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 t.
Wh you haven’t credited me in my account chime it taking up to a day now I deposited
Fred H.
I was told my retro payment would come in March. It’s April 3rd . No letter or deposit in my direct deposit account. I’m a retired Firefighter which we did not pay into social security and receive a pension. Can you update me as to the status of my account. Thank you in advance.
Ann M.
I don’t work for SS. I’m a retired teachers. Most of my friends have received theirs, but I haven’t either. I did get the monthly benefit on Apr. 3rd. I was told they are still in the process. I have never received any letter from the SS office.
Guess we will have to be patient and contact them every couple of weeks.
Meg L.
Does this affect NC state retirees?
Ronald H.
I haven’t received my money yet either
Emmitt B.
AMEN!
Sandy D.
No letter and no check…late b’day so I was in the 4th Wednesday category. Since the first Wednesday in April has come and gone, I wonder if others in the last group for March are also still waiting.
Donna M.
My wife’s social security got cut in half she don’t know why?
S.D.
We’re sorry to hear about your wife’s situation, Donna. For her security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage her to contact her local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter Wednesdays through Fridays or later in the day. We hope this helps.
Emmitt B.
No one knows anything, when you wait two hours to be told nothing about your money Frustration prevails
Kathleen C.
I am in the last group as well, and I have received nothing. I hope that is the case.
Jennifer
I will now receive survivor benefits due to the new law. In March I received my first payment. It was for 3 months. Will I still receive a payment retroactive to the law’s inception in January 2024? Or only the 3 month payment that I already received?
C.B.
Hi, Jennifer. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information about accounts in this venue. Therefore, we can only respond to general questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs. You will need to contact us regarding any additional payments. Call us at 1-800-772-1213. 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. We hope this information helps.
Joseph E.
Can I obtain a copy of how specifically my retroactive payment was calculted?
C.B.
Hi, Joseph. Thanks for using our blog. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m to discuss. 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. We hope this helps.
Bealynn G.
In my opinion, the Social Security beneficiaries and SSI beneficiaries have been hit pretty hard by all of this inflation. It seems to me that at some point we will get a bump in our Social Security and SSI payments to help make up for everything that we have had to spend because of Biden and I know the only one that can do that is Trump. He cares more about Social Security and SSI beneficiaries than any other president we’ve had.
Holly M.
BS. For your information. “Former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law in January, per CNBC. This law helped provide an increase in Social Security benefits to a group of nearly 3 million public workers whose payments were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). “. It wasn’t Trump.
Rita M.
Are we getting extra money in April
Deborah C.
I don’t believe that at all. Quite the opposite actually. Elon Musk calls Social Security a ponzy scheme. He doesn’t need it to live but we do. Elon Musk is an extension of Trump since he hired him to chainsaw everything.
Angie M.
I hadn’t heard of a retroactive payment. But if I was supposed to have gotten one, I didn’t.
C.B.
Hi, Angie. 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.
Sherry
Is there a website to view when our retro check will come? I too have not received mine yet the SSA website says they will be paid by the end of March. It is now April.
CW
I received a letter stating I would receive my back payment around March 15. Still waiting for it.