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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Leonard L.
This is a fair and well deserved benefit. I congratulate all who voted for this and all in SSA who made it happen so quickly.
mark h.
I started receiving ssdi in 2010. I was 50. Does this apply to ssdi recipients.
T.Y.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People who receive both a pension based on work not covered by Social Security and a Social Security benefit (retirement, spouse, disability, or survivor) may receive an increase. Please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn more. We hope this helps.
ANIBAL L.
Thank you civil servants for a Job well done.
ANIBAL L.
I paíd into SS for at least three years earlier than given credit for. IRS does not provide récords, and when I call SSA it indicates a 70 hour “on hold” time. Advice on options?
Randall R.
May God bless both President Biden and President Trump for providing a much needed SS increase and a very helpful retroactive blessing!
Bryan O.
Received a big Check, thanks to the Republicans and Democrats! Thanks to Tim from Texas and Shaun Duhamel from Massachussets! All the hard work and effort paid off! My Thanks! Sincerely Bryan D Oatman- LA County Sheriff tetired!
Juanita m.
Thank you for your hard work.
Ali C.
The Author was Garret Graves R-LA, Co-sponsor was Abigail Spanberger D-VA.
God bless them!!!
Donna
I hope you don’t mind, but I cannot find this answer anywhere & hoping you might have one for me. Husband retired 2006 after 41 years as Firefighter. No social security deduction, therefore nothing reported to Social Security. However, as with many first responders, he worked part-time jobs and with military credit, receives small social security. Was your income from Sheriff reported & if not, how did they figure what you are now receiving? Thanks..
gurrzt
The Democrats had NOTHING to do with this, you should be thanking President Donald J. Trump.
Lynda
NOPE! Felon trump had NOTHING to do with the SS Fairness Act.
Peggy J.
My pension with ATT was greatly reduced in the 90s because of Social Security Disability Pension that shopped at 65.For all my years I only got half my pension amount. Recently that policy changed at ATT. Does this new program change that and I’ll get my 28 years pension.
Jenet d.
Stupid bltch
T.Y.
Hi, Peggy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People who receive both a pension based on work not covered by Social Security and a Social Security benefit (retirement, spouse, disability, or survivor) may receive an increase. Please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn more. We hope this helps.
Joy T.
Thank you to the efficient Social Security workers who prepared millions of accounts for the SSFA changes. I appreciate your hard work.
Roger D.
Bill signed into law 5 Jan 2025. Thank you Joe Biden
John E.
And that needs to be explained to the public.
Stephany S.
It’s nauseating that Trump is taking credit for doing this 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
Bill
He had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BILL, it was WORKERS that did it NOT THE MINDLESS IDIOT
Bob R.
Yes, thank you Mr Biden 🙏 and all the people across the isle. Just so wonderful how good things happen when we work together.
Linda S.
Do I qualify for this ,I was a DUI counselor for 10 years but I was a Independent contractor,the Fairness act
S.S.
Hi, Linda. Thanks for reading our blog. 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. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Jan
My husband received his retroactive payment almost a week ago. I still haven’t received mine. Why not. I was penalized because of his job, even though I earned every quarter of my required 40. My benefits are so low because of WEP I haven’t received any increase in COLA because Medicare eats it all and has to adjust what they take out or I’d get less a much.9
Pat C.
I have not received my check either
I don’t have Medicare because the cost is more than I earn. Bummer