Former President Biden Signs HR82

January 7, 2025

Former President Biden has signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, marking a significant victory for public sector retirees nationwide, including many of our LA County employees. This crucial legislation effectively repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), provisions that have long reduced the Social Security benefits of dedicated public servants. This achievement comes after more than five decades of persistent advocacy, in which RELAC has actively participated alongside many of you.

The repeal of these provisions means that nearly 3 million public sector workers and their families can now receive their fully entitled Social Security benefits. This correction addresses a longstanding inequity in the retirement security of countless individuals who have devoted their careers to serving our community.

This act represents a vital step towards ensuring that all Americans can retire with the dignity and security they have earned through a lifetime of hard work. It embodies a bipartisan commitment to the economic stability of those who have dedicated their lives to public service.

The effective date for WEP/GPO repeal for those receiving Social Security benefits is December 2023. The Social Security Administration will now need to recalculate benefit amounts for those affected by the WEP/GPO and determine how to make retroactive payments most effectively. It’s unclear how quickly this can be done.

Let us take a moment to celebrate this achievement and continue our work toward ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all retirees.