More than three million retirees are set to see an increase in their monthly Social Security benefits thanks to the new law, which repeals the decades-old Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) penalties. But many are wondering – when will we see their increased payments?
The Social Security Fairness Act is the biggest change to Social Security in decades, with some retirees set to see more than a $1,000 increase in their monthly benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates it could take more than a year to fully return all benefits owed to retirees who have been penalized by the WEP and GPO. SSA staff must manually review three million cases. Staffing shortages and the complexity of calculating new benefit amounts are slowing the process.
“We cannot yet provide an estimated timeframe for when we will adjust a person’s past or future benefits, but we will continue to provide updates on this webpage,” the SSA has said. “We thank the public for its patience.”
IAFF members who expect to see a benefits increase can take a few steps to ensure they don’t run into additional delays.
- If you’ve never filed for spousal or survivor benefits due to the GPO, SSA is recommending you apply as soon as possible, as you may now be eligible for these payments. Because the Social Security Fairness Act includes retroactive payments, it’s important to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid losing out on additional benefits you may be owed. To apply, visit www.ssa.gov/apply, call 1-800-772-1213, or visit a Social Security field office.
- Ensure all necessary paperwork is in order as soon as possible for when SSA does contact you. Having pension information, bank deposit information, and spousal benefits eligibility prepared can help to avoid unnecessary delays.
Retirees should also continue checking the IAFF’s Social Security Fairness Act FAQs page. Updates from the SSA are regularly added to this page to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on your upcoming benefits increase.
For more information, visit www.ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
