Social Security Fairness Act: Has Biden Signed It?

Former US Joe Biden signed legislation on 5th January 2025 expanding Social Security benefits for millions of retired Americans, including teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Biden was the acting president back then, prior to Trump’s inauguration on 20th January 2025. Now, this will be called the ‘Social Security Fairness Act’.

“Americans who have worked hard all their life to make an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity,” Biden addressed a crowd at the White House before signing the Social Security Fairness Act. The Social Security Fairness Act would ensure an average monthly increase of $360 for more than 2.5 million Social Security recipients. 

“That’s a big deal in middle-class households like the one I grew up in, and many of you did,” he also added.

The beneficiaries will also get a lump sum of a few thousand dollars to make up for the shortfall in benefits they should have received in 2024, Joe Biden said.

The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates two federal policies that previously barred employees with a public pension from receiving their full benefits under the federal retirement program and that reduced benefits for those workers’ surviving family members and spouses.

“Biden is the first president in more than 20 years to expand Social Security benefits,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement. “The bill he is signing today will expand benefits by hundreds of dollars per month for more than 2.5 million Americans.”

A 17-year-old named Eliseo Jimenez was also among those who joined Mr. Biden at the signing ceremony. Eliseo walked from his home in Texas to Washington, D.C., over 40 days during the summer while raising funds for his charity to help aged citizens and those with disabilities. The teen, now a high school person, made the trek after watching his grandmother and her old neighbors struggle to get by on their monthly benefits.

A Long-Fought Battle Of Social Security Fairness Act

The effort to increase Social Security payments for public pension recipients has been decades in the making. The first hearing by the Senate was held back in 2003. 

The Social Security Fairness Act had bipartisan support, but a segment of Republicans always had some objections due to its cost. As per the Congressional Budget Office, the law would add an estimated $195 billion to the federal deficit over a decade. 

Increased benefits under the new law would be retroactive to December 2023. Due to this, the eligible recipients who previously only got partial benefits will get a complete payment retroactive to a year ago. 

Specifically, the new Social Security law repeals policies known as the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which together act to reduce Social Security payments to 2.5 million retirees. 

Edward Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in a statement that Congress “broke a promise” when it enacted the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.

“Today, that promise has been restored, and retired firefighters and emergency medical workers will now receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned and paid into,” Kelly said.

Social Security Fairness Act: What Is It? 

The Social Security Fairness Act is a safety net for millions of US citizens. This act is there to offer financial support to disabled individuals, retirees, and survivors of deceased workers. This program, managed by SSA (Social Security Administration), has been a critical tool in decreasing poverty among aged citizens and providing stability to thousands of American families. 

The benefits from this act depend on several factors, like the age at which the recipient starts collecting the benefits, contributions to the program through payroll taxes, and lifetime earnings. You are allowed to handle and manage your account through the ‘My Social Security’ portal. This portal is a digital tool enabling the recipients to track their earnings, apply for retirement benefits online, and estimate future benefits. 

What are Some Vital Provisions in the Social Security Fairness Act?

There are some essential provisions in the Social Security Fairness Act that you must know. These provisions increase the adequacy and fairness of the program.

Repeal of the GPO and WEP

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are two essential elements of the Social Security system. These two provisions decreased advantages for public-sector employees who get pensions from jobs not covered by social security. Critics opined that these provisions unfairly penalized police officers, teachers, and other government workers. 

The Social Security Fairness repeals both the GPO and WEP, enabling affected individuals to get their complete benefits. This change was essential in ensuring fairness and offering relief to thousands of families and retirees who were not getting their due benefits previously. 

The Social Security Increase for 2025

There has been a significant social security increase for 2025. It ensures that the recipients will get an increase in their COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment), helping them adjust to their rising inflation. This will also be maintained in accordance with the purchasing power of the social security benefits in the face of ever-increasing living expenses and healthcare costs. The enhanced monthly payment will really prove to be beneficial for the recipients. 

$600 Monthly Increase – Social Security Fairness Act

An increase of $600 in the form of SSI (Supplemental Security Income) will benefit the recipients. This will act as additional financial support, especially for the vulnerable members of the society. It will help the recipients meet their basic requirements, including food, housing, and medical expenses. 

Increased Benefits for Caregivers and Survivors

There is also a provision for addressing the gaps in caregiver and survivor benefits. Individuals like family caregivers, widowers and windows can now get increased financial benefits under this program. It will solve their monetary issues and problems to a great extent. 

Who are the Beneficiaries? 

The Social Security Fairness Act benefits different segments of the American population. Some specific groups of people benefit most from this program. 

Low-Income Elders

The group of low-income elders benefit extremely benefitted by this. An increase of $600 every month will surely help them in so many ways and means. 

Public-Sector Employees

Different public-sector employees, such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers who were previously subjected to GPO and WEP, will now get the complete benefits after this new fairness act. 

Caregivers and Survivors

There are several increased benefits for caregivers and survivors, offering them financial stability and assistance that were previously overlooked. 

Retiring Facing Inflation 

The new regime of the act will also help the retiring individuals who are facing inflation and finding it very hard to sustain. 

How to Avail the Changes?

If you happen to be a Social Security beneficiary, you are supposed to check out the below described methods to prepare the changes. 

Conclusion

The latest Social Security Fairness Act has been a significant step in ensuring a more sustainable and equitable Social Security System. This program removes the inequities while ensuring significant benefits for the recipients. Due to this, millions of Americans would be able to retire with financial security and dignity. 

Only time will tell how the Social Security Fairness Act will benefit Americans in the long term. But the short term benefits and advantages are visible and acknowledged. The recipients will be overjoyed by this new change in the act. So what are you waiting for? Check out all the included perks and benefits in this Social Security Fairness Act. 

FAQs – Social Security Fairness Act

What is Social Security?

Ans: It is a Federal program that comes with disability, retirement, and survivor benefits to eligible American recipients. 

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of the Social Security Administration? 

Ans: The SSA is there to effectively manage social security benefits, ensure smooth distribution of payments, and process applications. 

What is My Social Security?

Ans: This is a useful digital portal where you can effectively manage your social security benefits, update personal details, and check statements as and when required. 

Is there a Social Security Increase 2025?

Ans: Yes, there has been a significant boost in the social security benefits for the year 2025, benefitting millions of Americans in the process. 

Will Social Security $600 Increase SSI Be Beneficial for the Recipients? 

Ans: An increase of $600 every month is highly likely to be beneficial for the recipient. It will sort their monthly expenses in the best way possible. 

How to Avail Social Security Increase for 2025? 

Ans: You need to be eligible for the increase in the social security system. Login to your profile and apply for the increase.