Social Security Announces Expedited Retroactive Payments and Higher Monthly Benefits for Millions – Actions Support the Social Security Fairness Act
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: February 25, 2025
Today, the Social Security Administration announced it is immediately beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These 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 Social Security Fairness Act ends WEP and GPO.
“Social Security’s aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trump’s priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “The agency’s original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.”
People who will benefit from the new law include some teachers, firefighters, and police officers in many states; federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System; and people whose work had been covered by a foreign social security system.
Many beneficiaries will be due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.
Many of these people will also receive higher monthly benefits, which will first be reflected in the benefit payment they receive in April. Depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, the change in payment amount will vary from person to person.
Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a retroactive payment, will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or retroactive payment. Most people will receive their retroactive payment two to three weeks before they receive their notice in the mail, because the President understands how important it is to pay people what they are due right away. Social Security is expediting payments using automation and will continue to handle many complex cases that must be done manually, on an individual case-by-case basis. Those complex cases will take additional time to update the beneficiary record and pay the correct benefits.
Social Security urges beneficiaries to wait until April to ask about the status of their retroactive payment, since these payments will process incrementally into March. Since the new monthly payment amount will begin with the April payment, beneficiaries should wait until after receiving their April payment, before contacting Social Security with questions about their monthly benefit amount.
Visit the agency’s Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn more and stay up to date on its progress. Visitors can subscribe to be alerted when the webpage is updated.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: 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.
harbi m.
Do SSI pensioners benefit from these amounts?
T.Y.
Hi, Harbi. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People who receive both a pension based on work not covered by Social Security and a Social Security benefit (retirement, spouse, disability, or survivor) may receive an increase. Please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage to learn when you can expect retroactive benefits and an increase in your monthly benefit amount. We hope this helps.
Kim F.
Will I receive back pay from i got ssd
Irene V.
So, I got a back payment of $5,475 yesterday. Will my monthly payments go up by $456 a month?
Sherry M.
My Soc Sec was reduced because of the WEP offset. Is Soc Sec still sending the retroactive payments out? My ex husband got his on March 5th.
I haven’t heard anything about mine.
Still waiting…..
Shirley A.
Because of the complexity in calculations related to these adjustments, I’m very concerned that these figures are calculated by very qualified individuals. The reason I say that is because when I retired, there were numerous errors made in the calculations, not to mention everything that went into the wind fall elimination process. I’m very leery right now that I would be getting the proper adjustment for all the years that I was cheated out of the money that was owed to me, therefore, it was extreme caution that I will look these figures over and want to meet with somebody in the Social Security administration that can assure me of the accuracy of the amount that I am due.
Jan S.
How could you be cheated out of money that you never paid into? Don’t worry, this will be the end of social security for everyone and you will still get your pension and the rest of us will get nothing.
Deborah
This correction is for people who paid into both but SSA is penalizing people who get a pension. I get a pension for time I worked, 12 years and most I paid into social security but social security penalizes me for those 12 years.
Deborah
In order to collect social security benefits you need to have put in 40 quarters (10 years). If we did that, which I did more than that, I shouldn’t be penalized because I happen to have worked where I received a pension at one point.
Chris
Not true Jan !! We paid into both systems and earned both. Because we worked hard we are being penalized because we did. This only affect people who paid into both.
Joe K.
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (OR WOMEN)
Cc
People like my husband who worked as a roofer for 30 years through private companies then worked for the city for 16 years, where his SS was cut by about a third.
Marian W.
So many stories like yours and mine. So unfair. I’m glad it’s finally been rectified but it’s not close to the amount we’re really owed.
Bob S.
Wow, people don’t do their homework and falsely think that the WEP repeal is giving SS pmts for work where SS FICA tax wasn’t paid in.
Alice J.
Thanks Chris! You are correct.
Marian W.
Millions of Americans who worked and paid into social security, then worked as teachers firefights or police officers have not received the full benefits from their previous jobs. Completely unfair.
Frank H.
This is a common mis-perception. If your employer (for part of your career) contracted out of SS then your SS check would be reduced because you have less years contributing to SS.. So far that’s fair.
But then the benefits you DID earn from your time paying into SS.. Those were cut in addition to having the smaller SS check.. In other words the benefits you rightfully earned were stolen from you!
Joanie
Yes. My payment from ss was reduced to $10 a month because I had both a teacher’s pension and ss from other work. I may be wrong but I think that you received an offset if both of your retirements were from a government source, ie, ss and state.
I plan to go down to ss office because I am trying to see how to get my late husband’s ss since that was denied to me because of the offset.
Get as much as you can now since our new government is throwing us to the wolves with tariffs, etc. and the news that ss will be gone. Things are looking pretty grim.
Cutiepie
Forget the past and don’t dwell on it because now we are getting the “wrong” “RIGHTFULLY “ It took over 20 years to get justice!
Focus on yourself now because you must want it and the other people in your life was not able to fulfill your financial needs like what is coming.
Vic
SSA retroactive payments are limited to six months, even though the new rule took effect Jan. 1st, 2025.
Bill M.
Shirley. SSA should have all your earnings while working the jobs you paid OASDI as well as them being indexed for inflation. The WEP/GPO penalties are not applied until later in their formula. So your SSA Benefits should be restored in full starting January of 2024 and you should receive 14 months of a lump sum payout and your first monthly SSA payment should be on a Wednesday in April based on your birthday. If you are not receiving any SSA benefits now, yours is a special case and you might have to contact your local SSA office in April if you have not received a lump sum in March or a monthly payment in April as mentioned above.
David P.
I’m an ex-government employee. Social security sent me a payment going back to July 2024, not Jan 2024 because they stated that the retroactive payment only goes back 6 months.
Dave P.
I’m an ex-government employee. Social security sent me a payment going back to July 2024, not Jan 2024 because they stated that the retroactive payment only goes back 6 months. If this is the case you should apply online now.
Alejandro
Now, if only there could be changes to how claims are being processed unfairly! So many of us suffering already with a debilitating chronic condition, incapable of working any type of job that requires one to focus and function without extreme difficulties. (In my wife’s case she would be a liability to any company as she can not stand, sit or lift her head for any period of time) That is just a minimal example as she is in such a horrible state of health. Today, now due to the excessive amount of time to process her claim, getting denied already once, though she has a condition on the compassionate allowance list, currently in the appealing process and it is just allowing us to lose more of what little we have left. Including our home in foreclosure at this very moment. She worked since age 15yrs, it isn’t like she asked to not work her job of decent pay, a job she truly enjoyed as her career to be in this current everyday hell of debilitating symptoms and the worst severe state of depression I have ever seen her in, to get an income of ssi benefits way less her used to paychecks. I’m sure I’ll get the negative feedback but to answer the questions regarding medical records and lawyer and such, yep we have all of it and tons more! Her health condition declines as millions others because the fear of becoming homeless or actually becoming homeless in the process of absolutely not capable of working, has tremendous impact negatively on her mental health. I pray for all going through this process as I understand it seems so unfair as if you are being punished for your body failing you. Change needs made here and now! These people who have worked their credits and have all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed, yet have to suffer longer than they should just to get some peace of mind from getting approval to finally receive benefits to pay for their medical care and bills. God help us all!
Angela b.
I have been through this process it took me 4 years and a lawyer to get hardly nothing.then when I did get it they didn’t even give me the fair amount.my calculations and theirs were completely off.good luck for fighting for our money that we paid .they act like it’s their money.what a joke
D R.
Do you have an account with SS ? You can view your total earnings for every year you have worked, you can also see the Total SS deducted from your earnings for all the years you worked, you can also see the total medicare deducted from all those earnings and the total your employer matched both deductions. Take your calculator out and add:
SS deduction X 2 = total
How many years can you live off the Total ?
Medicare deduction X 2
= Total
If getting benefits Now add each pmt by 12 = year end total.
Then figure if you were paid what you put in how many years before it ran out ? Do you want the Total amount you see on your account that you put in and once that amount gets to 00 then you are done collecting your hard earned money. Then what ?
John E.
Retro check 2024 to include the first 3 months of 2025 I assume
Cutiepie
Reread the article slowly and exhale without being anxious! Okay (Smile)
2024 Only backpayments then divide by 12 = your new monthly added to
your “OLD” Amount starting in April 2025!
Focus on “YOU”/ enjoy personally. Not anyone else because family or friends didn’t or not able to give this increase like you will be getting. Did share their income tax return! (Smile and be quiet!)
Mike s.
If the first lump sum payment covers 2024 and the new payment begins in April when do we receive the difference that would occur in January February and March 2025? If it is added to our new payment in April 2025 that may lead the receiver to think their new monthly payment is much larger than it actually is for the months after April?
Lynne C.
This was so encouraging! And it isn’t all about money–our retirement benefits may not change but this notice acknowledges a fresh wind, a wonderful change, the Trump Effect in the administration, and a fresh concern for the citizens that SSA serves. Thank you for this kind and well written notice.
Renae L.
“The Trump Effect”? Trump had absolutely nothing to do with it. This was passed by Congress during the Biden administration…
LAlvarez
President Trump’s role in this is that he has ordered the retroactive payments to be sent immediately. Social Security had indicated it would take at least a year to implement the changes and issue the back pay. Trump said unacceptable and ordered checks be issued immediately. Hence the fact all these retro checks will be paid by the end of March and new monthly payments to be correct with the April 2025. Please do your research it was it was not Biden that initiated this bill he only signed once it passed. This Bill was sponsored by Rep. AbigIal Spanberger D-Va and Grant Graves, R-La who successfully filed a discharge petition to force a House vote on the legislation. Schumer said, “Passing this fix right before Christmas would be a great gift to our retired firefighters, police officers, postal officers and more.” Schumer said, “The WEP and GPO are deeply unfair, and go against the American ideal of working hard, chipping in and then enjoying the retirement that you’ve earned.”
Truth b.
United States of America for we the people. Nothing in life happens without a joint effort. Why is it so important for people to assign credit for things getting done. Can’t do right without being accused of doing wrong or nothing at all. If it happens under current administration then current administration gets credit. So yes he did and yes he can and more to come. Just say thank you for a change 🤑🤔
Patti
Well stated and TRUE!! Many before have started this legislation, MANY. This is the POTUS who made it happen. I hope, I PRAY that something gets fixed for myself. I’ve been disabled since 2003 and the back and forth between Agencies has been exhausting, and tbh financially ruinous! Now I’m a literal senior citizen needing to move into a community living situation and THIS decision and $ will mean the difference between ok and decent final living conditions. It is NOT what I worked 22 years for my Federal Government anticipating how my retirement life would look like…
Dee
Trump couldn’t even spell retroactive😂😂
K
Thank you, but the Trumpets will give him the credit when he did and has done nothing for our country. You will read on some of the comments who are still believing everything he says.
Barb P.
Hello Lynne. President Joe Biden put this Act into effect.
Donald T.
That comment sounds like it was written by AI. Russian bot?
Elizabeth A.
Has President Trump had a change of heart? Looked like Social Security benefits were going to be on the chopping block. Is he trying to placate us seniors?
Barb P.
Hello Elizabeth. Thank President Joe Biden for this one.
Michelle L.
He never said he would get rid of social security. Case in point this article. 🙂
Cutiepie
Stop “Hating Someone” you don’t know personally or even met.
There are plenty family and friends that have wrong you in life!
Do they share their income tax return money?! ($20… just because)
Enjoy your new increase for yourself!
Keep your mouth shut, sit back look at your direct post in April! (Smile)
R B.
You shouldn’t believe everything you hear on MSM, he was going after fraud not the seniors.
Justina
He is trying to cut everywhere he can to pay for tax cuts for the rich. He promised no cuts to medicaid, yet look what is happening there.
Gary B.
Justina, the USA is broke and credit rating is under pressure. We as citizens cannot stop Congress from overspending. Please write your Senator and Representative if you have an idea of how to reduce the debt without cuts. Even allies like Japan are not buying our debt.
Alice J.
Exactly!! Thank you RB!
Jonathan
President Trump has said many times that there would be no cuts or stopping Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare. That’s why its important to not believe anything relating from fake news networks.
Justina
You might want to check out the fight over potential Medicaid cuts going on now. And look into proposed firing of 50% of front line SSA employees. Response time from ssa is long now; if cuts are made it will be so difficult to get any help.
Kim
Trump isn’t trying to get rid of SS/Medicare/etc. He’s stopping the ridiculous spending, that should of NEVER happened. Starting with Illegal immigrants.
Justina
He promised no cuts but is now supporting cuts. What other promises will he break?
McHenry
Have you lost your mind.
LC
Not on any chopping block.
Those are false words from fear mongers trying to get you a worried about nothing.
Sad situation
Justina
He said he wouldn’t allow cuts to ss, medicare and Medicaid. He’s already broken that promise, as he is backing plans for Medicaid cuts by the House.
Karen W.
Elizabeth, this will not affect you or me or anyone else that is not scamming SS. Only the ones committing fraud. If the fraud can be cleaned up, the system should last much longer than anticipated.
Alice J.
Agree! How will we know the calculations are correct?
Martha S.
If you did not pay SS taxes why are you now getting it? Government employees who have a pension and benefits should NOT apply here. Our military and first responders are different because of what they do and sacrifice.
And retroactive payments are ridiculous except for those military and first responders.
Julie
Yes I’m thinking…am I missing something here. ?¿?
Scott M.
The people who will receive the money did pay into Social Security for years, but then when they changed into a job like police or teacher no longer paid into SS because they paid into, with their own money, another retirement plan. They paid into and earned their full SS benefits but some new law said they couldn’t get retirement from both SS and their new retirement plan. It was a way for the government to cheat taxpayers.
Jane D.
Oh you guys are so confused. You did not pay as many years into SSA as the regular wage earners. You also had very low wages that were taxed for SSA taxes. This provision is giving individuals the benefits of low wage earners who work and pay ssa taxes on all of their wages. You’re double dippers now. Way to go depleting the trust funds. Waste and abuse right here. Think long and hard here.. you are closer to being privatized. They are already dismantling the structure of SSA. They plan on firing 8,000 employees and getting rid of their level 2 offices and that’s just the start. If you were smart you’d go to your representatives and speak your mind. Putting your money in stock funds by privatizing is dangerous and doesn’t provide the protections of what you have now.
Bill M.
Jane D. You apparently do not understand what happened and what is happening. I only worked for 50 years and paid into OASDI.
Let me explain simply what occurred. Before 1983, there was no income taxes on social security benefits. Also, those in city, state, and federal civil service jobs did not pay OASDI on their civil service jobs.
It was Ronald Reagan who signed the bills to tax social security benefits and apply the WEP/GPO penalties for those who paid OASDI and for the Civil Service annuities they received where they did not pay OASDI.
Those who first served in the military and or had private sector jobs before going into civil service jobs like I did paid the full OASDI on their earnings.
Many folks worked jobs after they retired from the Civil Service Jobs for companies where they paid OASDI for more than 10 more years.
For example, I know a Philadelphia Police Officer who retired after 30 years service not paying OASDI. Before working that civil service job he paid OASDI while in the military for 6 years earning 24 quarters. After he retired from the Philadelphia Police Department, he worked for an insurance company for 16 years for 64 more quarters retiring at age 70 when receiving his first Social Security distributions minus the GPO/WEP penalty where $2.00 of every $3.00 he earned of his Civil Service Job that did not have a COLA was deducted from his SSA benefits.
He surely was not double dipping and in fact was cheated on his SSA benefits where he paid the same as others who only worked a non civil service job.
So for those who think civil servants who worked other jobs paying into both systems and feel these folks are double dippers instead of hard working Americans, they are either ignorant to the facts or just hate the idea that some other retiree is receiving more, communists think that way, everyone should have the same, no matter who performs and works harder.
I hope you understand better than before reading this response.
Elayne M.
That was the best and most clear explanation I have seen. Thank you.
Ginger D.
I feel they should be able to draw both, retirement and pension! If they worked both they Should GET BOTH!
Kathie
I worked for over 25 years paying taxes. I had Government job for less than 5 years, and didn’t get pension. I’m on SSA now, including last 8 years. Do I qualify for the lump sum, and higher monthly payments?
Pat
You won’t get anything if you didn’t pay for it. Christ, read before you speak!!
Dennis
Well spoken!
Anna O.
I worked in retail for years before being hired as a state employee, now retired. My SS is based on the retail years. My SS is less because of the retail years; currently I am not getting ALL my monies because I was a state employee. For example, not actual numbers: Instead of getting $1,000 per month, it’s $770.00 The $230 difference has been withheld for years. No, I did not pay while being an active State employee, but Im due what I put in prior to that time.
Renae L.
Read it again. One gets this ONLY if one worked enough quarters throughout their lifetime to qualify for Social Security but then, at retirement, had the Windfall Elimination formula reduce the amount of benefits earned because of a government or private pension.
bob
I agree, but please know that military do get social security, they pay into social security when they are on active duty.
Tom
You missed the point. First they figured your benefit from your SSI benefit THEN reduced it because you had other pension.
dav p.
ridiculous! So I guess you are not getting it……
Linda
Do you think the same about the stay at home spouses that never worked, but yet they get spousal benefits when their working spouse retires? Yes, they get a check in addition to the working spouse, even though they never worked. It is how the system was set up. However the state, federal, and local employees get no spousal benefits at all regardless of the amount of how small pension check might be. Basically they are punished because they chose to workin public service. In a case where there is a married couple who both worked in private industry and paid in Social Security, they each receive their own benefits or they may be entitled to half of the spouse’s benefits if the benefits were a larger amount. So you saying they never paid in benefits…maybe they didn’t, but the spouse did and the government invested these funds and earned interest on these SSA taxes. And what about the single people who worked their entire lives under SSA and died before 62. The govt just keeps that money. Read the rules.
Paul M.
What Should Be Done Is Getting This Overpayment Handled That’s Effecting Millions Of People…It Has Put Our Life On Hold For 2 Years Now And It’s Their Calculation or Computer Program That’s Making The Errors..I Have 3 Different Years That Have Multiple 1099’s With Different Amounts On Each
So Whats Really Going On ?
Cutiepie
You should have reported your employers to internal revenue using their ID on your tax form !
Hopefully you understand there is a shake in the government now!
People don’t like the truth! Don’t hate a person you don’t know! (Infer)!
Kathie H.
Thanks so much for getting this done! Your work is appreciated.
Thomas M.
What’s sad is I receive ssdi and can barely make ends meet,going without groceries,and I’m not entitled to ssi because it will not allow me to do the application online,and I am Physically Disabled at age 59. This fairness adjustment means not a thing to my income or monthly ssdi