WEP-GPO Repeal Update: The Pressure is on for Timely Implementation - House Ways and Means
While the argument continues to rage following last week’s official signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law, the House Ways and Means Committee has called for immediate relief for those affected by the repeal. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Ron Estes (KS-04) penned a letter to SSA Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin calling for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to “implement the law as quickly and as smoothly as possible to provide needed and timely relief to those who have been unfairly harmed by these policies.” Check out the press release from Ways and Means here for more information.
The letter, a link to which is included in the press release, calls for SSA to produce an implementation plan by January 17, 2025, and provide guidance on actions that affected beneficiaries need to take to ensure their additional benefits are paid appropriately. Along with a timeline, SSA is asked to identify resources that will be made available during the transition away from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
SSA has posted the following announcement on its website landing page: The Social Security Fairness Act, HR 82, concerning the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, was signed into law on January 5, 2025. Upon implementation, the Social Security Fairness Act eliminates the reduction of Social Security benefits while entitled to public pensions from work not covered by Social Security. The Social Security Administration is evaluating how to implement the Act. We will provide more information as soon as available.
Regarding the continuing arguments on WEP-GPO Repeal, check out the examples noted in today’s Latest News post on this site.