In 2025, Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two laws that unfairly reduced or eliminated SSDI and survivor benefits for millions of public employees across the country.
If you’re a retired teacher, firefighter, police officer, or other public-sector worker in California, this repeal could significantly increase your Social Security benefits and potentially entitle you to years of back pay. The change is especially impactful for those who contributed to non-covered pensions like CalSTRS or CalPERS.
SSA is now recalculating benefits for affected individuals. While this process is automatic for many, others may need to request a formal review or submit an appeal.
Do Any of These Sound Familiar?
- You worked for a California school district or municipality. You paid into CalSTRS or CalPERS, but your contributions to a non-covered pension unfairly triggered a reduction in your SSDI benefits due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
- Your SSDI benefit was reduced or denied even after paying into Social Security from a second job, because of your pension status.
- You applied for spousal or survivor benefits after the death of your spouse, but were told that the Government Pension Offset (GPO) disqualified you.
- You’ve been receiving lower monthly payments than expected, or were completely denied benefits you thought you had earned.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options. Under the 2025 repeal of WEP and GPO, you may now qualify for full SSDI or survivor benefits, plus retroactive back pay for months or even years of lost income.
What You Need to Know About the Repeal
- WEP and GPO are no longer in effect as of 2025
- Over 3 million Americans have already received corrected payments
- SSA is recalculating benefits and issuing updated letters through the end of 2025
At Peña & Bromberg, we’re helping Californians across Fresno, Bakersfield, and the Central Valley:
- Audit existing benefit files
- Appeal past denials
- Request retroactive SSDI and survivor benefits
Who Qualifies for a Recalculation or Appeal?
If you received or applied for SSDI, spousal, or survivor benefits between 1983 and 2025 and were affected by the now-repealed WEP or GPO provisions, you may qualify for a significant benefit adjustment. This includes:
- Full monthly SSDI benefits that were previously reduced due to your public pension
- Spousal or survivor benefits you were wrongly denied based on GPO restrictions
- A lump-sum back pay award covering months or even years of underpaid benefits
SSA began recalculating impacted benefit files in early 2025, but due to high volume and internal delays, not all cases are reviewed automatically. Some claimants will need to request a formal benefit audit or file an appeal to ensure they receive what they’re owed.
Don’t wait. SSA reviews may take months, and the sooner you act, the better your chance of securing timely payment.
Start Your Free SSDI or Survivor Benefits Review
We offer personalized and responsive legal services for Californians affected by WEP or GPO. Our dedicated team helps ensure your case gets the attention it deserves, mainly as SSA works through a massive backlog of recalculations in 2025.
Our services include:
- Free consultations to determine if your SSDI or survivor benefits were impacted
- Detailed legal file audits to uncover past errors or overlooked eligibility
- Reconsideration and appeal services to help recover wrongfully denied or reduced benefits
- Back pay recovery assistance, including filing SSA Form SSA-561-U2 and supporting documentation
- Representation in SSA communications, so you’re not left navigating bureaucracy alone
Call Peña & Bromberg at (559) 439-9700 or Schedule Online Now
