Social Security Announces Expedited Retroactive Payments and Higher Monthly Benefits for Millions – Actions Support the Social Security Fairness Act
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 18, 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
Comments are closed.
Bill J.
I worked for over 27 years paying into Social Security. I worked 30 years Civil Service. Will my Social Security monthly payment increase due to the Fairness Act?
S.S.
Hi, Bill. 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.
Ivy
Did you have a pension that didn’t take out social security?
Dr E.
We didn’t previously filed because the WEP would have eliminate any benefits from SSA. We just filed for the first in January 2025. benefits completely. Are we entitled to benefits for the year 2024, or just 2025 going forward?
Peter
Double dip.
Mark T.
As a retired state employee from Ct, I paid into social security my entire work history
At age 66, I received an Offset in my social security benefits. Will I receive a retroactive payment and increase in my monthly payment? I know some relatives who already received a retroactive payment.
Annette
I received mine 2 days ago
James M.
What a scam, certain individuals get and others dont
Paul J.
I’m afraid you don’t really have a clue as to the changes made and wrongs made right.
Justina
I hope the blog author will think of a new way to explain wep. There seems to be more confusion each time they post about wep-gpo.
Ivy
Those that are getting it paid their 40 quarters plus into SS, This stopped the steal….They aren’t getting anything free…..
Bruce C.
Not if you were a teacher or policeman, firefighter, emt. This is not where the “fraud” is happening that current resident in W.H. is illegally “eliminating” by DOGE. Fired federal workers aren’t getting unemployment benefits. Shameful
Debbie V.
If they are cheating or not being productive and have just been collecting that payroll check, then yes, they don’t deserve and rewards for being a cheat/thief.
Amy
Exactly 💯
Wanda L.
It is explained, my in laws already received their part. So it’s true.
Wanda L.
It is explained, my in laws already received their part. So it’s true. He was an USPS worker.
Dianne H.
I worked 32 years under civil service. I retired 20 years ago. I also worked over 20 years paying into the social security system. I started receiving social security when I was 67. I am still working 2 days a week putting into the SS system. I am wondering if I will get more on my SS check because of the fairness act. I will just wait and see what happens.
Dametric B.
Hey what if you draw social security from a worked parent does it’s still apply for dac SSDI insurance the fairness act.
S.S.
Hi, Dametric. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question about the Social Security Fairness Act. You may be due retroactive benefits and an increase in your benefit amount if you’re entitled to benefits as a minor or Disabled Adult Child on the record of a disabled, retired, or deceased parent. To learn more, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Linda
I grabbed mine and told Jesus thank you. I’m a 77 year old great grandma.
At 41 (1989) shortly after my husband died I was told he infected me with HIV. I’ve struggled because I’m a heterosexual woman and no kids at home equals zero healthcare assistance. I was told once that if I was gay male I’d be in high cotton.
I gave this government 38 years. Plus, I worked 10 years in steel mills loading steel pipe, braze furnace operator. Then was told at retirement my private sector work was a windfall and I couldn’t count it.
I’m working 25 hrs a week in a farm store. Praise be to God. Promises made, promises kept.
Paula M.
I’m anxious to see how this is calculated. I received my retroactive amount yesterday but it is far lower than I had anticipated. I had the amount I should have received without WEP when I started collecting widow’s benefits 5 1/2 years ago. I added in the COLAs and did the math for 14 months. It’s about 25% less than I calculated.
Dave (.
Is it possible they deducted taxes at the rate you previously set with a withholding form?
Paula M.
I don’t have withholding set up with them. I read that the calculations will come with the letter that comes about 2 weeks after the payment. Time will tell.
Wanda
The email from SSA stated that if you are paying back an overpayment to SSA, the remainder of what you owe will be deducted from your upcoming lump sum payment.
If SSA owes me this retro money wouldn’t that cancel out money I owe SSA as overpayment?
Thank You for your reply.
Deborah C.
It is not fair to take our whole retro pay on a balance we owe due to SS mistakes. We should be able to continue with our monthly payments. Take no more than the 10 percent. That is only fair. It is stealing our money Again!
Gina
Will we receive our ssdi payment on time now that 7k employees got let go from the SSA?
Dardanella A.
Hello SSA…
Although I haven’t moved since the end of August, 2013… How do I set up an account in order to check my information? Also, what phone number would I call if I needed a live person?
Thank you, Dardanella A. Jones
S.S.
Hello Dardanella. Thank you for reading our blog. If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability, you can create a my Social Security account to change your address online. If you receive SSI benefits, and want to change your information, please call our toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or, visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. We hope this helps.
Joyce B.
You can sign up and register online at Social Security website. It’s very easy to register online.
Halfpint
So will people receiving regular Social Security Disability monthly see a bump this year besides the 2.5 we already got? Will we get a notice, or will it just be in our account?
Amy
Hope they give you a answer to this. I worked nuclear for 30 yrs off and on and had no choice but to file for disability cause of injuries due to accident. And my son draws only 40 bucks off my ss as well. And I see people who never worked a day in their lives and have kids to and those kids get from 150 to 300 a month. Trust me not complaining it does cover some food. But I was shocked. So it’s best we never work to get more 😆