Congress has passed the GPO Fairness Act, eliminating a controversial Social Security regulation that reduced or eliminated benefits for many public service retirees. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), established in 1977, was meant to prevent “double dipping” by retirees collecting both a government pension and Social Security spousal benefits. Under the GPO, two-thirds of a retiree’s public pension was subtracted from their Social Security spousal or survivor benefits.
This meant that a retiree eligible for $900 a month from their spouse’s Social Security, but receiving a $1,600 public pension, would see a significant reduction in their spousal benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) must now process adjustments to ensure that more than 3 million affected retirees receive the benefits they are due. Some retirees’ checks may increase by hundreds of dollars per month, while others may receive benefits for the first time.
However, retirees who did not file an official claim before the GPO was repealed are only eligible for six months of retroactive pay.
GPO fairness increases retirement benefits
This affects many who were previously told by SSA staff that they were ineligible due to GPO and never filed a claim.
To take advantage of the new regulations, affected retirees should:
– Contact the SSA to determine eligibility for a payment adjustment. – File a claim immediately if they have never done so, as each month counts towards retroactive pay. – Gather documentation, especially if previously told not to file by SSA employees.
– Reach out to their congressional representatives to support legislation that allows full back pay for misled retirees. The passage of this act is a victory for retirees with non-covered pensions, including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees, as well as surviving spouses of those retirees. However, challenges remain for those who never filed a claim and are restricted to six months of back pay, and for individuals still navigating SSA’s bureaucratic complexities.
