5. Huge Win: The WEP & GPO Are Gone
Now for the big news. Two little acronyms—WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset)—used to cut into Social Security checks for people who also had pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security, like certain teachers or government employees.
These rules have been controversial for decades. People felt like they were being penalized twice—working hard for a pension, then getting their Social Security reduced because of it.
Well, as of January 5, 2025, both rules are officially repealed thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act. This is huge. Over 3 million Americans are affected, and many are seeing their checks increase immediately. Some even got retroactive payments, with the average back payment being around $6,700. That’s not pocket change—it’s rent, it’s medical bills, it’s a little breathing room people didn’t have before.
I’ve already seen stories of retirees who cried when they opened those letters. After years of feeling shorted, they finally get what they consider fair.
