The agency has credited use of automation for being able to make most benefit adjustments faster than had been expected when the law passed. Image: iStock.com/DNY59
By: FEDweek StaffThe SSA has projected that it will finish recalculating benefits and sending back payments in November to those who will benefit from the repeal of the government pension offset and windfall elimination provision, faster than expected when that law passed late last year.
The agency has been increasing monthly benefits and making retroactive payments since February, with the latter applying to payments since those made in February—which cover January, the first month for which those reductions no longer apply. The latest update says the agency has now done so for 76 percent of the 3.2 million persons affected.
The GPO had reduced, and in many cases eliminated, spousal or survivor Social Security benefits of those who receive an annuity from a system that does not include Social Security, such as the federal CSRS system. The WEP had reduced the personally earned Social Security benefits of such persons based on other earnings for which they did pay into Social Security (unless those earnings exceeded an annual threshold for at least 30 years).
The update adds: “For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. We are expediting these cases now. We are releasing retroactive benefits and sending new monthly benefit amounts as we process each case, with the expectation that all beneficiary records will be updated by early November 2025.”
The agency has credited use of automation for being able to make most benefit adjustments faster than had been expected when the law passed.
The SSA meanwhile has been encouraging those who had not applied for spousal or survivor benefits because the GPO would have totally offset them to apply now. The latest update shows that it has received more than 130,000 such applications, of which it has processed 83 percent.
Key Bills Advancing, but No Path to Avoid Shutdown Apparent
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
DoD Announces Civilian Volunteer Detail in Support of Immigration Enforcement
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
How to Challenge a Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) in 2025
Should I be Shooting for a $1M TSP Balance? Depends…
