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Retired public sector workers who qualify for enhanced benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) are set to experience an increase in their monthly Social Security payments. Those who began receiving Social Security benefits after December 2023 and were affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) or the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) will notice a boost in payments starting in April.
Lump sum retroactive payments began distribution in the last week of February, with most beneficiaries expected to receive their payments by the end of March. The payments will be issued in the same manner as regular monthly benefits, either through direct deposit to a bank account registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by check sent to the most recent address on file. This retroactive payment will account for the increase from January 2024 through March 2025, reverting back to when GPO and WEP were no longer applicable.
The SSA has indicated that beneficiaries should refrain from inquiring about their monthly benefit amounts until after they receive their payments in April, as the newly adjusted figures will only be shown on the April statement (for March payments).
When are the bigger checks arriving?
To assist beneficiaries in planning for their payments, the SSA has provided a schedule for April payments based on birth dates. Below is the payment calendar:
Birth date on
Payment date
1st – 10th
Wednesday, April 9
11th – 20th
Wednesday, April 16
21st – 31st
Wednesday, April 23
It’s important to note that the payment schedule varies for specific groups of beneficiaries: those who started receiving Social Security before May 1997 will get their benefits on March 3, while individuals who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will see their Social Security payment on March 3 and SSI on March 1.
Lump sum retroactive payments
In February, retired public sector employees began receiving back payments to reflect the adjustments made by the SSFA. As of March 4, approximately 1,127,723 recipients received an average retroactive payment of $6,710, totaling $7.5 billion in disbursements.
These payments are designed to cover what beneficiaries were entitled to receive for 2024 alongside increases to their monthly benefits for January and February 2025. Monthly increases for those eligible will commence with their March payment, which is distributed in April.
The SSA advises that beneficiaries should wait until April to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment, as these will be processed over the course of March.
Complex cases will take longer
The implementation of the SSFA necessitated adjustments for over 3 million beneficiaries. Since the changes are being applied retroactively, the SSA is working to modify past and future benefits accordingly. As of March 14, 2025, the SSA has managed to process 75% of these adjustments, assisting approximately 2.2 million beneficiaries. However, for more complex cases, manual processing may take longer, potentially extending up to a year.
Where to get help
For those who have not received their lump sum payment, it is recommended to contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can reach out using TTY equipment at 1-800-325-0778. When calling, beneficiaries should indicate that they need assistance related to their benefits and the Social Security Fairness Act or request an appointment at their local SSA office.
The SSA provides support via phone across most U.S. time zones from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. As a helpful tip, it is suggested that wait times are generally shorter in the mornings and towards the end of the week and month, as noted on the SSA website.
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