The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, 2025, brought long-awaited changes to how certain benefits are calculated, especially for public-sector workers who receive pensions from jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security.

If you were previously affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)—or never applied for benefits because of them—this is the right time to revisit your eligibility.

At Hassell Wealth Management in Houma, LA, we help clients stay ahead of rule changes like these and fold them into their broader retirement and income plans.

A Quick Recap: What Were WEP and GPO?

WEP and GPO were long-standing rules that reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for people with non-covered pensions—that is, pensions from jobs where Social Security taxes weren’t withheld.

WEP reduced your own Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
GPO reduced or eliminated spousal and survivor benefits, even if your spouse had paid into Social Security their entire working life.

These rules affected some teachers, firefighters, police officers, federal employees under CSRS, and individuals with foreign social security systems. But not all public-sector workers were impacted—about 72% of state and local public employees work in Social Security-covered positions and won’t see any changes.

What Changed Under the New Law?

The Social Security Fairness Act repealed both WEP and GPO, effective for benefits payable beginning January 2024. As a result:

Some people are now newly eligible for benefits.
Others may see their monthly Social Security benefit increase.
One-time payments are being issued to make up for the backdated benefit adjustments.

The amount of the increase varies depending on your situation. Some people may see modest changes; others could receive over $1,000 more per month.

Is Social Security Recalculating Benefits Automatically?

Yes—for people already receiving Social Security benefits whose records were affected by WEP or GPO, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is automatically recalculating benefits:

SSA began updating payments on February 25, 2025.
Most people started receiving their adjusted monthly benefit in April 2025.
If a retroactive increase applies, SSA is issuing a one-time back payment.

SSA reports that it is sending mailed notices to explain these adjustments. However, it's important to note that Social Security may not proactively reach out to you, especially if you’re not already receiving benefits.

If you were previously told you didn’t qualify due to WEP or GPO—or if you never applied for spousal or survivor benefits—you could be eligible now, but you need to initiate the process.

When to Take Action

Consider checking your eligibility or applying for benefits if:

You’ve never applied for Social Security benefits because WEP or GPO would have reduced or eliminated them.
You’re a spouse, surviving spouse, or divorced spouse of someone who paid into Social Security.
You’re not sure if you ever applied.
Your contact or bank information may be outdated in SSA’s system.

To help determine whether your situation may qualify under the new rules, download “Am I Impacted by the Social Security Fairness Act?”

How to Check or Apply

Already Receiving Benefits?
Confirm your contact and banking info through your my Social Security account or call 1-800-772-1213.
Never Applied?
- Apply for retirement or spousal benefits at ssa.gov/apply.
- Survivor benefits must be applied for by phone at 1-800-772-1213.

Final Thoughts

The Social Security Fairness Act is a major step forward in correcting decades of benefit reductions for certain public-sector workers and their families. But it doesn't apply to everyone—and it won’t automatically find you if you’ve never applied.

At Hassell Wealth Management, we help clients assess how changes like this affect their long-term planning—from income to taxes to Medicare coordination. If you're unsure how the new law affects you—or whether you should now apply for benefits you previously weren’t eligible for—talking to a financial advisor could make a big difference.

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call with a fiduciary wealth advisor.