WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are calling on the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to immediately implement the Social Security Fairness Act, a law designed to restore full benefits to railroad retirees and their families. The legislation, which repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), was signed into law on January 5, 2025.
The senators submitted a formal letter to RRB Chairman John Chorlé, urging the agency to move swiftly in enacting the law’s provisions. They stressed the importance of providing prompt relief to retirees, spouses, and survivors affected by benefit reductions tied to public pensions not covered by Social Security.
“The Social Security Fairness Act restores full railroad retirement annuities or earned Social Security benefits for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by Social Security,” the senators wrote. “We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation.”
Although the Social Security Administration has processed nearly 91 percent of payments granted under the law, retired railroad workers have yet to see those benefits distributed. The RRB has cited the need for significant computer system reprogramming to reflect the repeal of WEP and GPO. According to the RRB’s website, new monthly annuity amounts are expected to be paid in July 2025, with retroactive payments issued by the end of the same month.
Cassidy has long championed the repeal of WEP and GPO. He played a central role in securing a Senate vote on the legislation in 2024, and has advocated for reform through public forums, op-eds, and bipartisan working groups. Since entering Congress in 2009, Cassidy has consistently supported efforts to protect and strengthen Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Fairness Act passed Congress with bipartisan support on December 21, 2024. Its provisions apply retroactively to benefits beginning in December 2023.
Cassidy and Collins are requesting monthly updates and briefings from the Railroad Retirement Board as implementation progresses.