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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Weldon S.
An email message sent by BENEFIT RIGHT Company mentioned that seniors born before 1960 could receive a spending allowance card in April 2025 to help with groceries and other expenses. Where and when are the applications for the spending allowance card to be made?
Steve S.
I have not drawn my social security benefit at this time so my only knowledge of the amount I should receive is the estimated amounts at different ages when I log in to your site. I believe I am affected by WEP, will there be an update to the estimated amounts anytime soon? If not, how can I find out my current benefit amount?
Suzanne K.
I have the same problem as Gerald N. above. I was a municipal employee for 37 years and prior to passage of the SSA Fairness Act I was told I was ineligible for SSA Benefits because my Govt pension was too high. Now I am being told that I am ineligible for retroactive payment of benefits because I did not apply in January 2024. Why would I apply for benefits I knew I was not eligible for and waste everybody’s time? This seems to be extremely “unfair” and inconsistent with the intent of the SSA “Fairness” Act. This policy needs to be revisited.
Theresa L.
My situation is similar to Suzanne K’s. I’ve worked for the Federal Government for 33 years and am retired. My husband passed away February 2021. I’ve gone to the Social Security office on numerous occasions and also had a called appointment to discuss why I was unable to collect Widows Spousal Benefit. I was told that based on two thirds of my pension, I was not qualified to collect his Social Security. During that time, they also mentioned something about CSRS offest. I didn’t think it was fair because, in my opnion, my pension shouldn’t have had anything to do with my husband’s social security. No one from SSA never told me to file anything during that time or any other time. Besides, why would I file anyway if SSA clearly told me repeatedly that I was ineligible to collect his benefits. This is just not right! Its totally UNFAIR that we were not properly advised by the employees of SSA. I am requesting that you revisit the agency’s policy and grant benefits to myself and to thise who have been affected by this error.
Vickie T.
I want to know if I am eligible for WEP payment,
My ssn is 166449060, phone 703-509-3061 (I can receive text)
Cathy B.
you might want to take your Social Security number off because this is a public site.
Kris
You should remove this comment. You have given out your s.s. number where anyone can see it and phone number. Would also make sure to have alerts put on your s.s. number so it is flagged in case someone tries to use it
Lee B.
You shouldn’t put your Social Security number online in a public comment/forum where everyone can see it. That is plain idiotic of you and will lead to identity theft.
Roberta R.
Do not post your private info. This is a public blog.
Pat
Please delete your SSN. It’s a security risk.
Phyllis
My ss benefit letter states that my ssa benefit amount was reduced by $995 when l applied. I retired in 2015 as CSRS from Federal service of 32 years. Will i get retroactive pay?
william b.
i,m an expat.. last april someone claimed i was dead, well i,m not this stopped my benefits.. after going to the local police i filled out a proof of alive and sent it to the Athens embassy… i got the 4 months pay that they stopped, but fbu in athens removed 2530,00 from my truist bank account for may.june that they had sent me.. i need this returned to my bank
Gerald N.
I retire 40 year Fed. Service. I am married. My Civil Service Annuity was to High therefore due to GPO, I did not qualify for Spousal SSA Benefits.
Now thw Fairness Act was passed, my understanding in the News Articals states that I was qualified for retroactive pay January to December 2024.
I was told by SSA, my retroactive inky covers July – Dec. 2024, because I did not apply for Spousal Benefits prior to 2024.
My question, why would I have applied for Spousal Benefits prior to 2024, knowing I did not qualify due to GPO/Government Pension Offset.
Why am I penalized for not applying prior to 2024 for a Law that was passed in 2025.
Kyle H.
I am commenting on behalf of my grandmother who had worked for the state of Massachusetts for 21 years. She receives a state pension and has never got her full social security benefits because of it; additionally, my grandpa died in 2003, and she was not allowed to collect any of her widows’ benefit. Will the SSAF apply to her?
Chris
Have you ever seen a social Security officer and ask why? That may be a good place to start. Hopefully they can help her..
Musawir K.
I worked in Canada and paid into the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) (Canadian version of Social Security) from Nov 1987-April 2003. I moved to the US in May 2003 and have been working in the US and contributing to SS since May 2003. As soon as I turned 70, I’ve started receiving SS checks w.e.f. Dec 2023 based on SS credits earned on my US earnings only from 2003-2023. I’m still working and contributing to SS.
Question: Since US & Canada have a “Social Security Agreement”, am I entitled to a higher SS benefit based on both my Canadian and US earnings (e.g. from 1987-2023)? If so, how should I approach the US SSA and what steps should I take? Thank you.
Musawir Karim
Shirley
I took an early retirement because of disability. Am l going to received monies I missed because of early retirement.
Tony S.
Hi I am still working and collecting my social security do get a increase
Linda H.
Are folks who worked for the civil service and did not get social security because of that entitled to this restoactive check?