Repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision
and the Government Pension Offset

Information on the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023

If you are eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits, because you worked in a Social Security covered job or because your deceased spouse did, the amount of your Social Security benefit no longer will be affected by your receipt of a MainePERS benefit. Two Social Security provisions, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) were repealed with the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023.

This repeal of the WEP and GPO does not affect MainePERS service retirement benefits. MainePERS service retirees will continue to receive their same pension benefit amount. The WEP and GPO were offsets to any social security benefits someone might be eligible to receive for their social security covered employment. 

MainePERS members should consult with the Social Security Administration for information about the effect these changes may have on their Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration recently announced the start of retroactive payments.

For additional information about the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, visit www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/82.