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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Dan H.
Thanks, President Biden, for signing this into law.
Dane
For everyone wondering if the fairness act will pay a policeman or police Detective back pay with only 35 credits.
Yes they do ! Also if you never received social security you will also get a check per month.
Thank you Fairness act and President Trump!!!
Justina
Thanks President Biden for signing this into law
Linda H.
Thank you, President Trump
I’ve been with you 100% on Thursday it all .We need help because it’s so hard and high prices dont help. I get 967.00 monthly … That is what we have to work with, I feel like I’m just going to be poor 😕 . I’m just needing enough to pay my bills groceries ect.
But it would be nice if I an I’m sure I’m not the only one .. Be able to at least get to go vacation 🙃 once. Can’t afford it.
But We Do Have The Best President Ever. Linda 3-6-2025
Elisabeth
How do we know if someone is Eligible?
My.elderly parent was a Municipal Employee who receives a State Pension as well as SS. I looked at the most recent paystub from the State Pension. Does not appear that SS taxes are taken out. Federal Withholding and State Withholding. But now SSA Withholding. My own paystub has Federal, State, SSA, and Medicare.
Dr. W.
This was already passed by Congress before the current administration and President Musk took over. Stevie Wonder can see who got the bill passed. But I see several Galatians that have been blinded by the witchcraft of the Lying King that they still believe a lie rather than the truth. Lord have mercy on those who’s loosing their jobs.
Rose
President Trump got rid of commissioner who said it would take a year. New commissioner had it flowing in days. Thank you Mr President.
Maria V.
Thank you, Dr. W.
I love your reasoning on the people thanking the current administration. Where have they been? 🙂
BIDEN signed this into law. A lot of hard work went on to make this happen.
Angelo G.
Thank you President BIDEN for signing the Act into law. It was long overdue and thankfully congress overwhelmingly approved. We WEP victims lost more than one year of reduced benefits but I understand one year is better than none. Again, thank you President BIDEN!
Carman
What about people who get injured at 17yo? I hadn’t had a chance to actually earn a living, and so my monthly assistance isn’t based on how much I’ve paid into the system in taxes. I receive straight up welfare, from what I understand. So I get $860/ MTH, and although I did not apply for disability until I was 47yo, I still haven’t been able to really earn a lot of money due to my special challenges. Also, the administration doesn’t start my assistance going back to when I became challenged in 1987. It starts whenever I applied back in 2017, though I’d applied many times before 2017 and was denied 4 times (in GA). I moved to FL in 2017 due to becoming homeless after my mom passed, and I got it on my first attempt. Bottom line ~its simply never enough and I have been really struggling.
MJT
Fun fact: it was signed into law by President Joe Biden, not the current president.
Brian F.
How are the retroactive payments calculated for retired teachers who did not pay into Social Security in Massachusetts?
Kathy B.
Will this include people on ssi and ssdi?
T.Y.
Hi, Kathy. 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 when you can expect retroactive benefits and an increase in your monthly benefit amount. We hope this helps.