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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Alan J.
BULLSHIT
Alfreda G.
Thank for explaining those benefits!!!
Diana
I have been a disabled person since 2008. 2 years ago they stopped my benefits. I was seeing specialists for my medical issues & SS also cancelled my Medicare. For the last 2 years…SS has told me that they would get my Medicare back and all the back pay. They gave me proof to show my landlord so I could remain in my apartment. I am now homeless, do not have Medicare, have gone without medication for months and receive only $967 which is not enough to rent an apt in Austin, Texas. I need help! I wish I could reach an attorney, state representative or the President to complain about Social security and all the representatives who are NOT doing their jobs, and get someone to assist me with this case.
Kmmy B.
I applied for my disability and I was medical discharge by Warden Capt.and a Lt. And I have two doctors said I can’t go back to work. I sent all the paperwork in. Can someone please help me.
Inez L.
Since the Government Pension Offset Act & the Windfall Elimination Provision Act has been repeal, what does this mean for a widow who could not get husband’s social security because she worked for the federal government.
Inez L.
Since the Government Pension Offset Act & the Windfall Elimination Provision Act has been repeal, what does this mean for a widow who could not get husband’s social security because she worked for the federal government.
Ellen m.
How could I find my husband,s
Vsocial security benefit….? I only received 40% when I retired in 1994
Debbie m.
Does everyone get it that is on social security
Jeffery H.
Thanks
Jeffery H.
Thanks jh2044371@gmail.com, i,m very. Thankful