The Social Security Administration (SSA) has begun issuing retroactive payments to eligible beneficiaries under the Social Security Fairness Act, including police officers, firefighters, EMS providers and other public sector employees.
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden on Jan. 5, 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions previously limited Social Security benefits for retirees who also received state or local government pensions or other non-Social Security-covered retirement payments.
Billions in payments already distributed
As of March 4, SSA has paid more than $7.5 billion in retroactive benefits to over 1.1 million people, with an average payment of $6,710. These payments are being made to retirees who were previously impacted by WEP and GPO, provisions that reduced Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive pensions from work that did not contribute to Social Security.
The payments began in late February, and the SSA has prioritized issuing the funds quickly using automated processing. Complex cases requiring manual review will take longer to process.
Who is eligible for retroactive payments?
Many first responders qualify for retroactive payments if their benefits were previously reduced by WEP or GPO. This includes firefighters, police officers and EMS providers in states where public sector pensions were not covered by Social Security contributions.
Other eligible individuals include:
- Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
- Workers whose jobs were covered by a foreign social security system
- Spouses and surviving spouses whose benefits were previously impacted by GPO
How far back do retroactive payments go?
The one-time retroactive payment covers benefits back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer applied. This payment will be deposited into beneficiaries’ bank accounts on file with SSA by the end of March 2025.
Higher monthly benefit payments, reflecting the repeal of WEP and GPO, will begin in April for benefits covering March. Since Social Security benefits are paid one month in arrears, this means eligible recipients will see their first increased benefit payment in April 2025.
What actions do beneficiaries need to take?
Most affected retirees do not need to take any action to receive their payments. However, SSA advises individuals to ensure their mailing address and direct deposit information are up to date. Beneficiaries can check their information online through the My Social Security account portal or by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
Those who never applied for Social Security benefits due to WEP or GPO may need to file an application. SSA has set up a streamlined process for new applicants. To apply:
- Visit www.ssa.gov/apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits.
- Call 1-800-772-1213 and say “Fairness Act” when prompted.
- Survivors who qualify for benefits must apply by phone, as online applications are not available.
What to expect next
SSA officials have asked beneficiaries to wait until April to check on the status of their retroactive payments, as they will be processed throughout March. Those who qualify for increased monthly benefits should also wait until after receiving their April payment before contacting SSA with questions about their updated amount.
As of March 7, SSA has taken 81,000 new applications since the Fairness Act was passed, completing 76% of them. The agency will continue processing the remaining cases and issuing payments to those affected.
For ongoing updates and eligibility information, visit www.ssa.gov/fairnessact.
