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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JOHN S.
I retired from the military with 20 years, paid into social security. Then joined civil service and retired with 21 years, paid into social security. Then applied for social security at age 65. The social security office informed me that President Carter passed a law that no one could receive 3 government pay checks. So, if I applied for my SSB, my benefits would be cut 50%. I have received 50% of my social security for the past 21 years. Does this have anything to do with the Windfall Elimination?
S.S.
Hi, John. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Earnings for active-duty military service or active-duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Only people who receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security – a “non-covered pension” – are affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). If you do not receive a non-covered pension, you will not receive a benefit increase due to the Social Security Fairness Act. For more information, read Military Service and Social Security. We hope this helps.
T.K. V.
I am affected by the GPO but applied for my SS benefits only two days ago. Am I eligible to get a retroactive reimbursement even though I am yet to get my first SS payment?
Alice J.
You only went back a year. What about the others years that money was being deducted each month. Where is that money just doesn’t add up.
Richard J.
I retired in 1995 under the Civil Service Retirement Syatem. Since I was covered by this true “pension” plan I was not allowed to contribute to Social Security. The percentage paid into the Civil Service plan was greater then Social Security. When I retired from the Civil Service I received my pension payment. I continued to work in the private sector for almost 20 years, paying into Social Security, and along with private jobs prior to and during my Civil Service. When I became eligible for SS I’d accumulated enough quarters to receive full SS benifits. To may surprise I found my benifits cut in half because I had a Civil Service retirement. Why was I penalized when I’d fully paid into two different systems? I’m now seventy five so I’ve missed out on 13 years of SS benifits ($94,000). This law should have been retroactive but at least now it’s correct.
Pat Y.
Is there a way to know if I will receive any additional money, I worked for the County for 5 years and paid into OPERS.
C.B.
Hi, Pat. 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.
Helen
How we get for ssa 6,000 check
Barbara R.
My husband did not receive SS payments because he died before getting them.
Do I get his Social Security payments I was a teacher in Illinois so I could not receive the payments ?
C.B.
Hi, Barbara. We’re sorry for your loss. To check if your husband’s heirs may be due a repayment, fill out a Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of a Deceased Beneficiary (Form SSA-1724) (PDF), and send the completed form to your local Social Security office to review. Thanks for reading our blog.
Martha p.
Will the social Security reimbursement be taxable ? Trump announced he was going to stop taxing Social Security .. l have to pay SS taxes because l have a pension ..
Jeremy L.
I received a letter from the social security administration informing me that my new monthly payment would be almost $200 less than before as a result of the WEP elimination. How is that even possible?
Jewel F.
Why are some citizens under SS getting a fat check and people who paid all their working years into SS are not getting anything? Not a Fairness Act!!!!
S.S.
Hi, Jeremy. 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. We hope this helps.
BONNIE W.
I received the SSA direct deposit into my checking account for the recent Fair SS Benefits Law now in effect.
QUESTION: Could the Trump Executive Branch and the Legislature reverse this new law and retrieve the money deposited into a private citizen’s checking account from the SSA?
Mitch B.
Didn’t the acticle mention Trump was wanting this?