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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Michael A.
My social security payments were not recalculated this year I am 71 old years still working and receiving full retirement. My work experience is a total of 27 years so why not give me an opportunity to work more for a few years and the same payments would be recalculated. However, social security rejected my request to recalculate my social security payments.
Gwen B.
I havent received my backpay nor have I received a letter adjusting my monthly pay. I feel my case should have been a simple calculation. Why sm I not getting interest in my money? I am owed over 7k as of mid April.
Daniel J.
I have not received my backpay nor any information regarding my adjusted monthly payment. March has passed!
Fan s.
Is there a special benefit for people who. If you would like to put Social Security a special benefit for people on Social Security after 19 98
Stanley
Is there a special benefit for people on Social Security after the year 19 98
Beth C.
I have asked several time when my social security will be recalculated. 2024 was my highest years of earnings $8000 from the year before but send me the same response. I usually get the increase in March but nothing and no real answer. Tried contacting them but never get to talk to someone.
Caprice K.
How would I know if I qualify to receive back payment
David S.
Have not received lump Winfall payment from JAN 2024 to present- Received letter from SSA stating I will receive payment May 21 monthly Talked to other people and they said I should have received the lump first
David S.
Received updated winfall monthly payment last month and will get May 21-haven’t received lump sum from Jan 2024 to present
Patti W.
what to do if you did not get the backpay or increase?
Donald L.
Donald Rice. I would like to know what is Happening ? I have no information on my back pay check nor about the amount the new payment I receive ? Please help need to know what’s happening! Every others are having great time spending their money and I ain’t got squat ! Need money now not a year or two
Bonnie H.
Do retired Postal Service employees qualify for WEP?