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.
Colleen C.
Am still waiting for my WEP retroactive payment. It is April 1, 2025. I received my monthly payment but it is not increased as it should be. Still the same. When can I expect my retroactive payment? And the increase I should have had on April 1? I have been patiently waiting but am getting more and more disappointed in the payout
System.
C.B.
Hi, Colleen. Thanks for using our blog. Most people who are eligible received their one-time retroactive payment already. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Luttrell a.
My husband and I have not received the special funds. He is a retired firefighter and I worked at a University. We are just checking our eligibility.
C.B.
Hi, Luttrell. 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.
Kerry
I retired from teaching in 2021 – I started receiving SS at 62 -2 years ago. It is April 1st and I have not received the retroactive payment from the fairness act…I taught 8 out of 35 years in a State that did not take out SS.
C.B.
Hi, Kerry. Thanks for using our blog. Most people who are eligible received their one-time retroactive payment already. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Mary
I am a retired teacher from Illinois and qualify for benefits from fairness act. It is April 1 and I have received no benefits or letter stating a timeline for my increase. I have met with social security and proven my identity. Others have not had to do this and have received notice. Why am I not being processed?
C.B.
Hi, Mary. Thanks for using our blog. Most people who are eligible received their one-time retroactive payment already. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 to discuss. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Ronald M.
I am a retired firefighter and also worked over 40 yrs on S.S. I still haven’t received my retro. When will the last person be paid
C.B.
Hi, Ronald. 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.
Sandra H.
I worked for the Federal Government from 1960 to 1966 and as of April 1st there has not been a retroactive deposit. When can I expect it?
C.B.
Hi, Sandra. Thanks for using our blog. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Ruth C.
I have been on hold at 1 800 772 1213 for 3 hours and 3 minutes. I am hanging up now in complete frustration!
C.B.
We’re sorry to hear about your experience, Ruth. We ask for your patience during busy periods. Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Keep in mind that wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security webpage. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this information is helpful.
Denise
My father had a small pension he was receiving and was retired but has passed. What happens to the back payment he may have been entitled to from the wep program. Do they get passed on to his children? Or does the government keep what would have been owed to him?
C.B.
We’re sorry for your loss, Denise. To check if your father’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.
Connie B.
I’m a retired police officer, who retired in 1985. Today is March 31, and I have not received the retroactive lump sum payment from Social Security.
C.B.
Hi, Connie. 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.
Susan J.
I was told by a SSA representative that I’m eligible for a retro check plus a monthly check. I have not received the retro check.
C.B.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for using our blog. Most people who are eligible received their one-time retroactive payment already. If you were told you are entitled to the benefit but still have not received it, you need to call us back at 1-800-772-1213 to discuss it with a representative. We do not have access to that informaiton in this venue. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Joan g.
April 1..retired RN since 2000. Am 93 years old…..still no $$. I kind of thought ssa might attend to the longest retired first.. Hope we are not the complicated requiring up to a year!
BMW
Just a little reminder SS is not part of the national deficit! It’s money we paid in as did our parents for decades. All the rumors about debunking it is just a distraction from the real 🐂💩they are trying to pull.
Acy V.
Am an 85 yers old, I am I’m vacation in
Brazil AND I got sic (with have depresión).
It’ very hard understand ALL that, bit
I Will try.
Sandra P.
What is the point of asking people to leave comments? Is this supposed to substitute for having people help us? I too am wondering about when to expect the WEP backpay.
Thanks.
C.B.
Hi, Sandra. Thanks for reading our blog. Through our blog, we respond to general questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information. Therefore, we can only respond generally. Most people received their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March. If you are entitled to the benefit but have not received it, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213. For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount. For more information, visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.