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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David S.
Who is entitled for this money? I’m 100% disabled for life. And ssd is all I live ok
C.B.
Hi, David. 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 work, 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.
Concern p.
Is this taxable and at what rate . It stupid as hell give something just to take most of it back.
My mom never been able get money for my dad who passed in 2017 .
And her ss and medicare benefit drop from like 2300 to 2000 .
Also they claimed to take 4k out for past due ss and Medicare.
Like to point out I literally have been providing evidence for past freakin year and half to these morons that she didn’t owe money because she has made payment on time every year in one lump sum .
Ss says it medicare not doing it job then medicare says ss not doing its . Last year she got bill saying she owed 4k plus 989 she would owe for year . I spent 9 months getting these morons to correct it just for them to do same shit again . Wish I could sue both for stress . This has caused her have to go on insulin due to driving her stress so much about how she going pay when she doesn’t owe it .
John
Received $12400 for work outside government
Jillian S.
I start getting Social Security in 2024 at the age of 62 and I’m wondering am I going to get a retro payment of $5,000 and also they owe me a overpayment
S.S.
Hi, Jillian. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to discuss your situation. Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Keep in mind, wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. For information about the Fairness Act, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Tracy A.
Why is the WEP only from January to April 2024? Where’s the other 8 months?
Karen S.
I received some money which will put my acct over the monthly limit set by ssa. What happens in april as i will then b over the limit
S.S.
Hi Karen, thank you for using our blog. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. It may be best for you to visit your local Social Security office to discuss your benefits. Hope this helps!
Karen S.
I took early social security at 62. I had 24 months of payments withheld because i made too much. I am past my SS retirement date and still have not seen any reimbursement. And it’s impossible to figure out how much i will be reimbursed each month. I called, but no one could tell me. But from what I’ve figured out, I will than likely be dead before I’m totally reimbursed.
There’s no reason why I cannot be reimbursed in one lump sum.
It is extremely frustrating that my money, that I’m due, should have been withheld in the first place. And then to not get it at all, yet, let alone in tiny amounts is more frustrating.
It’s just a scam for SS to hang on to our money, by not giving SS recipients what we are due, when they are eligible, early or not
Clift
Thank you, President Biden!
Julie
Y’all owe me $125,000 in retro active pay due to FRAUD committed by my local office that an administrative law judge found out. So WHERE IS MY MONEY?!
Denise G.
I don’t know if I will get the retroactive pay I worked at a casino industry and when I had to go on disability they turned me down twice and they did not give me the backpay up I thought you’re supposed to get the payment from the first time you applied
Patricia B.
Get a lawyer on it. They don’t get paid unless you win.