“A Big Deal”: Biden Signs Bipartisan Expansion of Social Security Benefits

President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill on Sunday that expands Social Security benefits for over 2 million Americans, marking one of his final legislative acts before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. The new law addresses long-standing inequities in the system and represents a rare moment of broad bipartisan agreement.

“By signing this bill, we’re extending Social Security benefits for millions of teachers … and other public employees, and their spouses and survivors,” Biden said during the ceremony. “That means an estimated average of $360 per month increase. That’s a big deal.”

The legislation, which passed the House with a vote of 327-75 in November and the Senate with 76-20 in December, eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions had reduced Social Security benefits for individuals who also received government pensions, disproportionately affecting teachers, first responders, and other public servants.

Biden highlighted that nearly 2.5 million Americans will receive lump-sum payments to compensate for the benefits they missed in 2024, amounting to thousands of dollars per recipient. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a co-sponsor of the legislation, praised the repeal of the provisions.

“This is a victory for thousands of teachers, first responders, public servants, and the countless advocates who fought for years to correct this unfairness,” Collins wrote in a statement. “This law ensures that public service will no longer come at the expense of one’s earned retirement benefits.”

Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who co-sponsored the House version of the bill, celebrated the achievement on social media. “Our retired police officers, firefighters, teachers, and public employees worked for DECADES to right this wrong,” she wrote.

The expansion is expected to cost $195.65 billion over the next decade and will accelerate the insolvency date of the Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund by about six months, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The fund, previously projected to run out during fiscal year 2033, could now be exhausted earlier due to the additional costs.

The signing ceremony was attended by bipartisan lawmakers, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), among others.

This legislative milestone underscores a rare moment of cooperation in Congress, addressing long-standing inequities in Social Security benefits for public employees.