Americans Support Boosting Social Security for These Two Key Groups

In a move reflecting broad public support, the U.S. government has taken steps to enhance Social Security benefits for two key groups: public service workers and lower-income retirees. These changes come as part of ongoing efforts to address disparities in the Social Security system and provide greater financial security to millions of Americans.

Public Service Workers to Receive a Boost

In January 2025, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at correcting long-standing inequities in the benefits system for public service employees. The law primarily targets two controversial provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

The WEP and GPO have historically reduced Social Security benefits for public employees who receive pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. This has disproportionately affected teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other government workers. The new legislation eliminates these reductions, ensuring that affected individuals receive their full benefits.

According to government estimates, this change will result in an average monthly increase of $360 for those impacted. More than two million retirees are expected to benefit from this reform.

For official information on Social Security benefits, visit the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Broad Public Support for Expanding Social Security

The push for increased Social Security benefits has significant public backing. A recent survey by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) found that seven in ten Americans support expanding benefits while also increasing revenue to maintain the program’s solvency. This support spans across political parties, age groups, and income levels, highlighting Social Security’s importance as a cornerstone of financial security in retirement.

The NASI report also reveals that many Americans favor raising payroll taxes on higher earners to help fund benefit increases. This aligns with proposals from some lawmakers to lift the income cap on Social Security taxes, which currently only applies to earnings up to $168,600 (as of 2024).

Challenges and Long-Term Sustainability Concerns

While these changes are a significant win for many retirees, they come amid ongoing concerns about the financial health of the Social Security system. According to the latest projections from the SSA, the Social Security trust funds are expected to be depleted by 2035. If no legislative action is taken, only 83% of scheduled benefits would be payable beyond that point.

To address this issue, lawmakers are considering a range of solutions, including:

• Raising the payroll tax cap to increase revenue.
• Gradually increasing the retirement age to reflect longer life expectancies.
• Adjusting cost-of-living increases to slow the growth of benefits over time.

For a deeper look at Social Security’s financial outlook, visit the Social Security Trustees Report.

A Step in the Right Direction

The elimination of the WEP and GPO represents a major policy shift and a victory for public sector workers who have long advocated for fairer benefits. However, as the debate over Social Security’s future continues, policymakers must balance expanding benefits with ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability.

With strong public support for reforms and increasing recognition of Social Security’s role in retirement security, further changes may be on the horizon. For now, millions of retirees can look forward to more equitable benefits as they navigate their post-work years.

For the latest updates on Social Security policies, visit the official U.S. Government Social Security Portal.

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