Social Security Pays Billions of Dollars in Retroactive Payments
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 5, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today shared its significant progress to quickly implement the Social Security Fairness Act. Through March 4, 2025, SSA has already paid 1,127,723 people more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments. The retroactive payments are the result of the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The average retroactive payment so far is $6,710.
“President Trump made it very clear he wanted the Social Security Fairness Act to be implemented as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We met that challenge head on and are proudly delivering for the American people.”
The WEP and GPO 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 agency continues to pay remaining retroactive payments and is ready to begin paying higher monthly benefit payments beginning in April for people’s March benefit.
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Jorge A.
Quiero saber si califico para rotativo gracias
Stanley K.
Does anyone know how you qualify for this? I’ve been on Social Security for three years now. Stan.
Jim C.
Stan, did you work for the government or other state agency under CSRS? That’s one retirement system that’s being adjusted under WEP.
Carrottop
I was CSRS but not an CSRS offset. Is it the offsets getting it?
T.Y.
Hi, Carrottop. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Fairness Act ends the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits of people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security because they did not pay Social Security taxes. This law increases Social Security benefits for some workers 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. Learn more about the steps the Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking on our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
yvon c.
nop
Fatimah N.
Reading this article has me desperately hoping to receive good news about my SSDI application being approved after I’ve been waiting for a year and a half.
Terry
They are two totally different items with SSA.
CRedmon
Fatimah N, repealing of WEP/GPO has no affect whatsoever on SSDI.
Patricia C.
Well done.
Barbara G.
I’d like to know in what order SSA Fairness Act retroactive benefits are being paid. Did you start with WEP? Are retroactive payments being done in same way monthly benefits are paid (day of birth determining payment date)? Is there any consideration as to age of recipient? Thanks.
Susan K.
I would also like to know. I’ve been retired for 15 years and they owe me for WEP, but I can’t figure out how much, or when, or what order they are making payments in. The amount of comments on this site with people not understanding why we are getting this money is amazing! I worked 3 jobs for 20 years and only get my municipal pension!
JDoe
Susan. Same here, thank you for posting. Please keep updates here for those of us in the dark but know WEP cut our benefits when we became disabled (disability retirement) . I have been trying to get any info but my online record has no changes and I have no mail or payment from SSA. Calling is laughable at this point. I feel like a manual calculation is likely but should not have to wait until next month to find this out.
DH
SSA advised people to wait until April to call about retroactive back benefits. Most folks will to taken care of in March, those that aren’t can call in April to see how they stand in the process. Back pay will be in a separate check/deposit from adjusted benefit payments.
Updated benefit adjustments may or may not come in March benefit payment, but should be in April payment.
Retroactive benefits will only be paid back to Jan, 2024, the signing of the bill. They will not be paid for all the years a person was subject to WEP/GPO.
Juan C.
When you say benefits will be paid back to Jan,2024 does that men the retroactive pay starts in December 2023 and is paid in January 2024. and November 2024 is paid in December 2024.
Sherry
I received my 2024 payment a couple of days ago! I retired under CSRS. Had worked many years at other non government jobs and paid SS taxes When i applied for SS was told my SS would be decreased by 60 pct. Never could understand why they considered it double dipping. Have been receiving a small SS check. Looking forward to April and to hopefully a significant increase in my check.
Paul c.
I’m in the same boat as sherry. I had my 40 quieter
Jen
Social Security will figure it out because they have all your past records. You will get reimbursed only for the last year from January 2024 up until when they figure out your repayment. It was supposed to be done by the end of March but I’ve heard people who have not heard from them yet.
Dee
I just read an article and the payout schedule is the same as your regular benefits for the upcoming week. It’s goes by your birthday
1st-10th pays at the beginning of the week
11th-20th pays midweek
20th-31st pays out at the end of the week
It will come the same way your monthly benefits come as well..
Carolyn
If they did not pay Social Security taxes, why are they getting SS?
Terry
They did pay social security taxes for part of their work history. I worked for the federal government and worked other jobs as well, both while I was working for the federal government, prior to my work with the federal government and after I retired from the federal government. Some people have very long work histories.
Sonya S.
Yes that’s correct but I worked for the State of Louisiana for 23 years. I retired in 2013 and didn’t pay a dime into social security.
Meg
GPO also offset the benefits you might be due as a spouse or widow. If you ever married to someone who paid Social Security taxes, you should check for possible eligibility or an increased dependent benefit.
LEOTA I.
I’m one of those people. Worked as a teenager, then USAF, THEN USNavycivil servant, now CDWA. I PD SS BEFORE AND AFTER My Csrs. I lost 335.00 when I turned 62 bec of my Usaf time. I’m not drawing ss til 70. So, 20k was taken bec of Reagan and his wep crap.
CRedmon
Yes Leota I., and the Republican Congress is WHO corrected this terrible error. Thanks to Republican Congressman Garrett Graves from Louisiana in the 118th Congress; he Sponsored “H.R.82 Repeal WEP/GPO” which passed the House (on 12 Nov 24) and stalled with Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer in the Senate until 21 Dec 24.
Justina
Go back and reread the article. We paid at least 40 quarters into ssa, and also worked a non-ssa job into which we paid. Our ss benefits were cut or eliminated altogether under wep-gpo until it was repealed.
Terr
They DID pay social security taxes. that’s the whole point. Read SSA website fairness act section.
Susan K.
You need to read everything published about this! Anybody getting this money did pay into Social Security on a second job. I’m amazed by comments like yours where people don’t have a clue what they are saying! Read the requirements!
Truthful
Educate yourself
Justina
She’s gonna have to since they’re eliminating the Dept of Education
Bill
We are “educated” Truthful. These people chose this plan and then got greedy and duped the tax payers into letting them double dip.
About T.
Bill, Teachers, Firefighters and Police who also worked 40 quarters (such as me) are NOT double dipping. I paid into my retirement AND also worked other jobs FOR THE FULL 40 QUARTERS. I have been offset by the SS administration and penalized for being a retired teacher. That is being duped and screwed over, I agree. Hope you understand now who is actually getting paid.
PS This is long overdue. Just pay me the monies I am due just like you get.
Jennie R.
How do you figure? They paid into their own accounts. It’s not greedy to want your full benefit instead of only half. How are taxpayers being duped? I don’t think you even know what you are talking about.
Jennifer S.
Because someone decided 2 checks were too much called double dipping. They reduced Gop check ( mine was 16%) and the took 85% of SS. Less than if i had never worked and paid into SS. Lost 14 years Gop And 13 years SS.. will never het that back.
Carol
You have all wrong. They paid SS on other jobs but because they receive a pension from government, state or municipal that didn’t pay into SS the SS was reduced or eliminated.
Kemal E.
If the individuals did not pay SS taxes, why they are getting SS benefits? If this is to be fair then take SS taxes from the pension amount they received and refund the SS amount they were supposed to have. This way they would be getting SS on the money they would have paid.
This brings the issue for people making money at overseas and not paying SS taxes but paying federal/state taxes and not getting benefits from SS and their retirement money was reduced since their income and amount of weeks worked are reduced. The same rule should be applied to people who worked overseas and SS benefits reduced due to not paying SS taxes….
Bruce S.
This is being paid to people who DID pay into Social Security through non-government jobs but were having their SS benefits being reduced because they were also receiving a pension. They are receiving their earned SS benefit now.
Jennifer S.
Only 1 year back i lost 14 years SS and 14 years d pension. Poof gone! It could happen to you if they decide to ( change a law$
Carolyn
This explains exactly how it works! Thank you.
Dorothy h.
Question. Teachers who worked 30 years under the windfall provision and have since retired for the past 16 years, will they be receiving a one timeretroactive payback? Or does the current elimination of the windfall act only apply to teachers who are currently working as of February 2024?
C.B.
Hi, Dorothy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Only people who receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security may see benefit increases. Most state and local public employees – about 72% – work in Social Security-covered employment where they pay Social Security taxes. Therefore, their benefits have not been reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These individuals will not receive a benefit increase due to the new law. If you had a non-covered pension from work as a teacher, you may receive back benefits and an increase on your own Social Security benefit. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Eric
So people with disabilities, we don’t get nothing wow smh
Truth
Apparently you forgot to read the article
Rose
Appreciate the updates and new commissioners rapid response to getting benefits paid. Would appreciate updates on percentage of recipients paid. Also insight to process. I’m affected by WEP and GPO. Processed separately? Thank you.
Bonnie
What is WEP and GPO?
C.B.
Hi, Bonnie. Thanks for reading our blog. WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset) are provisions that affect how certain retirees receive Social Security benefits. WEP reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security, such as certain government jobs. GPO affects spousal and survivor benefits, reducing them for those who receive a pension from non-covered employment. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Bill
If the system works as defined, how will the recipients be made aware of the incoming payments? Do we “wait and see”, or, will there be a letter/email sent to individual recipients?
C.B.
Hi, Bill. 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. We hope this helps!
Lonnie B.
Hi,
I’m a retired CSRS employee and have been receiving a reduced SS payment for my social security jobs before and after my CSRS employment since 2017. I am expecting the retroactive payment and the increased payment in April. It is now March 23rd and I have not received anything letter , nor funds. I recently saw another article… that stated the SS Administration had completed the retroactive payment process?? Can you enlighten with facts.
Thank you,
Lonnie B.
CRedmon
No Lonnie B, the Social Security Administration does have some WEP/GPO benefits that have to be adjusted manually because of the complexity of their case. We need to thank the new Commissioner (Acting) for his push on getting most of this completed (by automation) because the former commissioner was going to have EVERY ONE calculated manually.
Brenda M.
I worked for the County and High Tech yet I have not received any letters from Social Security nor my retroactive payment. I haven’t received a letter from Social Security about my Social Security’s Retirement Benefits beginning in April 2025.
C.B.
Hi, Brenda. Thanks for using our blog. Most people who are eligible received their one-time retroactive payment already. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Patty S.
I am one of the recipients of this new policy. The clerk told me I’d be getting back pay on my own social security and also getting the back pay on my husband’s. There was a deposit in my account but I never received paperwork explaining whether is was my own social security back pay or my husband’s. Will I be receiving paperwork explaining the back pay? Thank you,
Terry
You will receive notification in the mail, just like you do after a COLA. On the SSA website it is stated that there will likely be 2 notifications after you receive the retroactive money – one stating the amount of the money, the second stating that either WEP or GPO has been removed. There is a lot of information on their website.
C.B.
Hi, Patty. 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. We hope this helps.