Income and Social Security

Social Security Fairness Act

The Social Security Fairness Act ended two rules that cut Social Security for people who also get a pension from work that didn't pay Social Security taxes. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) no longer apply to benefits from January 2024 on.

Checked Oct 28, 2026

Rules set by the Social Security Administration

An older man works out his monthly budget at a desk with a calculator and a notebook

Who may qualify

Who may qualify for Social Security Fairness Act
Who the WEP repeal helps	People who get their own Social Security and a pension from work that didn't pay Social Security taxes
Who the GPO repeal helps	Spouses, widows and widowers who also get a federal, state or local government pension from work that didn't pay Social Security taxes

Source: Social Security Administration (source 3)

What you may get

What Social Security Fairness Act pays
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)	Ended for benefits due for January 2024 and later
Government Pension Offset (GPO)	Ended for benefits due for January 2024 and later

Source: Social Security Administration (source 3)

Dates, renewals and waiting lists

Dates and renewals
Signed into law	January 5, 2025 Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office (source 2)
Applies to	Benefits for months after December 2023 Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office (source 2)
First payment affected	Benefits due for January 2024, paid in February 2024 Source: Social Security Administration (source 3)

Good to know

Under the old GPO, two-thirds of a government pension was subtracted from spouse or widow(er) benefits, which could cut the benefit to zero.
Under the old WEP, Social Security used a lower formula to figure your own benefit if you also had a pension from work that didn't pay Social Security taxes.

Source: Social Security Administration (source 4)

What people get wrong

MythMy government pension wipes out my spouse or widow's benefit, so there's no point applying.
Not anymore. Social Security no longer reduces spouse or widow(er) benefits because of a government pension from work that didn't pay Social Security taxes.

Sources

USAGov (U.S. General Services Administration), Social Security Administration (SSA) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
U.S. Government Publishing Office, Public Law 118-273: Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS RS 00605.360: Windfall Elimination Provision (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Social Security Administration, POMS GN 02608.100: Government Pension Offset (GPO) Provision (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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