Cape News

With the recent repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Ron Estes (KS-04) have urged the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide a clear plan for delivering relief to those affected by these provisions. In a letter addressed to SSA Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin, they emphasized the importance of implementing the new law promptly.

"The Committee on Ways and Means has devoted significant time and attention to examining the WEP and GPO, two flawed policies that impact the Social Security benefits of millions of public servants throughout the country," stated Smith and Estes in their letter. They noted that while the Social Security Fairness Act did not undergo committee refinements, its passage reflects Congress's bipartisan support for change. The chairmen are focused on ensuring timely relief for individuals who have been adversely affected by these policies.

The letter also highlights recent efforts by the Ways and Means Committee, which has held more hearings on this issue over the past two years than any other Congress in 20 years. Smith and Estes call for details from Acting Commissioner Colvin on how beneficiaries will receive owed benefits without delay or undue burden. The SSA is expected to clarify what guidance will be provided to beneficiaries and identify any additional resources needed for immediate action.

The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), signed into law on January 5, 2025, repeals WEP and GPO effective December 2023. These provisions were originally enacted in 1983, affecting employees such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, and federal workers who received pensions exempt from Social Security payroll taxes. The WEP reduced benefits for those entitled to both Social Security benefits and pension benefits from non-covered employment, while the GPO aimed to replicate dual entitlement rules for benefits earned through contributions to a substitute plan.