, cancels and ends two outdated provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset act (GPO) — that had reduced Social Security benefits for public servants with government pensions.
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
Most beneficiaries will receive their new benefit amount in April of 2025. Learn more. Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (...
This law increases Social Security benefits for certain non-covered public sector workers. This includes some: Public workers at the state and local level—teachers, firefighters and police officers—mainly, in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
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If Social Security isn't enough, you should supplement your income through other savings (401k, IRAs, brokerage accounts), explore government aid like SSI, SNAP, and Medicaid, consider working part-time, use programs like NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp to find assistance, potentially delay claiming benefits for a higher monthly payout, or look into annuities for guaranteed income.
Old Age Security (OAS) is quite different. It's not tied to employment and is solely a federal program. Ottawa provides OAS benefits, which in 2025 maxed out at $740 per month for those under 75 and $814 per month for those over 75, to eligible Canadians regardless of work history or income.
Many beneficiaries will be due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.
An identity thief could try to use your Social Security number to do things like open accounts, take out a loan, file taxes, or get a job.