Social Security Announces Expedited Retroactive Payments and Higher Monthly Benefits for Millions – Actions Support the Social Security Fairness Act
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: February 25, 2025
Today, the Social Security Administration announced it is immediately beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a “non-covered pension”) because they did not pay Social Security taxes.
The Social Security Fairness Act ends WEP and GPO.
“Social Security’s aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trump’s priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “The agency’s original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.”
People who will benefit from the new law include some teachers, firefighters, and police officers in many states; federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System; and people whose work had been covered by a foreign social security system.
Many beneficiaries will be due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.
Many of these people will also receive higher monthly benefits, which will first be reflected in the benefit payment they receive in April. Depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, the change in payment amount will vary from person to person.
Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or retroactive payment. Most people will receive their retroactive payment two to three weeks before they receive their notice in the mail, because the President understands how important it is to pay people what they are due right away. Social Security is expediting payments using automation and will continue to handle many complex cases that must be done manually, on an individual case-by-case basis. Those complex cases will take additional time to update the beneficiary record and pay the correct benefits.
Social Security urges beneficiaries to wait until April to ask about the status of their retroactive payment, since these payments will process incrementally into March. Since the new monthly payment amount will begin with the April payment, beneficiaries should wait until after receiving their April payment, before contacting Social Security with questions about their monthly benefit amount.
Visit the agency’s Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn more and stay up to date on its progress. Visitors can subscribe to be alerted when the webpage is updated.
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Kenna A.
I am wondering this applies to housewives? I get mental sis because I didn’t get my 40 quarters in because I was raising my 4 kids and my worked before marriage and pt here and there. But still contributed to my family.
Wylene T.
My husband died November 16, 2024 and I received notice that I was entitled to receive his social security. As of this date, I’ve not received nor heard a word from anyone. Please help.
Wylene T.
My husband died November 16, 2024 and I received notice that I was entitled to receive his social security. As of this date, I’ve not received nor heard a word from anyone. Please help.
C.B.
Hi, Wylene. We are sorry for your loss. For your security, we do not have access to your private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about the notice you received, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. Thanks for reading our blog.
Eileen S.
I lost all of my widow benefits when I retired from my public sector job in 2019. My benefits were not reduced – they were totally gone. How long will it take before my monthly benefits are started?
Melanie L.
Thanks, SSA, for your quick action on this legislation.. I’m writing to disagree with the words “the President understands how important it is to pay people what they are due right away.” No, he doesn’t. He has placed holds on federal budgets and federal grants that were already allocated. That means that agencies, companies, and citizens are NOT being paid what they are due. This is interfering with the well-being of US citizens, the construction of needed infrastructure of all kinds, and the conduct of scientific research. He is firing federal workers without regard for their employment contracts, their job responsibilities, their performance and tenure. This is going to deplete the institutional knowledge and expertise of government offices, to the detriment of the US. I know this is not your fault, SSA, and I hope your jobs are secure. But I felt I should object to the characterization of the President as a responsible leader, which he is not.
James G.
We re gently moved to southern Ar: 8420 Phoenix Ave, Fort Smith,Arkansas 72903; 485424078 and 505465319 respectively for James G Dickerson and Judith L Dickerson, hopefully this is all that is necessary, thank you
Ms R.
Mr Dickerson may I highly recommend if those are your social security numbers this is not a private posting it is open to the public and you have just put your information out there so I would take action ASAP! I share this with you because I know what it’s like to have my identity stolen to be breached hacked losing everything please take action for your greater good!
Philip l.
Ssfa says that retirees affected by this discrimatory practice will receive the lumpsum retropayment.then an increase to monthly pension payment/ social security payments.
There is no information ,i can access to determine my impact payments & retro reimbursement.where do i find or calculate these adjustments!!
Please advise alytlepassion @ gmail.com thank you!!
Venessa G.
My case is complex because I am also a survivor and the new law impacts that as well as my federal service. I have equal time in private sector as I do as a federal employee and never have comprehended the penalties imposed on me. Do I need a face to face appointment?
Rex A.
So if I have a wep case with pension your saying this will take longer to figure out
Karen G.
Will social security retirement seniors get any more money
James G.
How much more will we receive if that is known, thank you
C.B.
Hi, James. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to your private information in this venue. Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or retroactive payment. We hope this information is helpful.