4 Recent Changes That Will Impact Social Security for the Rest of Your Life
Social Security is not the same program it was even a few years ago. A handful of big policy shifts, administrative crackdowns, and new laws have changed how benefits are calculated, who gets more (or less), and how you access your account.
Some of these moves happened fast, and they aren’t just things you can ignore if you want to avoid making senior money mistakes. These changes can shape your monthly check, your spouse or survivor benefits, and even whether you can get timely help if something goes wrong.
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1. WEP and GPO ended permanently
If you have a pension from work that did not pay into Social Security, this is one of the biggest changes in decades. The Social Security Fairness Act ended the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These two rules reduced or wiped out Social Security benefits for many people with “non-covered” pensions.
The people most likely to have been affected are public workers in certain states, including some teachers, firefighters, and police officers, along with some federal retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System. Plus, some people with pensions tied to work covered by a foreign social security system.
For people who were hit by WEP or GPO, removing those reductions may have significantly increased their Social Security benefits for life. It can also shape survivor planning, because GPO affected spousal and survivor benefits.
You should have already received a one-time catch-up payment and started to receive regular increased benefits in 2025. If you didn’t and you think you should’ve been affected by this change, check your “my Social Security” account and contact the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If you never bothered claiming because WEP and GPO reduced or eliminated your benefit, do it now. The longer you delay, the more money you’re leaving on the table.
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2. SSA changed sign-in and identity verification rules
Retirees have been encouraged to set up a “my Social Security” account to check earnings history, update direct deposit info, see COLA notices, deductions, and more. But in 2025, it changed the way you sign in. Your old username and password no longer work. To use online services, you now need an account through Login.gov or ID.me, along with multi-factor authentication.
Retirees who struggle with newer technologies might find this process challenging. Especially anyone who struggles with phone-based authentication, shared devices, or password resets. SSA does note that there are alternatives that can work without a mobile phone, including landline calls, backup codes, and security keys. But you still have to set those up.
If you cannot get into your account, you may have a harder time catching issues early, like a missing COLA notice, a banking change you didn’t authorize, or a message about a repayment. SSA has been increasingly clear that important notices can show up digitally, including COLA notices.
Take action now. Make the transition or set up your account if you haven’t already done so, and save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
3. Overpayment recovery rules changed repeatedly
Overpayments are one of the most stressful Social Security surprises because they can hit people who did nothing wrong, or weren’t aware they’d been overpaid. SSA has changed its recovery approach recently, so you need to be aware of these new rules.
In 2024, SSA announced it would generally collect 10% or $10 (whichever is greater) of a person’s monthly benefit until the debt was repaid, instead of the old 100% garnishment rule. SSA also allowed a more flexible approach to repayment timing, including a 60-month repayment schedule standard in some circumstances.
Then, in 2025, SSA reinstated the 100% withholding rate for new overpayments. However, they also noted that people unable to afford full recovery could contact SSA to request a lower rate. You may also be able to contest the repayment if it was not your fault and would cause you hardship.
Anyone who receives a notice saying they were overpaid is at risk here. Especially retirees who rely on Social Security as their main source of income. This change is also important for people who have complicated situations that can result in payment errors. People who work and claim benefits, for example, or who have benefits on multiple records, can accidentally be overpaid.
4. SSA staffing cuts are making it harder to get help when you need a human
SSA is running leaner than it used to. Staffing has fallen from 61,410 in 2023 to 56,263 in 2025, with further cuts planned to bring that number to 50,000.
But while SSA is pushing more people to use online services, sometimes that’s not possible, or at least, not without help. If, for example, you can’t verify your identity online or by phone, you may need to visit a field office in person in some situations. Such as if you’re trying to change your direct deposit details.
Bottom line
Sudden changes to Social Security can impact your benefits and your retirement plan. Getting hit with an unexpected overpayment notice can eliminate your check entirely until the debt is paid back.
The way you access services has also changed, with more of a push to handle most things online via your “my Social Security” account. But to do that, you’ve got to go through new, tougher identity verification procedures and set up two-factor authentication. And staffing cuts can make it more challenging to get help when you need it.
The end of WEP and GPO actually sees many retirees better off than they were, providing they actually filed their claim. Those who did not but were affected by these rules should claim as soon as possible.
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