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.
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Dorothy J.
My spouse worked qualified for social security based on working for the federal government. He passed in August 2022. As his surviving spouse am I eligible to receive his portion of this benefit.
C.B.
Hi, Dorothy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For information to help determine if you are eligible, please visit our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Donald F.
Paid in for over 50 yrs. Hope Uncle might throw me a bone but not holding my breath
Frank B.
What about survivers benefits that were denied under WEP? Will they now be allowed,?
T.Y.
Thanks for reading our blog and for your question, Frank. The Social Security Fairness Act ends the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (GPO). It’s possible you may be due retroactive payments if you previously applied for benefits as a spouse, divorced spouse, surviving spouse, or surviving divorced spouse. Those benefits could have been reduced, or even eliminated, by GPO because of the non-covered pension. For more information on how to proceed, please read the answer to the question, What should people do now that the Social Security Fairness Act is law? on our Social Security Fairness Act webpage. We hope this helps.
Sgtrvn01
NO BODY OWES YOU SQUAT. If you have excluded SSA in your retirement plans you would not be whining now. I got my first job at 13 and worked hard for 65 years to plan to take care of myself. FYI, there is subsidized housing available, Medicaid with Medicare, food stamps,
You may wish to avail yourself of these service. No shame in asking for help.
Raulito B.
Social security cheat and violated my human rights and disability rights are violated. San Francisco Sdi and SSDI discriminated me like a victim of cov19. The gaurd two Filipino violated my PTSD now my life is in bad term.
Linda Y.
Thank you President Trump – once again – Promises Made and Promises Kept unlike Biden who did nothing but lie and hurt Americans
MT
Fully agree Linda – thank God for President Trump . 4 years of stupid , evil Joe – what an embarrassment to our beautiful country .
Linda S.
You’re an idiot. Biden made this happen
Joy T.
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law January 5, 2025. You can thank him.
Eddie E.
President Biden repealed the tax before he left office. Yes tanks to president Trump for making the refunds happen rapidly.
Just for info, the act was signed by president Regain (R) in 1983.
The above learned by spending 10 minutes on Google.
Elena R.
This wasn’t Trump. President Biden signed it BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE. Get your facts straight!
Pags
This act was signed by President Joe Biden . Thank you President Biden!
Martha
President Biden was the one to fought for Million of Americans to get the WEP or the GPO adjusted as we deserved it. Trump doesn’t care, but of course he will claim the credit of the previous administration
J D.
It was President Biden who made this situation happen!..Stop with the politics!
K
It was your money Trump didn’t do anything. He is trying to look good before he takes SS away from everyone.
Cindy C.
This reto payment was ENACTED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN!!.. F Y I !! Not a trump promise. A Biden promise kept. Please reference if you need to. Truth matters
Rod P.
Biden put the retroactive program in on January 25, 2024. It took Social Security until this month to make it happen.
Your man, Mr. Trump, had nothing to do with it. Wait about a week or so, and he will trash SS
J W.
He had nothing to do with it. The majority in Congress approved of the Social Security Fairness Act that was advocated by a Democrat under the Biden administration. The majority of those who disapproved or chose not to vote were Republicans. You are thanking the wrong President and the wrong administration.
Fred f.
This bill was passed under President Biden .He also signed it into law
Mike O.
On the contrary, the retroactive benefits that we are receiving was authorized under Joe Biden, not Trump. Trump has not been in office long enough to make these benefits a reality.
Concern c.
You r an idiot if you think trump had anything to do with it. It was as sign into law January 5 2025 when he wasn’t not president yet
JD F.
Heya Linda Y… I am sad to say that President Trump did not do this. The Social Security Fairness Act into law was passed Jan 5th by through bi partisan and JB. I wish it was by by 47. I only found about this tonight when my wife said ss deposited a sizable reimbursement. So I had to find why SS would deposot $$ inmy bank account. And here we are. Because I am teacher in Texas the WEP and GPO. hit me hard. Thanks to Teachers and Lobbying groups.
DH
It was Biden who signed it into law on January 5th.
Joy T.
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act Into Law January 5, 2025.
JACQUELINE H.
Why are you thanking Trump? The act that eliminated WEP and the Offset provision was signed in to law by President Biden before he left office.THANK YOU JOE BIDEN!!!
john
Biden is the President who signed this into law honey.
Jim
You are in a cult
Judith C.
This had nothing to do with Trump passing the bill. It was passed during the Biden administration and started with the Reagan administration.
Jim
I’m sorry but the current “President” had nothing to do with this. If you understood how government works you might not have this cult induced delusion. Thank you for not calling him King.
Jim
Signed into law by President Biden
Kris V.
Biden enacted this law, before leaving the office
PRAISE GOD FOR JOE BIDEN
Gretel H.
Thank the right person-President Biden passed this bill so you can receive this retroactive pay from Social Security not Trump!
Trump and DOGE are working toward demolishing Social Security and Medicaid benefits!
Fran
Not true, Biden signed the bill into law before Trump was inaugurated. Trump is taking credit for a bill he had nothing to do with. You should fact check your information. Google SS Biden Bill
Karen R.
Not true, Biden signed the bill into law before Trump was inaugurated. Trump is taking credit for a bill he had nothing to do with. You should fact check your information. Google SS Biden Bill
Leslie B.
Do your research before posting false information.
Dot G.
The Social Security Fairness Act (of 2025) was signed by Pres. Biden on Jan 5, 2025 ….. not Trump.
Instead you can thank Trump for the firing of federal employees.
Ellen P.
I believe the former president Biden is the one who signed this into existence.
KathyC
Actually, President Biden is the president who signed the Social Security Fairness Act, not Donald Trump, so thank you President Biden!
Rebecca L.
Trump is the biggest liar since Hitler, you ignoramus.
Kim
Biden is the one who signed this on January 5th not Trump
Ali R.
Are you kidding? Biden signed this Act. A truly bipartisan group of legislators worked like crazy on this…for years spanning several congressional cycles. Mr. Trump has gone on record that he agreed with the Fairness Act but that is the limit of his effort. If you wish to express gratitude thank the Act sponsors and the various organizations that worked for 20 plus years to get this across the finish line. They are owed our thanks.
Eric W.
The bill passed the House in November 2024 and then passed the Senate in December.[2] It was signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025.[3]
John B.
Biden signed this bill into law. Trump has lied more than any president in US history — from who started the war in Ukraine (Russia, not Ukraine as Trump claims) to the supposed “fraud” that justifies the firing of thousands of federal workers, including at the Veterans Administration, to pay for tax cuts for his billionaire pals like Musk (who has received billions in federal grants).
Raydog
President BIDEN signed this bill into law, how mindless and stupidly tribalistic of you…
Mary
The Security Fairness Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Promises made promises kept. It’s just going into effect.
Gilbert R.
It was Joe Biden who signed in that law not Donald Trump
Linda S.
You’re a liar. Who the hell you think got this rolling and signed it. Not that damn Trump.
RICHARD A.
It was Biden who did this for you, not Trump.
Mike
Linda Y and MT- so sad but not surprised to see such misinformed
, willfully ignorant Americans. No Trump had absolutely nothing to do with the Social Security Fairness Act. It was passed into law before he took office. You know who you can thank for this being passed? Why it’s was Biden.
Jan
I just received a deposit from social security (I’m assuming it’s my retroactive) and it is WAY less than I calculated it should be. I am looking forward to seeing the document that states how this number was derived. Yes, it is nice to get partially compensated for the money I EARNED; however, once again, I feel gypped.
TC
Trump had nothing to do with the fairness act.
Jennatilymn G.
I was married for 40 yrs my husband retired as a police officer I tried to collect his social security but found out he was 3 quarters short my children grandchildren & great grandchildren all left behind without his pension and social Security they told me his funds went back into the system when I realized I am my husband ‘s system where’s the social security he contributed too all these years PLEASE EXPLAIN
A DEVASTATING FAMILY LEFT BEHIND
Jane M.
Well I hope you enjoy it, along with all the illegal migrants Biden gave SSI benefits for 7 yrs. Before covid SS, was projected to start reducing benefits in 2032, after covid because of all the senior deaths it was extended to 2034. NOW with more $ going out than coming in, where will the $ come from? Bernie SAN has suggested moving IRA INTO SS BEN.
Jennatilymn G.
I was married for 40 yrs my husband retired as a police officer I tried to collect his social security but found out he was 3 quarters short my children grandchildren & great grandchildren all left behind without his pension and social Security they told me his funds went back into the system when I realized I am my husband ‘s system where’s the social security he contributed too all these years PLEASE EXPLAIN
A DEVASTATING FAMILY LEFT BEHIND
Cynthia G.
What’s going to happen to me, im on ssdi, I worked very hard when I was young… I crashed… life happens, but all this is over 20 yrs ago
Ron m.
I have been trying to find information on ssi disability and can’t find anything about any payments which is sad because there are millions of people who could use the payments
D.M.B.
I will be retiring this yr. I paid into social security longer than I paid into TRS after becoming a teacher. I was told by SS that I was going to lose all I paid into them and would only receive from what I paid into TRS. I’m happy to hear this new move because saying I would be “double dipping” by receiving from both is stupid. They “double dipped” by taking my money for both. I’m not wanting a handout, I simply want what was taken from me.
Ed
They are incorrect. I get both but social security was reduced from 1600 to 1100. I’m looking forward to a monthly increase in SS and backpay for all of 2024.
Patricia S.
I’m praying you get both. I don’t know anything about the system you were in, but if you paid into SS, seems like you’re owed SS also, if they don’t give it to you then give you back what you at least paid in
Elaine. L.
Call me sour grapes, but that’s double dipping I wouldn’t care if they had PAID IN 40 quarters, then of course they should receive what they are due, but to get funds without contribution WRONG! Those of us who didn’t hold the teacher cop fireman, etc etc are the ones being discriminated against. It shouldn’t be such a disaster to retire.
LT N.
This is NOT double dipping. Qualified SS recipients who also previously worked in the public sector, and received a pension, had their SS benefits reduced because of that pension. The Fairness Act simply restores the SS benefits to their normal levels, based only on the years the recipient worked in a job that contributed to social security.
Liza F.
That is actually not true – Teachers who only contributed to a pension and are not eligible for SSC benefits are receiving retroactive funds. Otherwise, I agree with your statement completely. My benefits will be less than otherwise because I only contributed to Cook County Pension for 10 years of my working career; however it does not appear that I will receive any adjustment in my monthly benefits; we will see come April (paid in May)
Kathy z.
My husband DID pay in 40 quarters. Both before federal employment and after retirement. No one is getting the payments without having met that standard. My dad, a fire fighter also paid in 40 quarters and didn’t live long enough to see this injustice corrected.
Debbie V.
Agreed
Michael L.
According to the Federal Times, the Federal Employees getting these add benefits must have paid in the 40 Units and required minimum amount to be affected. I am one of those that is a Civil Service Retiree. But I also paid in the 40 units and the amount required with my USAF time and active reserve time and since I was forced to retire early, I worked full time for an additional 13 years. So instead getting $494 minus the $179 for Medicare Part B benefits for Medicare Advantage with a new $305 a month, I think I will be getting a check for close to $750 a month. I paid in to both plans and added money with the Thrift Savings Program to help increase my retirement. So Why should I not get a fair SS retirement benefit when I started paying into it at age15 and continued until I was 65 years?
Telsia P.
I’m pretty sure you have to have worked. 40 quarters or have a spouse that did or a deceased spouse that did!
Ann B.
As an educator I didn’t pay in for 40 quarters, therefore I will NOT receive any payout whatsoever. However, my husband has worked the 40 quarters prior to him getting into teaching and will get the payout as well as a monthly increase.
Judith M.
Are you sure you will not receive a payment? I have been doing research about this because I am in the same situation. It is my understanding that the WEP/GPO elimination provision applies to you also, because you are a spouse of someone who did pay, so you should be able to receive spousal benefits, provided that you are at least 62 years old. The amount you would be eligible for is based on your husband’s primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the amount that he is eligible for at his full retirement age (FRA), and it also depends on whether you have reached FRA yourself. It does not matter whether he actually filed before or after his FRA. That does not affect your amount. Let’s say that his PIA is $1,000, but he filed early at 62 so his benefits are reduced by 30% (assuming his FRA is 67. If his FRA is younger than 67, based on the year of birth, his reduction percentage is lower). If you file after your FRA, you would receive the maximum amount, $500, 50% of his PIA.
Now, if you want the entire retroactive payout, you would tell SSA that you want your first benefit month to be January 2024), and your amount would be determined based on your age in that month.
In the best case scenario, with the PIA of $1,000 on this particular example, assuming you reached FRA prior to January 2024, and that you apply this month, you should be able to receive a lump sum payment of a little more than $7,000 after adding the 2025 COLA of 2.5% to the payment months January to March. And this is even if you are still working! There is no earnings limit after FRA.
I hope you get to read this. I tried to explain it the best I could. And hopefully other people can also benefit from the info.
Dave F.
Now you will be able to get his spouse amount enough you do have the 40 quarters.
Timothy J.
Missing the point! I retired from USPS and worked Part time jobs for 35 yrs & made my 40 quarters and I was penalized 2/3 of what I made from my part time jobs only because I was receiving a govt pension. I’m Not getting credit for my Post Office salary just my part time jobs..
KJ
Nobody is getting additional funds unless they have 40 quarters of Social Security payments.
Bernice c.
The only ones receiving the benefit are the ones that paid their 40 quarters into social security before they worked as a teacher like in my case.
Jedd W.
Correct! People forget that teachers, police, firefighters pensions were wanted by Feds back in Reagan years-all other pension were not wanted. It’s only fair 40 quarter persons receive these amts after these tough 2nd careers. Thank you President Trump for speeding up our monies! 🇺🇸
Fred F.
To get this payment you must have at least 40 quarters .
Debra H.
Thank you president trump for SSI
Debra H.
Thank you president trump , for SSI benefits raise
Jose A.
I was always trying to get information about the double dipping that caused me a lost of around $200 and they took took more or less about my rretired money y put aside in a trust fund so to have a good retirement.that money on trust fund with OPM was my money because I worked 20 yrs as Pharmacist at the Veterans Adm Hospital in California by tha time the VAH dint worked with SSSystem.As you can see or analyzed how our past governments fuck is every month and days.Thank President Trump is fixing our best country of the world,those who does not like the way he is working for us just find out some place else Mink start using the chanesaw we apreciate your job.God Bless America forever.I am 97 yrs old and now I feel happy and patriot as always so I served our country during Korean War protecting the Panama Canal with all kind of Artillery guns malaria kept me out of combat so I was in charge of protecting the Panama Canal a may was a primary target so God help us Amen.
Lynda S.
Felon trump had nothing to do with passing the SS Fairness Act! Congress passed it in 2024 and President Biden signed it into law on January 5, 2025.
MS
How about the rest of us? Biden promised an Xtra $200 per month from here on in. That little COLA raise didn’t do anything seeing that everyday I see Walmart prices going up. People shouldn’t open their mouths when they can’t deliver. Presidents and politicians need to live in poverty for at least a year to get the full magnitude of what we have to endure!!!!
Debbie V.
Agreed
Jk
Absolutely, I totally agree, those with money don’t know anything about struggling, prices going through the roof and to add insult to injury, having to buy the grocery bag to put your grocery in, how insulting, how low, those running their mouth, if you’ve never struggled to make ends meet, then try it and then talk.
AMM
I like what you say MS. Well said!