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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James W.
I received my retroactive payment this March(2025). Am looking forward to my monthly adjustment in April. Although the Federal Government kept $44,000 of what was legitimately owed to me I am thankful for the amount paid. Thank you President Trump for expediting the process.
lyle
Interesting, your thanking our government for screwing you out of 44K
Judith S.
Is that a one-time payment or ongoing?
Cary
My understanding is you receive a one time lump sum payment for the money that should have been paid to you when you began collecting SS ( the difference between what you’re receiving now and what you should have received since you started collecting).
Beginning in April, you should receive a larger amount in your monthly check (what you should have been receiving all along).
I can’t imagine the monthly increase will be huge, but what the hell? It’s better than the SSA taking money from you.
My brother-in-law just received a check on March 6th for $6,025. He worked in the private sector for about 4 years (45 years ago) and eventually retired from the public sector.
Rosemary Y.
How do I apply to receive this retroactive payment?
Madonna B.
I would love to know myself
Mary C.
Who qualify for retro payments from SS
S.S.
Hi, Mary. 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. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Leigh H.
How do I get this payment
Peggy J.
Do I qualify for a retroactive check in florida as a recently
retired school teacher
C.B.
Hi, Peggy. 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 your 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.
Bruce 5.
I’m NOT receiving ANY extra money, because Although I’ve been working since I was 14, I’m just a Regular Hard Worker & DON’T qualify for it!
This is TOTALLY UNFAIR! 😡😢🤔
Cary
You don’t have to apply. My brother-in-law just received a direct deposit payment of $6,025 and he didn’t apply for anything.
The SSA knows if you should be getting a retroactive payment.
C.B.
Hi, Rosemary. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. 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. We hope this helps.
Marie c.
So, ppl that haven’t pay paid into SS will be getting SS payments now
Bob
Yes! This is just another leftist handout.
Spencer C.
Try to understand this everybody, it’s pretty simple. The. WEP penalized people who worked and paid into Social Security and fully qualified for pension but then later retired from a job that didn’t participate in SS. Employee received a reduced SS pension from what they were actually entitled to. WEP elimination ended his unfair situation.
John14
Wrong. These are people who retired from a job where their employer did not participate in SS. Jobs such as teaching or firefighters, but some, like myself, worked jobs before & after retiring from, teaching, where we did pay SS tax. Also, many, again like myself, worked part time jobs while employed as a teacher/firefighter/law enforcement, etc where we/they paid the SS tax.
I have been penalized for over 14 years because I retired as a classroom teacher, and received approximately 40% on my earned SS benefit.
Cary
Right John. Good explanation. A lot of head folks could answer their own questions if they just did some reading.
Lois H.
In my case, and I’m sure everyone’s situation is individual to their work history and payments, I paid in to SS for 13 years of factory work in my 20s then became a teacher not paying into social security for the 9 month school year. However, I always worked jobs in the summer or part time weekends where I did pay into SS WHILE teaching and paying about 700 a month into a state teacher retirement fund. When I reached my full age for SS, I fell under WEP LAW which said I couldn’t draw 100% of my SS. I have received a reduced monthly amount of SS since retirement, so now that WEP has ended, I received a years back pay of the money I should have received if there was not WEP AND I will receive an increased payment in April, for my March SS, that will be the original monthly amount I should have received without falling under WEP because I was a teacher not paying into SS. BUT remember, I continued paying into SS while teaching with other jobs in my summer and weekend jobs plus my 13 years in factories.
James F.
No,you miss understood Marie. The people who were NOT paying into social security were getting checks. Social Security found them out,SO, they will NO LONGER get those checks,and those of us who DID PAY our taxes will receive more money in our checks now as social security now has millions more to do that with.
Bill
Yes, yes they are. Pathetic…
Deb
Yes, they have paid into Social Security, they worked private industry before, and maybe after their government job. While working the government, they paid retirement money into cafeteria plans or other offered retirement service.
Here is an example, from my experience.
Private industry (1979 thru mid 1986) paid into Social Security.
Government job (mid 1986 thru mid 2010), paid into LACERA Los Angeles County Retirement Association.
2nd Government job (mid 2010 thru 2015), paid into CALPERS and Social Security.
When I retired, I receive funds from LACERA, CALPERS, and Social Security.
First, I qualified to receive Sociaol Security because the last job I work, I paid into it. These contributions connected to my contributions made in 1979 thru 1986; which gave me qualifying quarters to qualify to receive Social Security. Then, a formula was used to determine the reduced amount of Social Security, due to the non-contribution years.
Now, had I not had the last job, that paid into Security, I would not have received any of the prior monies that I had paid into Social Security. This is why you may hear persons say their Social Security monies where stolen.
I hope information helps.
Ruth C.
Actually, no. Originally, the WEP and GPO provisions were designed to prevent “double dipping”, meaning having two federal retirement benefits. The earned Social Security benefits of people who worked for the federal government were reduced because they received a civil service pension. The new law says if you earned two benefits you’ll get two.
Brian H.
No! Only us who paid into both.
Lynda J.
It’s confusing. In 1983 Reagan signed a law-WEP and GPO. It reduced SS benefit for educators and others who contributed to a pension fund and also worked jobs where they contrubuted to SS-look it up. In 2024, congress passed and Biden signed the SS Fairness Act that ended this. Beginning in March those effected will now receive their entire earned SS monthly benefit plus 1 lump benefit for the yr 2024.
Mike R.
Pretty fair huh!!! Ranks right up there with Mexicans coming here and getting it.
Tom
No. People who paid into and qualified for social security, but also worked at another job that didn’t pay into SS but provided a pension, would have their rightful SS benefits reduced or eliminated.
archivist49
This is for people who paid into social security when working for other employers but had those benefits stopped at retirement if they worked at any time for a job that paid into a pension. I worked 14 years for a pension job but 45 years I paid into social security. Social security would not pay me for those 45 years I paid into it. Those people who do not pay into social security at all will not get social security at their retirement. I did pay into it.
Jay
Not true.. Only people that paid into Social
Security the required amount of years will receive it.
Jay
In 2024, congress passed and Biden signed the SS Fairness Act that ended this. Beginning in March those effected will now receive their entire earned SS monthly benefit plus 1 lump benefit for the yr 2024.
Donna
How does Social Security calculate for income not reported to Social Security because of payment into a pension. My firefighter husband gets a small Social security check based on his part-time jobs.
Carol
No, those who paid into SS and have 40 credits will now get their SS. Many people who have a government job (when you don’t pay into SS) and had a private job prior to the government job (and paid into SS) were not getting their SS.
Jim
Yeah it’s bs to made good money for years and the years before and during the time I was signed up for six years I was only making a 3rd of what I was making and because of that people on SSI receive a same or more than me and the judge wouldn’t award it to me unless I agreed that I wasn’t disabled those six years because my friend was not up to date I had to agree that I wasn’t disabled until I took the last mri 10 months prior and not to mention that Cumberland mountain singed me up for SSI to as well as SSDI and my back pay was based on 700 a month and then because my brother in law didn’t charge me for rent until I got my back pay they took an additional 300 a month from my back pay even though I still had to pay him and everyone else I borrowed money from for six years but oh well
Cindy W.
I have worked since I was 14 in 1989 and paid in Social security taxes until I had my first stroke at the age of 32. A social worker helped me in the hospital apply for SS, because they thought I was going to die. I was put on SSDI. I have had 6 more strokes since Then, I am 49 now. I only get $1100 per month. I don’t understand. I long to work but my body will no longer allow me to. I put my trust and keep my faith in The Most High God. It would be nice to get this extra help, but if I don’t, I pray that our elderly people receive it and many others that are in great need that deserve the help. God bless everyone who got the extra $ and I pray they are grateful, because a lot of people who really need it, may not get that extra help. God bless us all.
raven s.
ms.cindy,im in az….i drove trk 28 yrs,the feds killed me abd got away w it.i was saved by a world famous russian surgeon.a year later i applied for ssi/ ssdi.the court house in tucson claimed theyd lost my application.i had my original.but still they dragged their feet 6 years showing i had no work history.as of today im just now recieving 900.00$ monthly income.i cannot survive on this.. much respect..youre friend raven sky…i feel for ya as well
Verleasa
AMEN!!!
Shawna
God bless you, I’m so sorry you didn’t get extra! Keep your faith in the Lord, I will pray for you!
Jim
Thank you and God bless you
spring e.
Me also and what I get is not enough to get meds and food
Efrain
Sorry to hear that, God Bless you, we are here temporary and God is the only way, keep strong in faith.
j. E.
AGAIN! THANK YOU President Trump! We love you.. AMERICA LOVES YOU :))
Lonny
This was enacted prior to Trump. President Biden signed it into law after passage of Congress.
L. F.
Don’t thank Trump. Do your research. “Former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law in January, per CNBC. This law helped provide an increase in Social Security benefits to a group of nearly 3 million public workers whose payments were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).”
P.R
Biden signed this into law in January…smfh
Sandra J.
Speak for yourself! I despise the man. Everyone I know can’t stand stand him and this ridiculous administration of tv has beens. He’s done nothing to help me or them get ahead of anything. Everything he dictates hurts the poor. He’s a horrible president. You’ll see.
Karen
President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5, 2025. The Trump regime had to implement it. Trump/Musk/Putin wouldn’t help the poor or middle-class. Thank you President Biden who always had the poor and middle-class’ back!
B. K.
Trump had NOTHING to do with this. It was signed into law by President Biden before he left office. But of course Trump will try to take credit.
Bob
The Social Security Fairness Act was signed by President Biden on January 5, 2023.
Bob
The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law by President Biden on January 5,2025.
Lynda J.
Trump had nothing to do with The SS FAirness Act. In 2024 Congress and President Biden signed the SS FAirness Act that ended the WEP and GPO that Reagan signed into law in 1983 which robbed up to 60% of SS benefit for educators who paid into a pension plan and worked jobs where they paid into SS. Now those effected will receive what they have earned in SS benefit.
Lynda
Felon Trump had NOTHING to do with passing the law! Congress passed the law in 2024 and President Biden signed it into law on January 5, 2025. Get the Truth about this.
Eddie H.
Trump has nothing to do with it. It was started under President Biden.
Gregory G.
Trump is a convicted felon and a rapist. Considered by presidential historians as the worst US president in history. Trump praises Hitler a despot who ordered millions of Jewish citizens to be burned alive.
Mike m.
The increase was signed into law by President Biden in Dec 2024.
Ivan R.
Trump had nothing to do with this payout. He’s directly involved in killing Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid to millions of people, so how on earth could you come out and thank this man. This long fight to get this payout has been on for years before Trump. It was about fairness to those who were working and receiving SS. And one more thing the stimulus payments you received were not Trump but Congressional leader Nancy Pelosi who came up with the idea.
J.e.
This law was signed by Biden before he left office in January.
Rhonda C.
This was started under the previous administration. Tr is pushing in through fast.
Sandra
This was passed by president Biden.
Elaine
Don’t thank Trump. You need to thank President Biden because he enact the Fairness Act with approval of a Democratic congress!
Wolf
no we don’t
Charles K.
FYI, The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law by Biden.
Jay
In 2024, congress passed and Biden signed the SS Fairness Act that ended this. Beginning in March those effected will now receive their entire earned SS monthly benefit plus 1 lump benefit for the yr 2024.
Jay
In 2024, congress passed and Biden signed the SS Fairness Act that ended this. Beginning in March those effected will now receive their entire earned SS monthly benefit.
Bambi L.
I call my Social Security office and I was told I do not qualify cause I get Disability. I pay taxes on Disability.
Molly H.
Why have many of my friends and relatives already received their WEP lump sum payments and I still haven’t even though I also qualify?
Jen
You are so wrong and foolish in believing in this fascist mega monster, THANKS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN!!
C.B.
Hi, Molly. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. 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. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Bambi L.
I get Disability Social Security and I was told I do not qualify.
Karen R.
Do you receive a pension from a job where social security taxes were not taken out?
Mike R.
And why would you?
Tarryn K.
If you get social security disability, what are you trying to qualify for? Not understanding….