President Joe Biden recently signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, marking a significant change for public servants in Louisiana and across the U.S. This law repeals two provisions—the Windfall Elimination Program WEP and the Government Pension Offset GPO—which had reduced Social Security benefits for workers in public service jobs who did not have their earnings contributed to Social Security by their employers.
The law’s passage follows decades of efforts by public service unions and lawmakers, including Reps. Garret Graves R-Baton Rouge and Abigail Spanberger D-Va., who led the initiative to remove the provisions. Public servants affected by these changes, such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters, are set to receive an average of $360 more per month in Social Security benefits, as well as a lump sum for missing payments in 2024.
Biden described the legislation as a step toward ensuring that Americans who have worked hard throughout their lives can retire with dignity and security. Despite the achievement, critics argue that the law’s repeal could cost $196 billion and exacerbate Social Security’s potential insolvency in the coming years. However, supporters, including Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) and others, hailed the bill as a victory for public servants, particularly in Louisiana, where reductions were among the most severe.
This change comes after 40 years of debate over how to address the inequities created by WEP and GPO, which were originally designed to equalize Social Security benefits between workers who contributed to the system and those who didn’t. The law’s passing represents a victory for public workers who had been unfairly penalized due to these provisions.