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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Tina B.
Thank You So Very Much!
I had retired from one job, went back to work as a teacher. My father did that and got 2 full retirements- I thought I would do the same!
That didn’t happen-2 days ago I had a very nice present in my bank account! Thank you so much Present Trump!
Charity K.
So nothing for the ppl on SSDI, Is that correct? Asking for a family member.
T.Y.
Hi, Charity. 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 increase. Please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn when you can expect retroactive benefits and an increase in your monthly benefit amount. We hope this helps.
Siuila G.
My social security was cut because my pension was too much. I collect social security when I turn 62, $189. Now 10 years later I’m only collecting $388.00 a month.
Should I qualify for retroactive from when I started collecting from age 62 to the age 70.
My social security should go up as well.
Siuila Gardley.
Thank you.
Tony S.
Thanks President Trump!
Lynda
OMG! President Biden signed the law on January 5, 2025. Felon trump, like always, is trying to take credit for something he had NO PART IN!
Jim B.
Will the estates of those who deceased before this act was signed be included?
tiki
Great. My poor mom was scammed by a couple and they talked her into making them POA…they took all she had and put her in a nursing home. She lives on my Dads fed retirement….he worked 50 yrs under the old retirement plan..Civil Service Retirement System…So I guess they will get a nice check….
Michelle D.
I get ssdi I found out I could get my deceased husband’s SS at 75% at 50 I’m 53 not remarried so I applied I was assured many times that I would get paid for the day I applied till I was awarded. My first check was in Oct. Took 317 days so I call on the 5th month of receiving benefits as to when do I see back pay after 30min. Nothing but silent helloooo is there a problem? I’m happy to have my husband’s due now instead of 67 I couldn’t live on my own. I said don’t I receive the pay for the months since I applied no answer
I’ve got back pay on my own ssdi and I’ve seen my son’s not one person can tell me anything yet I had my award letter and I was told. I planned on major life changes car moving to not get a answer that there’s not anything is going to be a bad day for me but I will live I’m not sure what if the appt. On the phone with the woman a year ago gave me some wrong info???? Someone who has been there can you help me out?
Kevin W.
So basically how much am I supposed to be getting next month in April
Kevin W.
So basically how much am I supposed to be getting next month in April
Karen P.
I retired in 2010 under the CSRS Offset Rule. I worked for federal government and also some private industry employment which collected FICA. I haven’t received anything yet. Will keep checking my bank account. Knowing my luck SSA will run out of money before they ever get to my account. What if March is past and I’m into April and I haven’t been contacted or whatever? With job cuts there it will be even harder to actually talk to a person at SSA.