U.S. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Ron Estes (KS-04) sent a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the recent repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
In the letter, the Representatives ask the agency to “implement the law as quickly and as smoothly as possible to provide needed and timely relief to those who have been unfairly harmed by these policies.”
As members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) know, repeal of WEP and GPO, which TRTA has been working to achieve for more than forty years, became the law of the land on January 5, 2025, when President Joe Biden signed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, into law.
As the letter from Representatives Smith and Estes mentions, H.R. 82 passed both the U.S. House and Senate in 2024 with “a clear, bipartisan, and overwhelming representation of the will of Congress.”
TRTA is working closely with the Texas congressional delegation and pursuing all options to learn more about the implementation of H.R. 82 and ways to speed up the process. As information is received, TRTA will share guidance with our members. TRTA members and public servants impacted by these provisions have waited long enough to receive their benefits!
The SSA has created this webpage as the agency continues to determine how the changes for nearly three million Americans impacted by WEP and GPO will be processed. If you have not filed for Social Security benefits previously, this webpage provides information on where to file. TRTA recommends filing as soon as possible.
TRTA is grateful to Congressmen Smith and Estes for their swift action and determination to ensure our public servants receive the Social Security benefits they have earned.
Reminder: Tim Lee Live Friday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m.
TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee will continue his livestream events every Friday during the legislative session at 2:00 p.m. Tim’s first live event will be tomorrow, Friday, January 17!
Members will be able to view these events on the TRTA Facebook page and YouTube channel. You do not need to have an account to view these events.
Thank You!
Thank you all for your membership and support of TRTA. We hope you can see the value in your association. Please ask others to join us. It will take all TRS retirees working with us and making the investment necessary in this organization to protect what we have achieved!
Please support us today and renew your membership dues! If you are not a member, please join today! It may be the best $35 you spend every year to protect and improve your livelihood and income as we continue to fight for your retirement security!
