{"id":40400,"date":"2025-02-18T06:10:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T06:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=40400"},"modified":"2025-02-18T06:10:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T06:10:18","slug":"asking-yourself-now-what-after-seeing-the-social-security-fairness-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=40400","title":{"rendered":"Asking Yourself \u2018Now What?\u2019 After Seeing The Social Security Fairness Act?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For those of you that have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset, this may be the most important article you read. The Social Security Agency at this point does not have a specific timeframe as to when benefits will be adjusted.<\/p>\n

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  1. The WEP reduces your own Social Security benefit.<\/li>\n
  2. The GPO reduces spousal, ex-spousal and survivor benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On Jan. 5, 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act that eliminated these two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for people with a \u201cnon-covered\u201d pension. A \u201cnon-covered\u201d pension is a pension from your employer that does not withhold Social Security tax.<\/p>\n

    So, what do you need to do now?<\/p>\n

    If you are currently <\/strong>not<\/u><\/strong><\/em> <\/u>receiving Social Security benefits<\/strong>, there is nothing you need to do. When you apply for Social Security benefits, these provisions will not apply.<\/p>\n

    If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits<\/strong> that are being reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset, Social Security recommends that you review the mailing address and direct deposit information that SSA has on file for you. If the information is correct, no other actions required. You should receive retroactive benefits back to January 1, 2024.<\/p>\n

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    If you are eligible and never applied<\/strong> for retirement, spouses, ex-spouse or surviving spouse’s benefits because of WEP or GPO: YOU NEED TO FILE AN APPLICATION NOW. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    The reason <\/strong>you need to file now is to establish your filing date. Social Security calls this a protective filing date. If benefits are made retroactive, you want to make sure you receive benefits from the earliest date.<\/p>\n

    To do this, Social Security describes the process you should follow from its website, updated Feb. 3, 2025.<\/p>\n

    You may need to file an application. The date of your application might affect when your benefits begin and your benefit amount. However, each case is different, and all other Social Security laws and policies, such as benefit reductions for claiming benefits before the full retirement age, the retirement earnings test, and others, still apply.<\/p>\n