The average monthly reductions of the GPO and WEP are $700 and $360 a month, although they can range from as low as several hundred dollars to $1,000 or more a month. Image: Ovidiu Dugulan/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe SSA has said that it has begun recalculating benefits for federal retirees and others who had been affected by the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions, with many to receive a one-time retroactive payment by the end of March and higher ongoing benefits beginning with those paid in April.
“This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their benefit amount back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer apply. Social Security benefits are paid one month behind. Most affected beneficiaries will begin receiving their new monthly benefit amount in April 2025 (for their March 2025 benefit),” the SSA said.
“Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or retroactive payment. A beneficiary may receive two mailed notices, the first when WEP or GPO is removed from their record, and a second when their monthly benefit amount is adjusted for their new monthly payment amount. They may receive the retroactive payment before receiving the mailed notice,” it said.
“We urge beneficiaries to wait until April to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment, since these payments will process incrementally throughout March,” it added.
The agency earlier had cautioned those retired under the federal CSRS system—as well as retirees of state and local governments who also have been affected by the GPO and/or WEP—to be patient due to the administrative task involved with recalculating benefits.
The new announcement attributed the speedup to automation. It added, though, that “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 thrilled to hear that the SSA has stepped on the gas pedal to begin paying those impacted by WEP and GPO,” said the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. “This is much faster than expected, especially based on previously available information. The retroactive payments will finally provide relief to public servants who have been denied their full benefits for years.”
“The repeal of WEP and GPO was achieved through the culmination of years of tireless advocacy by NARFE and its members, who time and again made the case for fairness and equality in Social Security benefits. We encourage members to ensure their bank account and mailing address on file with SSA are up to date,” it said.
For decades, the GPO 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 has 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 average monthly reductions of the GPO and WEP are $700 and $360 a month, although they can range from as low as several hundred dollars to $1,000 or more a month. The repeal law enacted late in 2024 was retroactive to the end of the prior calendar year, creating eligibility for the retroactive payments starting with those paid in February 2024 (since those payments reflected the prior month).
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