The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued updates on the progress of the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law earlier this year, which repealed two provisions affecting many federal retirees. The updates answer many ongoing questions these retirees have, and a highlight of them is included below.
SEE ALSO: How Will The Social Security Fairness Act Affect Federal Employees & Retirees?
Background
The Social Security Fairness Act (the “Act”) was signed into law on January 5, 2025. The most important feature coming out of the Act is the termination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
The WEP and the GPO reduces or eliminates Social Security monthly benefits of over 3.2 million people who receive a pension that was not covered by Social Security, known as a “non-covered pension,” because they did not pay Social Security (FICA) taxes while covered by these pensions. The Act increases Social Security benefits for certain types of workers, including:
- Teachers, firefighters and police officers in many states.
- Federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and
- Individuals whose work had been covered by a foreign social security system.
Updates from Social Security Administration
(Updated May 27, 2025)
When will a person see their Social Security benefit increase because of the Social Security Fairness Act?
Starting February 25, 2025: SSA began to pay retroactive benefits and is increasing monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the WEP and GPO.
If a beneficiary is due retroactive benefits as a result of the Act, they will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account SSA has on file, by the end of March. This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their benefit amount back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer apply.
Social Security benefits are paid one month behind. Most affected beneficiaries will begin receiving their new monthly benefit amount in April 2025 (for their March 2025 benefit).
We have been able to expedite payments using automation. 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. We are expediting these cases now. We are releasing retroactive benefits and sending new monthly benefit amounts as we process each case, with the expectation that all beneficiary records will be updated by early November 2025.
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.
NOTE: A beneficiary may receive two mailed notices, the first when WEP or GPO is removed from their record, and a second when their monthly benefit amount is adjusted for their new monthly payment amount. They may receive the retroactive payment before receiving the mailed notice.
The chart below shows SSA’s progress with processing adjustments since February 25, 2025.
What should people do now that the Social Security Fairness Act is law?
The Act applies to benefits you get on your own record (retirement or disability benefits) and to spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits on another person’s record. What action you need to take depends on your situation and on what type of benefits you are eligible for.
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.
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.
For additional eligibility information, visit www.ssa.gov/apply.
As of week ending May 23, 2025, SSA has taken 219,439 new applications since the Social Security Fairness Act was passed. We have completed 87% of the new applications.
How many months of benefits will I receive?
If you were already receiving benefits that were affected by WEP or GPO, the last month WEP or GPO applied was December 2023. Any payment adjustments due would begin for benefits payable starting in January 2024 (paid in February 2024). To receive increased payments for those months, you had to have been entitled to benefits that were either fully or partially reduced by WEP or GPO for those months.
If you were not receiving benefits that were affected by WEP or GPO because you did not previously apply for those benefits, then you will need to contact us to file an application for benefits. The Social Security Fairness Act did not change the provisions of the Social Security Act that govern the retroactivity of benefit applications. Retroactivity for some retirement and survivor’s benefits is generally limited to six months before the month in which the benefit application is filed, although some claims based on disability may be entitled to 12 months of retroactive benefits.
Those rules remain unchanged. Since the Social Security Fairness Act was signed, we have consistently encouraged people who had never applied or were not sure if they applied to consider applying for benefits because the date of your application might affect when your benefits begin.
What should I do if my Medicare premiums are being deducted from my Social Security benefit and my Office of Personnel Management (OPM) annuity?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working on this issue. Anyone who had too many Medicare premiums withheld will receive a refund. You do not need to call, but if you have questions on this specific issue, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Full updates from the SSA are available here.