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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ALMA C.
When can I expect back payment from the windfall elimination. Many of us have been waiting for six months now and we have not received any letter from the office.
Richard K.
I worked over 20 years as a police officer in Illinois. They never took out for social security
My social security is reduced because of this.
Does this mean I qualify 🤔 for the this?
Peter W.
I retired from the Pennsylvania State Police after working over 20 years! I only received less than $1000 per month from Social Security because I worked in the Private Sector prior to retirement. Would this mean that I could be eligible for the new change?
Dallas H.
My spouse got back pay from fairness act but only to July1,2024 not to Jan 1,2024. Was this correct?
Ronald K.
I received my retroactive payment. However, no Medicare was deducted and I am now receiving medical bills from 9-2024 to 5-25. How do I fix this?
Martha M.
I am affected by WEP and GPO as a Federal government retiree under CSRS Offset. My Federal government service begin in 1973 as a civil servant to the Federal government for 45 years. When will I expect my retroactive backpay and an increase in my monthly SSA benefits? Please respond to this inquiry.
Dorothy M.
I was able to gain so much knowledge from the wonderful agent who did a superb job of addressing my concerns. I am not what you call Computer SAVVY INDIVIDUAL but she scored big with me so much so I will be attempting to get a one day expedited retroactive benefits direct deposit. I feel good. Thank you so very much.
Deborah P.
I am currently an employed Federal Employee under Civil Service. Spouse (paid into social security) passed away August 2014. My question would be, am I entitled to any survivor benefits from my deceased spouse until I start receiving my Civil Service pension upon retirement. Thanks!
Joseph M.
Today is May 13 I have yet to receive my Social Security retirement benefits. This is never happened before I have always had it by the eighth of the month at the latest.
Martha T.
I am affected by both WEP and GPO but have received nothing from SSA. When can I expect some form of communication?
Donna C.
I have the letter from Turner. This is 5/21/2025 I got my SS today and it is the same as before. $9 hunder something