Pulaski Times

More than three million Americans are expected to see an increase in their monthly benefits following the enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act. This new law, passed last month, eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have affected some retirees receiving pensions from work not covered by Social Security.

The office of a public official has received feedback from many public service employees over the years who have been negatively impacted by these policies. As implementation begins, officials from the Social Security Administration (SSA) indicate that it may take more than a year to fully adjust benefits due to the complexity involved for three million people.

Individuals currently receiving SSA benefits who believe they might be affected by this law should ensure their mailing address and direct deposit information is current with the SSA. Updates can be made online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Those who have never applied for SSA retirement, spousal, or surviving spouse's benefits because of WEP or GPO may need to file an application at www.ssa.gov/apply.

Further details about this change and updates from the SSA are available at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html.

For those experiencing difficulty finding necessary information about this or other federal government programs, assistance is available through a public official's office. The staff is ready to serve as a resource and assist with inquiries on behalf of individuals.