What the WEP/GPO Repeal Actually Means for Texas Teachers Who Haven’t Filed Yet
Christopher Swan, CFP®, MBA | Retire With Swan | Northlake, TX
You spent 30 years in a Texas classroom. You paid into TRS every paycheck. And if you also worked a summer job, a side business, or a career before teaching, you paid into Social Security too.
Then someone told you it didn't matter. The Windfall Elimination Provision would slash your Social Security benefit. The Government Pension Offset would wipe out your spousal or survivor benefit entirely. So you never bothered to file.
That changed on January 5, 2025. Both provisions are gone. But more than a year later, there are still Texas teachers who haven't claimed what's now theirs.
What Were the WEP and GPO?
If you're a Texas teacher who spent your career in a district that doesn't participate in Social Security — which is most of them — two federal provisions affected you for over 40 years.
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduced the Social Security retirement benefit you earned from other jobs. If you taught for 25 years but also worked 10 years in the private sector before that, the WEP could cut your Social Security check by up to 60%. The logic was to prevent a "windfall" — but for most educators, it simply punished them for choosing to teach.
The Government Pension Offset (GPO) was even more painful. It reduced your spousal or survivor Social Security benefit by two-thirds of your TRS pension. For many retired Texas teachers — especially widows and widowers — this didn't just reduce the benefit. It eliminated it completely.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that over 273,000 Texans were directly affected: roughly 170,000 by WEP, 57,000 by GPO, and 46,000 by both.
What the Social Security Fairness Act Changed
The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) repealed both the WEP and GPO, effective retroactively to January 2024. Here’s what that means in practical terms:
If your Social Security was already being reduced by WEP, your monthly benefit has been automatically recalculated. You should have received a retroactive lump-sum payment covering January 2024 through mid-2025, plus a higher monthly check going forward. The SSA completed over 3.1 million of these payments by July 2025.
If the GPO eliminated your spousal or survivor benefit, that benefit should now be restored in full. For some Texas teacher retirees, this means hundreds of dollars per month that were previously zeroed out.
If you never filed for Social Security because you assumed WEP or GPO would make it worthless — this is the critical group. The SSA will not automatically find you. You need to file an application.
If You Haven’t Filed Yet, Here’s What to Do
The SSA has set up a dedicated process for people who never applied because of WEP or GPO. The steps are straightforward:
Call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern. When the automated system asks “How can I help you today?” say “Fairness Act.” This routes you to a specially trained representative.
Apply online at ssa.gov/apply for retirement or spousal benefits. Note: the online form may still ask about pension information, but the WEP/GPO offset will not be applied. Survivor benefit applications cannot be completed online — those must be done by phone.
Don’t wait. The date of your application can affect when your benefits begin. In some cases, benefits may only be retroactive to your application date, not to January 2024. Every month you delay is potentially money left on the table.
What This Means for Your Retirement Plan
For many North Texas teachers, this repeal doesn’t just add a check — it reshapes the entire retirement picture. If you’re receiving TRS at roughly $2,200 per month (the current average for Texas public education retirees) and you now qualify for an additional $800–$1,500 in Social Security income, that changes several planning decisions at once.
Your withdrawal strategy may need to change. With more guaranteed income from TRS + Social Security, you may be able to reduce draws from your investment accounts, giving them more time to grow.
Your Roth conversion window may have shifted. Higher combined income from TRS and Social Security can push you into a different tax bracket. That may mean the ideal time to do Roth conversions is right now, before your new Social Security benefit fully kicks in and raises your taxable income.
Your survivor protection picture is different. If the GPO previously eliminated your survivor benefit, your surviving spouse now has access to income that wasn’t in your plan before. This changes how you think about life insurance needs and TRS pension election options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’m still teaching and plan to retire in the next few years. Does this affect me?
Yes. When you eventually file for Social Security, the WEP reduction that would have applied to your benefit is gone. If you worked in Social Security-covered employment before teaching, your future benefit will be calculated using the standard formula — not the reduced WEP formula. This could mean significantly more monthly income when you retire.
Q: My spouse passed away years ago and I was told I couldn’t receive survivor benefits. Has that changed?
It has. The GPO no longer reduces or eliminates survivor benefits for TRS retirees. If you were previously denied or had your survivor benefit reduced to zero, contact the SSA to apply. You may be entitled to both the ongoing monthly benefit and retroactive payments back to January 2024.
Q: I received a retroactive lump-sum payment from SSA. Is that taxable?
Retroactive lump-sum payments received in 2025 are generally considered taxable income for 2025 and will be reflected on your SSA-1099 form issued in JanuarThe WEP and GPO are gone. If you’re a retired Texas teacher who never filed for Social Security, here’s exactly what changed and what to do next.y 2026. If you received a large retroactive payment, it’s worth reviewing with a tax professional or financial planner to understand how it impacts your total tax picture for the year.
The Bigger Picture
The WEP/GPO repeal is the most significant change to Texas teacher retirement benefits in decades. But claiming the benefit is just the first step. The real question is how this new income fits into a coordinated retirement plan — one that accounts for your TRS pension, your Social Security timing, your tax exposure, and your long-term goals for your family.
That’s exactly the kind of work we do at Retire With Swan. If the repeal has changed your situation — or if you’re not sure whether it applies to you — a Swan Fit Call is a good place to start. It’s a short, no-pressure conversation to understand your timeline, your savings, and your biggest concerns. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.
