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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Sandie
Will the back payment be made to the families of those who have died.
Barbara
With the new law, Act of Fairness, can I apply for Social Security retirement benefits, if I never paid into social security because of being a federal employee under my husband who receives social security.
Lynnette S.
What about pensions and survivor benefits from civil service? Explain how this will work
T.Y.
Hi, Lynnette. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Fairness Act ends the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (GPO). It’s possible you may be due retroactive payments if you previously applied for benefits as a spouse, divorced spouse, surviving spouse, or surviving divorced spouse. Those benefits could have been reduced, or even eliminated, by GPO because of the non-covered pension you receive from your work as a school bus driver. For more information on how to proceed, please read the answer to the question, What should people do now that the Social Security Fairness Act is law? on our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Ruth C.
Please note that this measure was signed into law by President Biden. The statement by the Acting Commissioner, appointed by Donald Trump, lauds Trump for implementing the law as if he deserves credit. We are grateful that he and President Musk have not interfered to prevent payment of these benefits.
James R.
How do I find out if I’m eligible?
S.S.
Hi, James. 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.
Michelle P.
I was wondering if people on SSI get anything
Gail
I was against the Fairness Act. As a social security employee for over 38 years I understood the rationale for it as well as the argument that we should not be treated differently from someone who earned an SS Ben and a private pension. I felt it was too much to ask the taxpayers to pay. I am grateful to the American taxpayers for a good pension, health care and now this. I support the efforts to lessen the burden on Taxpayers. Thank you!
Robert
Will recipients receive interest for the money withheld by the government? You can be sure that if we owed the government money we would have to pay interest on the money owed.
LA
I filed for disability 3 times and still had to appeal and even though the judge granted me full approval the appeals council still looked it over and eventually agreed with the judge. Pointing out I should have been approved 2018. Oddly I was approved only for SSI in 2021. Finally getting my ssdi beginning 2024. Sadly I was due almost 40,000 back pay but had to pay back 22,000 SSI and a total 6,00 for an attorney. I ended up only receiving 8,000. I can’t get any straight answers except they are right and I am wrong. Literally telling me they’ve wasted 20 minutes trying to explain while not explaining at all. Seems to be okay for them to take our money without honestly showing facts. They definitely don’t work hard for our citizens as they claim.
Pcta
The last line in your article leaves an inaccurate impression. The Pension is not covered by Social Security. It is work done by recipients which WAS covered by social security tax that was hit by WEP penalty. Retirees did not receive the full soc sec benefit for those wages that they would have received if they didn’t have the pension.
Barbara
I was informed because I worked for the government that I was not entitled to Social Security retirement because I did not pay into SS
Frank
If u worked under CSRS like I did from 1973 till 1987 then u paid into when Regan changed the law