On February 9, 2023, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing Social Security benefits for public sector workers, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers who also receive pension income. This new law repeals two longstanding provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have reduced benefits for millions. The WEP affects approximately 2 million beneficiaries, while the GPO impacts around 750,000 spouses and survivors of government employees. Biden emphasized that the legislation would provide an estimated average monthly increase of $360, significantly benefiting middle-class households. Moreover, more than 2.5 million Americans will receive lump sum payments to address past benefit shortfalls. The bill received strong bipartisan support, passing the Senate with 76 votes and the House with 327 votes. Advocacy groups hailed this legislation as a historic achievement, with many noting that it ends a 40-year struggle for fairness in Social Security benefits for public servants. William Shackelford, a key advocate, highlighted the importance of honoring those affected by the previous provisions, underscoring the ongoing commitment to equitable retirement benefits for all public employees.
