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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Lana S.
Retire in 2020 was during covid sent in all required paperwork
Called to make sure everything was good
Could not go in office it was all closed
Worked two different jobs one in school district. About year later they told me I was overpaid
I have been fighting it cause I Worked another job that took taxes out for over 20 years
I checked all the time cause my luck
But they still got me.sent in everything they asked for
To many people working and not right
I know I am not only one.
Chester P.
Then there are those of us that are on supplemental security income and cannot work and we don’t even make minimum wage and they don’t even count half of my bills on my food stamps cuz I only get 110 a month and I’m a grown man. So out of my 967, my bills come to 835.88, which surely doesn’t leave very much. So now after getting a different vehicle to drive I’m going to have to go find a job driving doing something probably delivering pizzas just to have a little bit more than $122 at the end of the month after all my bills are paid.
John G.
I am 64 and want to start getting my SSN. I have been working since I was 16. Just wanted to know how much I could receive?
Rich C.
As for this announcement, it depends on whether or not the type of work you did qualifies you for the retroactive payment. If you qualify, you will get a letter.
As for your regular benefit, set up an online account with SSA and they have a calculator that will give you your benefit amount based on when you choose to retire.
C.B.
Thanks for reading our blog, John. With a personal my Social Security account, you can estimate future retirement benefits and check your earnings record. Get started at my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
Tara B.
My father passed away on Feb 24 of this year. Does anyone know if we will still get compensation since this was retroactive from January and he was still alive then?
Suzanne
Everyone around me whi retired from federal gov has received their retro pay. I am a widow of a civil seevant. Why havent i heard anything
C.B.
Hi, Suzanne. 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.
Anne C.
I worked for the Federal government for most of my working life (beginning in 1983). Before that I raised kids and sometimes worked at different things, but not long enough to earn sufficient quarters to generate a pension. I just got a check from SSA. So … now will I also get a monthly pension check?
Su
Thank you Trump !!!!
Carol
The Social Security Firness Act was bipartisan legislation and was signed into law on January 5, 2025 by President Biden.
Bert
Will you have to pay taxes on this lump sum
Joyce
What happens to the families that could use the retroactive pay of their deceased love one who recently passed away. Will the family receive the retroactive pay
Sarah L.
I’m 71 and receive