Latest News
For Federal Retirees affected by WEP and GPO - Government Executive
H.R. 82 – The Social Security Fairness Act – was signed into law earlier this week, eliminating Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions reduced Social Security benefits for anyone with a “non-covered” pension, such as pensions received by older Federal employees who retired under the previous Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Those who retired under “CSRS” will soon see their Social Security benefit (earned separate from their government employment) increase.
This is obviously great news for many who worked for the Federal Government for years and who also worked separately in a job where they also earned Social Security. The new law will remove the Social Security reduction to their current SS benefit, thus increasing their monthly Social Security payment. It’s important to note that this does not affect newer Federal employees who retire under the newer Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) – only older retirees under the CSRS program are affected (and for clarity, the Social Security Fairness Act also affects other state and local government retirees in a positive way). Nevertheless, many older Federal retirees stand to gain financially by elimination of the WEP and GPO provisions. In this special edition of the Government Executive, Tammy Flanigan explains how Federal CSRS retirees are affected by the this new law, and includes an informative Q&A section specific to affected Federal retirees. Click here to read this Government Executive article.
Notice: The link provided above connects readers to the full content of the posted article. The URL (internet address) for this link is valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the link’s validity. Also, the opinions expressed in these postings are the viewpoints of the original source and are not explicitly endorsed by AMAC, Inc.; the AMAC Foundation, Inc.; or socialsecurityreport.org.
I retired in 2008 under the CSRS (my husband also). I then paid SS taxes from acting work for a number of years, which I believe added up quarters enough to collect SS. I opted out of Medicare Part B, since it is covered by our GEHB medical plan. in retirement.
Now it seems that the repeal of the WEP and GPO should allow me to claim Social Security for the years after retirement that I spent acting and contributing to SS. The amount would be pretty low, since in most years I made less than $2000 per year.
Is it worth it to even apply for those SS benefits,which are taxable. My husband and I live relatively comfortably on our pensions. OPM takes about $300/month out of my pension for GEHB.
At our age, we are trying to simplify our taxes as uch as possible – the SS benefits may be so small and be such a tax complication that it’s not worth the hassle.
December 2023 is the last month that WEP and GPO will apply. This means that those rules no longer apply to benefits payable for January 2024 and later. It is your choice, but if you are already in the system as being affected by WEP/GPO, you may receive a notification from Social Security about your new benefit amount.
Sincerely
EM Cook
“The above is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.”
I retired under FERS and I believe my federal benefit has been reduced because I also receive Social Security. I am getting my full social security. That amount has never changed. What has changed is my federal retirement benefit.
Looking at my monthly statement provided by the OPM there is no column showing the deduction for wep/gpo, yet my benefit amount has sinuously been reduced since I began to draw social security benefits.
When I talked with an OPM agent on the phone, they had no answers to my question about wep/gpo and that call was in Feb 2025.
It all seems confusing to me.
If a federal CSRS retiree died after the law went into effect, will their heirs or estate get the offset lump sum payment they were due?
Loree,
The recent “Social Security Fairness Act” repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) rules of Social Security. If the CSRS retiree died after the new law was enacted on January 6, 2025, they may still be entitled to some retroactive benefits for a period of time prior to their death (the new bill provided additional benefits retroactive to January 2024). Those benefits would likely be available to the deceased person’s estate, in particular the decedent’s spouse. I suggest that the executor of the deceased person’s estate contact the Social Security Administration at 1.800.772.1213, provide the Social Security number and the decedent’s death certificate, to see how retroactive benefits for the deceased persons estate should be handled.
Russell Gloor
Certified Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation
I am not eligible for survivor benefits due to HR82. I retired under CSRS system with 30 years of service. I do not have enough quarters of coverage under SSA on my own record to get anything. I filed for survivor benefits in January and was approved to GPO. I have been having Medicare Part B premium taken out of my OPM annuity and now covered under SSA. The claims rep from SSA said Medicare will taken out of SSA check.
Received my first SSA monthly check today and they withheld Part B deduction, and they also took Part B deduction out of OPM Annuity. I was told when I filed for survivor benefits under SSA, that they would withhold the Medicare premium. What should I do? I called the SSA field office and they said to call OPM and let them know what happened and tell them to no longer withhold from my OPM annuity since SSA will be doing that. Having trouble getting through to OPM.
\
You may try to reach out to Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to see if they must submit the paperwork to stop your Part B premium from being withheld from your OPM Annuity.
I am totally confused. I retired as a CSRS Offset employee. OPM reduced my federal pension NOT my Social Security benefits based on the WEP calculations. Will the Social Security Fairness Act impact my Federal retirement benefits?
Valrie
This is a question you have to ask OPM. I suggest you call OPM at 1-888-767-6738 or email them at retire@opm.gov.
If you have further questions or comments, please feel free to contact us directly at 1.888.750.2622, or email us at SSadvisor@amacfoundation.org. We look forward every day to assisting those with questions about Social Security.
Sharon Kleczka
Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation
About time!!!