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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Lee B.
My wife retired 2008 from the federal government amd received a monthly pension. Every Month post retirement her pension was subjected to the WEP. Unfortunately my loving wife passed away August 17, 2024. Is her beneficiary entitled to the WEP refyynd?
T.Y.
Hi, Lee. 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.
Nancy S.
Nancy
I do not think I qualify for any money from Social Security because I only paid into the fund for 8 quarters. It was also at minimum wage rate. Is that true?
Michelle F.
Would SSI disability get anything??
Carol
My mother worked a lifetime, was sick and tried to get social security benefits and was repeatedly denied until a day after she died. We received a call saying she had been approved one day after she died.
She died before she could receive any money. For years she told she was not disabled.
Dornesa B.
I’m 69 years old I have been working up until I was 65 they have been taking money out of my social security.i want to know if I qualify for back pay.
S.S.
Hi, Dornesa. 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.
Laurie
I’m currently receiving monthly SSDI benefits but didn’t receive my retroactive pay that was owed to me. When will I get that payment? It’s been 5 months since my approval. I’m not able to get through to speak to someone at Social Security’s office at this time.
Ann D.
Waiting on Survivor Benefits! What’s the hold up. 2025 COMPUTERS!!!
Anna E.
Is Trump really sending out retro checks to Social security recipients in 2 weeks in 2025?
Dr. H.
Thank no one you worked for your money not no one but you neither Biden nor Trump woke up and clocked in but you so if anyone should be thanking anyone it should be to self
FRANK C.
Worked 4 the Government from 1973 to 1996 I was under CSRS until the change to FERS do I qualify still waiting 4 results
Timothy
You won’t get an answer, because nobody is left to answer you!
S.S.
Hi, Frank. 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.