Latest News
HR 82 Impact…The Story Continues
The long-awaited repeal of Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) is old news at this point, but the continuing story relates to when those slated to benefit from the repeal will see the results in their monthly payment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has not offered projections for how long the implementation will take to materialize–especially the retroactivity for all of 2024–noting that the Act, as approved, “did not provide money to implement the law.” In the interim, until the implementation process is fully developed, those affected are advised to keep tabs on SSA’s progress by periodically checking the SSA.gov website for updates.
The Motley Fool’s Bram Berkowitz, in a post today on their website, offers additional background on the WEP-GPO repeal matter, including a review of who is affected by the changes. Calling the wait time an “Unwelcome Surprise,” he stresses the complexity of the recalculation process and the struggles related to the absence of funding to accomplish it. Read the Berkowitz article here…
One additional point that should be noted, since those affected may not fully appreciate it, concerns the taxability of Social Security benefits. In planning adjustments to household budgets, it’s important to consider the modified adjusted gross income increase resulting from the benefit adjustment and plan accordingly. The AMAC Foundation offers free-to-the-public assistance via its Social Security Advisory Service if you have any questions. Click here to learn more about this service and how to access it.