Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, along with 27 other Senate colleagues, has urged Acting Social Security Administrator Michelle King to implement the Social Security Fairness Act without delay. This act aims to provide full Social Security benefits to public servants affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The legislation was signed into law on January 5, 2025.

"The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)," stated the senators in their letter.

The senators expressed concern over a statement on the Social Security Administration's website that indicates it could take more than a year to adjust and pay retroactive benefits under this new law. "We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO," they continued.

The WEP, established in 1983, reduces benefits for workers with pensions from government employment not covered by Social Security. Similarly, the GPO, enacted in 1977, decreases spousal benefits for those whose spouses receive such pensions. Nearly 7,000 West Virginians are currently affected by these provisions.

The repeal of these laws through the Social Security Fairness Act ensures that public sector workers like law enforcement officers and firefighters receive their full earned benefits.

In their letter addressed to Acting Commissioner King, which was signed on December 21st, 2024 before being passed into law early this year, the senators also requested monthly updates on progress toward implementing this significant change.