The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that retroactive payments have begun being issued under the Social Security Fairness Act for individuals who were impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Under the terms of the new law, payments will be retroactive to January 2024. They will be a one-time, lump sum retroactive payment.
Payments are starting the week of February 24, 2025 and will continue into March. Most people will receive the payment by next month deposited into the bank account they have on file with SSA.
Many people will also receive higher monthly Social Security benefits which will be first reflected in the April 2025 payment. SSA said the new payment amounts will vary from person to person depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension.
Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted or who will receive a retroactive payment will receive a mailed notice from Social Security detailing the benefit change or retroactive payment. Most individuals will receive their retroactive payment two to three weeks before the notice arrives in the mail.
Some individuals may receive two mailed notices, the first when WEP or GPO is removed from their records, and a second when their monthly benefits amounts are adjusted for their new monthly payment amounts. They may receive the retroactive payment before receiving the mailed notices.
SSA is asking individuals to wait until April to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment because the payments will be processed gradually from now into March. Consequently, beneficiaries should wait until after receiving their April payment before reaching out to Social Security with inquiries regarding their monthly benefit amount.
The agency is able to expedite the payments by using automation. However, SSA said that for the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount.
“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.”
What Should You Do to Ensure You Get Paid?
SSA states:
If you are entitled to retired or disabled workers’ benefits, and your benefits are currently being reduced by WEP; OR if you are entitled to spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits, and your benefits are currently being reduced or eliminated by GPO:
- If you know that SSA has your mailing address and/or direct deposit information on file, no other actions are needed from you at this time.
- If you want to verify that the mailing address and/or direct deposit information that SSA has on file is accurate and up to date:
- Check your personal my Social Security account. Visit www.ssa.gov/my account to sign in or create an account.
- If you are unable to create an account, please call 1-800-772-1213 to verify the information we have on file.
Ensuring that SSA has the correct information allows you to get any retroactive benefits and your new benefit amount quicker.
If you are not sure whether you ever applied for retirement, spouse’s, or surviving spouse’s benefits:
- You may need to file an application. The date of your application might affect when your benefits begin.
If you never applied for retirement due to WEP or spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits because of GPO:
- You may need to file an application. The date of your application might affect when your benefits begin and your benefit amount. However, each case is different, and all other Social Security laws and policies, such as benefit reductions for claiming benefits before the full retirement age, the retirement earnings test, and others, still apply.
Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits
- The most convenient way to apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits is online at www.ssa.gov/apply.
- Please note that the online application continues to collect pension information until we are able to update it; however, we will not offset the benefit.
- If you are applying for spouse’s benefits, please note that selecting “Family Benefits” will take you to the application for Retirement/Medicare benefits. This process ensures that you will be considered for all benefits you are entitled to.
- We can take an application by telephone for people who did not previously apply for retirement benefits because of WEP or spouse’s benefits because of GPO. If you meet these conditions, call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. When the system asks, “How can I help you today?”, say “Fairness Act.” Then, you’ll be asked a few questions. Your answers will help us connect you to a WEP-GPO trained representative to take your application.
Surviving Spouse’s Benefits:
- The survivor benefit application is not available online.
- Call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. When the system asks, “How can I help you today?”, say “Fairness Act.” Then, you’ll be asked a few questions. Your answers will help us connect you to a WEP-GPO trained representative to take your application.
- For additional eligibility information, visit www.ssa.gov/apply.
