Social Security Pays Billions of Dollars in Retroactive Payments

Mar 5, 2025 / Social Security Administration

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.

 

Comments


Still trying to understand what an individual who does not receive any benefit is to do. H is 91 years old and was denied SSA benefits on his deceased wife when she died. We understand he will have to apply for benefits, but the local SSA office still has no answers for him.

It's taking time. I would advise patience at this point. Try again in a couple of months (benefits will be retroactive). Or try another office. 

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