Social Security Pays Billions of Dollars in Retroactive Payments
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: April 18, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today shared its significant progress to quickly implement the Social Security Fairness Act. Through March 4, 2025, SSA has already paid 1,127,723 people more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments. The retroactive payments are the result of the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The average retroactive payment so far is $6,710.
“President Trump made it very clear he wanted the Social Security Fairness Act to be implemented as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We met that challenge head on and are proudly delivering for the American people.”
The WEP and GPO 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 agency continues to pay remaining retroactive payments and is ready to begin paying higher monthly benefit payments beginning in April for people’s March benefit.
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michelle
How is this fair?? Public sector employees aka civil servants could always work in their skilled field. Drawing down on pension and reduced SS. Private sector can NOT work in their skilled field even part time drawing on SS and pension. ERISA wont allow pension payment if working in their skilled field. How does this level the playing field? TOTALY UNFAIR Where was the debate on this argument before going into law?
Dave
I don’t understand this at all. I’ve received no communication from Social Security about it, I have no way of knowing whether I qualify. Why is everything they do so confusing to everyone? I’m at a loss to understand any of this.
Marjorie H.
please give information about receiving retroactive payments through the Social Security Fairness Act with WEP and GPO…how do I sign up to receive these benefits??
Steven S.
Thank you for this information. My husband is on SSDI, and understanding the back pay process was confusing at first. A clear explanation like this helps reduce the stress and uncertainty for families navigating the system.
Steven S.
Thank you for clarifying how retroactive Social Security payments work. It highlights how crucial accessible information systems are for government services. Improving user experience on government portals could make processes like this easier. That’s a job for specialists in government services app development who can build platforms that are easy for everyone to navigate.
Jenai J.
Well, I hope I get 10 years that’s owed to My Son. We’ve still been waiting and he has kidney failure so isn’t that part of your immediate approval? Why are we still waiting? Why has it taken so 8 long months almost?? Why can’t I see anything online? Why is nobody giving us answers? I think everything that you guys share is a is for publicity purposes.. I am a single mom here. I wait two hours on the phone and the Chico ca office is horrible! I’ve already had my car taken, we face eviction, I’m running out of everything. I can’t work because of his chronic illness and he keeps getting sick. He’s just gonna be getting worse and worse as we find out more and more
Jay L.
I have been on disability benefits for approximately six months and I did not qualify for SSI, I was told that my backpay would be expedited. I’m
At high risk of sudden death by cardiac arrest.
Still have heard absolutely nothing in regards to my backpay, and I am in financial distress..pls help
Kitty
If they haven’t paid you yet with a back payment then do what I did and go to your local congressman office for your district, I was on the brink of homelessness in 2015 waiting for my back pay for me and had my oldest son at the time as well. I spoke with the congressman in office at the time and she picked up the phone and with someone and told them my situation in small detail and said they had 48 hours to put my money on my card or else cause I had been waiting for three months already and they did just that. I had my back pay loaded rwo days later the whole lump sum and if that doesn’t work due to who is in office at this time then go to the next step which would be your state senator or next chain of command. I now am awaiting a court date due to my benefits being cut off during COVID for a review after having ssdi for 7 years and have since been denied by a judge once and knew I had a brain tumor as well as severe epilepsy and can’t even have a license due to this among other issues. Don’t let the system drag you along because there are rules in place and it is a matter to find out what they are. And a back payment should come within 30 days then your first actual check comes about 5 months later.
Dawn
I have been on SSDI since 1993. Am I do retroactive payment
Devin R.
This is such important information for retirees to understand. The explanation about how retroactive payments work is very clear. For those navigating these complex processes, tools like eligiblee.com can help track benefit timelines. How far back can someone typically claim these retroactive benefits? This could really help people who may have delayed their application.
Mohamed
Can you sand the check to 1445 Guilford pl