Rep. Brennan Provides Update to Windfall Elimination Provision, Government Pensions Offset Issue

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (Parma) today announced an update on the implementation of the Federal Social Security Fairness Act. 

The newly passed Federal Social Security Fairness Act eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), allowing public employees who paid into state sponsored retirement systems, such as the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), and their spouses or surviving spouses to receive their full social security benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), “Starting February 25, 2025: SSA is beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the WEP and GPO. If a beneficiary is due retroactive benefits as a result of the Act, they will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account SSA has on file, by the end of March. This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their benefit amount back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer apply. Most affected beneficiaries will begin receiving their new monthly benefit amount in April 2025.”

“I have always referred to the WEP and GPO as the public service penalty,” said Rep. Brennan, who serves on the Ohio House of Representatives Public Insurance and Pensions Committee. “This was long overdue and I am pleased that our dedicated public servants and their spouses will finally get the benefits they worked hard for and deserve. I am happy to hear that the benefits are supposed to start getting out soon, as folks need it now more than ever.”

The WEP and GPO were unfairly enacted over four decades ago as modified benefits programs for employees who received a pension for their public service, even though they had attained their Social Security credits. Under the WEP, public employees could have their Social Security earnings potentially lowered by up to 50% due to also earning a public pension. Under GPO spouses or surviving spouses saw a reduction or elimination of benefits. There are currently more than 1.7 million people in Ohio’s public retirement systems who are affected by WEP and approximately 450,000 beneficiaries.

Last General Assembly, Rep. Brennan co-sponsored Ohio House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 6 calling on Congress to repeal the WEP and GPO to give public servants that paid into Social Security and their spouses their full benefits upon retirement. HCR 6 passed in early 2024 and was subsequently sent to Ohio’s Congressional delegation.

To find out more about the Federal Social Security Fairness Act visit www.ssa.gov or call the Social Security Administration Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at 800-772-1213.