What the Social Security Fairness Act means for your retirement: A planning guide for first responders (2025)

From checking Social Security records to updating retirement plans, here’s a step-by-step checklist for maximizing your benefits

With the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) now signed into law under the Social Security Fairness Act, public safety professionals may see a long-awaited increase in their Social Security benefits — and it’s prompting many to revisit their retirement plans.

For first responders who paid into a government pension instead of Social Security for part of their careers, the change could mean hundreds of dollars more in monthly benefits. But with new income comes new planning considerations.

If you’re a police officer, firefighter or EMS provider affected by the WEP or GPO, here’s what you need to know now that the law is on the books.

What changed?

Signed by then-President Joe Biden in January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act permanently repeals the WEP and GPO — two provisions that reduced Social Security benefits for public workers who also receive a government pension.

According to the Social Security Administration, the WEP affected retired workers with both covered and non-covered employment. The GPO, meanwhile, reduced spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of the value of a government pension. In many cases, that completely wiped out benefits for surviving spouses.

Now, both provisions are repealed. This means:

• Your Social Security retirement benefits will no longer be reduced due to a government pension.
• If you qualify for spousal or survivor benefits, they will be paid in full.

When will new benefits begin?

Starting February 25, 2025, the SSA began issuing retroactive benefits and increasing monthly benefit payments for individuals impacted by WEP and GPO. Here’s what beneficiaries can expect:

• Retroactive benefits: If you’re eligible, a one-time retroactive payment — covering the increase in benefits back to January 2024 — will be deposited into the bank account SSA has on file. Most recipients recieved this by the end of March 2025.
• Monthly benefit increases: Most affected beneficiaries began receiving their new monthly benefit amount in April 2025, representing payment for March.
• SSA processing timelines: While many payments are processed automatically, complex cases require manual review. SSA expects to complete updates for all affected records by early November 2025.
• Mail notices: Beneficiaries will receive one or two mailed notices — one when WEP or GPO is removed from their record, and another when their new benefit amount is finalized. Some may receive payment before receiving their notice.

SSA has made a progress chart available and is releasing data by state and ZIP code.

What this means for your retirement strategy

For many first responders, retirement planning up until now included the assumption of reduced Social Security income — or none at all. With that no longer the case, it’s important to reassess your overall financial outlook. Here are a few key areas to revisit:

• Income projections: You may now qualify for a full Social Security benefit in addition to your pension. Use the SSA’s benefit estimator to get a more accurate projection: SSA Benefits Estimator
• Spousal planning: If your spouse is entitled to a portion of your benefits — or you to theirs — it’s time to revisit joint income assumptions.
• Tax impacts: More income might mean different tax obligations in retirement. Social Security benefits can become taxable depending on your combined income.
• Estate and survivor planning: Survivor benefits are no longer reduced under the GPO, which may shift your approach to life insurance or survivor annuities.
• Retirement timing: With additional income on the table, some may consider retiring earlier — or later — depending on their long-term goals.

First responder checklist: What to do next

To make the most of the changes under the Social Security Fairness Act, here’s a practical checklist:

✅ Check your SSA record – Log into SSA.gov to ensure your earnings history is accurate and complete.

✅ Estimate your benefits – Use the WEP-specific calculator if you want to compare old vs. new benefits.

✅ Meet with a financial planner – Especially one familiar with government pensions and how they interact with Social Security.

✅ Ask about retroactive payments – In some cases, you may be eligible for back pay. Reach out to SSA or your HR/retirement board.

✅ Update your retirement plan – Revisit budgets, income planning and tax forecasts based on the new benefit amounts.

✅ Communicate with your spouse – If you’re both eligible for Social Security, now is the time to review your joint strategy.

Not sure if you need to apply? Here’s what to do

The Social Security Fairness Act applies to benefits you get on your own record (retirement or disability benefits) and to spousal or survivor benefits on another person’s record. What you should do next depends on your situation:

• If you’ve already applied for retirement or spousal benefits and SSA has your direct deposit and mailing info on file, no further action is needed.
• If you never applied due to WEP or GPO: You may now be eligible. The date you apply could impact how much you receive and when.
  
  • Apply for retirement or spousal benefits online at ssa.gov/apply or call 1-800-772-1213 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET).
  • Apply for survivor benefits by phone only — this application is not available online.

Since the Act was passed, SSA has taken more than 130,600 new applications and completed 83% as of April 4, 2025.

Bottom line

The repeal of WEP and GPO is more than a policy shift — it’s a personal financial milestone for many first responders. After decades of reduced benefits, public safety workers can now look ahead to a retirement plan that reflects the full scope of their service and contributions.

Make sure you’re not leaving any benefits on the table. A few steps today could help you build a more secure tomorrow.