General, Social Security Benefits

Social Security Pays Billions of Dollars in Retroactive Payments

March 5, 2025 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: March 5, 2025

Social Security Administration SealThe 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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  1. Carolina H.

    Thank You President Trump for putting America first this payment is well received and I honestly needed it God will continue to bless and protect you for doing the right thing. May God bless and protect you, your family America, and the vice president and his family.
    .

    Reply
    • Arleen S.

      This was signed by President Biden in December 2024. Thank him.

      Reply
      • Maria V.

        Yes, it was signed under BIDEN. I don’t understand why some think the current president signed the bill.

        Reply
  2. Richard S.

    Just wondering how many months the retroactive payment is for? I know it’s from Jan 2024 but until Feb or March or April 2025?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Rose

      14 months if paid in March.

      Reply
  3. Tom S.

    Are we going to get a written notice/explanation of WEP backpayment? Does this increase also mean that our Social Security monthly payments increase?

    Reply
    • S.S.

      Hi, Tom. 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. 

      Reply
  4. Janice T.

    Thank you President Trump! This blessing came just in time for me! God bless you!

    Reply
    • Nancy

      Biden was the one passed it, before Trump the con took over ! 😡

      Reply
      • Roxanne

        It’s appalling how many people don’t pay attention. The “Acting Commissioner” probably expected reprisal if he did not praise Trump. Trump is the “blame and boast” President.

        Reply
      • Patriot

        Nope- you have been mislead.

        Reply
        • Justina

          Who’s been misled? Biden signed it into law. Just google it

          Reply
    • Kate

      This was signed by Biden , not Trump. Do your research.

      Reply
    • Bev

      Thank you Joe Biden for signing the Fairness Act.🙏

      Reply
    • Kevin

      Read up! Biden signed the WEP repeal provision not Trump.

      Reply
    • Alice C.

      One of former President Joe Biden’s last acts in office could increase Social Security retirement benefits by over $1,000 a month for millions of Americans.

      On Jan. 5, Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law

      Reply
    • KIMC

      trump did expedite the payments, but this change and bill came under Biden’s administration.

      Reply
    • Ken

      Thank you Joe.

      Biden is responsible for ending the WEP that was started by Reagan.

      Trump is just taking credit.

      Reply
    • Shirley (.

      That was already in the works before Trump took office

      Reply
    • Sheree J.

      He had nothing to do with it, just stop already, smdh

      Reply
    • heather l.

      On January 5, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law.

      Reply
    • Arleen S.

      This was signed by President Biden in December 2024. Thank him.

      Reply
  5. Gayle

    Thank you President Trump! We were not expecting this! Best President ever!

    Reply
    • Kate

      This was signed by Biden, not Trump. Do your research.

      Reply
    • Kate

      This was signed by Biden, not Trump. Fo your research.

      Reply
    • Jess

      Biden signed it into law. On January 5th 2025. Not Trump.

      Reply
    • George V.

      Thank Biden. Trump had nothing to do with it.

      Reply
    • Alice C.

      One of former President Joe Biden’s last acts in office could increase Social Security retirement benefits by over $1,000 a month for millions of Americans.

      On Jan. 5, Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law

      Reply
    • Ken

      Biden is responsible for ending the WEP that was started by Reagan.

      Trump is just taking credit.

      Reply
    • Julie B.

      This was all President Joe Biden.

      Reply
    • Mike M.

      Social Security Fairness Act was signed by Joe Biden in Dec 2024 and funds were released, by Biden, prior to inauguration.

      Act was opposed by Senate Republicans as directed by pres-elect and Musk .

      Reply
  6. Brenda K.

    I retired in Jan 1,2025 .I was wondering if I am in with ones that’s getting retro pay

    Reply
    • Madeline R.

      Will I receive this retroactive benefit

      Reply
  7. Mary

    Does this in folks on disability?

    Reply
    • Brent S.

      Words can’t express how I feel about this great PRESIDENT we have today!
      Thanks President Trump for being the fairest President in my lifetime!
      It’s so great to see this country finally coming back to COMMON SENSE!👍

      Reply
      • Arleen S.

        This was signed by President Biden in December 2024. Thank him.

        Reply
      • Maria V.

        This was signed by BIDEN. Trump had nothing to do with this. Please Stop.

        Reply
      • Maria V.

        What did Trump do for the Fairness Act? You are praising the wrong person. Trump had absolutely nothing to do with this. Why are you thanking him?

        Thank BIDEN and congress working together to get this passed before Biden left office. You can also thank the SSA staff working diligently to have this happen swiftly.

        Reply
    • Calixto S.

      I have been on SSDI for seven years, does it include me?

      Reply
  8. Angel

    Thank you, president Joe Biden, for pushing this through and getting it done after the other party stabbed us in the back for so many years!

    Reply
    • Justina

      And thanks for the ssa workers who did the work!

      Reply
    • EDUARDO C.

      THE NAME OF PRESIDENT COMPLETELY WRONG

      Reply
      • Justina

        President Biden signed this into law.

        Reply
    • Patriot

      It was President TRUMP… not Biden…

      Reply
      • Arleen S.

        The Social Security Fairness Act was signed by President Biden in December 2024. Thank him. Not trump.

        Reply
      • Arleen S.

        It was Biden!

        Reply
      • Joyce B.

        Trump had nothing to do with it. It was rushed to be passed before trump took over because they knew he would axe it.

        Reply
      • Terry

        It was Biden who signed this into law!

        Reply
      • Justina

        President Biden signed it into law.

        Reply
    • Gladys F.

      Don’t you mean President Donald Trump? Biden did nothing to help us. He filled his own pocket!!

      Reply
      • a s.

        Biden signed this law!

        Reply
    • Tee

      Boy President Trump worked his butt off to get you this payment. Some people must be deaf, dumb and blind.

      Reply
    • Ronald H.

      Trump is not anyone’s friend or leader. Indecent vindictive, malevolent, sexual predator. Those responsible for his election will not advocate for social security, seniors or medicaid.

      Reply
    • Jim

      It was Trump not Biden

      Reply
      • a s.

        IT WAS BIDEN

        Reply
      • a s.

        Wrong!

        Reply
      • Joyce B.

        Couldn’t agree more. This has been a long fought battle to get the WEP repealed. Thanks to all who took part in the fight. It’s definitely not the “crook” trump

        Reply
  9. Maria

    Thank god president Trump is addressing this issue. My main concern, is why hasn’t this been done before. There should be more checks and balances to ensure that payments are granted appropriately!!!

    Reply
    • Kate

      This was signed by Biden, not Trump. Do your research.

      Reply
    • Kate

      Biden signed this, not Trump. Do your research.

      Reply
    • Jess

      Biden signed it into law on January 5, 2025. A simple internet search will explain.

      Reply
    • Roxanne

      If you want to “thank” someone, it should be the appropriate President, President Biden. This was signed by him prior to leaving office. He had been trying to get the two provisions eliminated for some time, along with members of Congress. The Acting Commissioner probably expected reprisal if he didn’t mention President Trump. The SS administration indicated when the bill was signed by President Biden that they would act swiftly.

      Reply
    • Justina

      Congress worked in a bipartisan fashion, a real miracle, to pass the law. Joe Biden signed it into law. And the hardworking ssa employees made the payments happen.

      Reply
    • Sheree J.

      Oh please, trump did nothing, how dare you give him any credit

      Reply
    • Bonjukian P.

      Trump has zero to do with this. Biden is whom you should be thanking.

      Reply
    • Mike M.

      The bill to release our back pay was signed by Joe Biden in Dec 2024. It was opposed by Senate Republicans and pres-elect Trump.

      Reply
    • Maureen L.

      It was president Joe Biden who pushed this through on Jan 5th 2025 , long before Trump took office.

      Reply
  10. Shane B.

    I do believe state pulls the amount they say after your c.o.l.a. because I have never seen the additional $50 at all since I became disabled in nov 2017. I do believe if I was receiving the correct amount for a full/perm disabled individual ssi/disability it would be higher taxes going out to state only. I haven’t been a retroactive dollar yet nor not sure when or how much. Not to mention every year I’m getting worse and more issues.
    Thanks,

    Reply

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