Celebrating Our Recent Social Security Fairness Act Milestone and What It May Mean for You
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 10, 2025
We recently celebrated a key milestone by announcing that we completed sending over 3.1 million payments, totaling $17 billion, to beneficiaries eligible under the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), 5 months ahead of schedule. When the SSFA became law on January 5, 2025, we identified about 2.8 million current Social Security beneficiaries whose benefits were reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). We successfully completed actions on these records by July 7, 2025, exceeding our original estimate of it taking a year or more. Below is additional information on what this milestone may mean for you, depending on your status when SSFA became law.
Receiving benefits when SSFA became law?
If you received benefits between January 2024 and June 2025, had a pension from work not covered by Social Security, and your benefits during this period were reduced by WEP or GPO, you should have received any back payments owed to you. Your ongoing monthly benefits should also have been adjusted by July 2025. Please note that since we pay benefits the month after they are due, you may see the change in your benefit with the payment received in August 2025. If you have questions about your case, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. local time.
Filed a new claim after SSFA became law?
Since SSFA became law, we have also received over 278,000 new claims from people with pensions from work not covered by Social Security. We have processed 92% of these new claims so far. If you filed a new claim after the law took effect, we may still be working to process your application.
Need to file a claim?
If you have not yet filed a claim or are unsure if you have, you may need to apply. The date you apply can affect when your benefits start. The easiest way to apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits is online at www.ssa.gov/apply. If you are applying for spouse’s benefits, please select “Family Benefits.” This will guide you through the application for Retirement and Medicare benefits to make sure you get all the benefits you qualify for. Please note that survivor benefit applications are not available online.
If you have not applied before because of WEP or GPO, you can also apply by phone. Call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. local time.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage at www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html.
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Sonja P.
I am 78. I need information about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. Am I supposed to have a red, white and blue card? I have called the 800 number to no avail.
Sonja P.
I called the 800 number given and I am even more confused. Is it possible to speak to a live human?
Marybeth M.
Thank you to the 2024 bipartisan Congress and President Biden for passing the Bill to make this happen! Also thanks to all the civil service employees at Social Security for their hard work and continued support to get these back payments and adjusted new payments processed!
Ann E.
When do you anticipate refunding the duplicate Medicare premiums those of us on CSC and now SSA are due?
Jean H.
I was disappointed in that I only received 6 months back payments because I had not officially applied when I retired. At that time I was told that I didn’t qualify for SS which was correct, so no need to apply. Because I didn’t apply then I was not eligible for the retro payments going back to Jan 2024. Seems that’s an unfair component of the “Fairness” Act!
Marilyn B.
Still do not understand the whole thing!!!!!
Travis A.
I have over $10000 in a retirement account held by the state I live in. Would it be covered by the SSFA law? I am past retirement age and do not receive any pension payments. Could I receive payments for that money?
Johnny
My rent just went up $11 more, and I just received a doctor bill for $350. What is going on???
Barbara M.
I am so glad I have lived long enough to get my Social Security that was stolen from me by my government. It wasn’t right to do that in the first place but a big wrong has been made right. Now, if I can live long enough to collect what is owed! I am very thankful for the Fairness Act.
Paula B.
:You haven’t completed ;your tasks with regard to the Fairness Act until you make more effort to contact people who need to file an application. Your previous article stated that you reached out to teachers unions, veterans organizations, etc., but you don’t mention retired federal employees. Many of us were originally told not to file because we would not receive anything. I would not have known to file if I had not seen this blog. You need to contact OPM to notify CSRS-only recipients that they need to file. You might also reach out to NAARFE and AARP. I also know retired teachers who have never received any notice. Money is lost every month that goes by.
Judy
I think it only applies to FERS
Paula B.
No, I receive CSRS-only because I didn’t have enough social security earnings, but they didn’t let me file for wife’s benefits. I filed in March and received 6 months back pay from then