Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state and local workers can now reclaim benefits lost under the old WEP and GPO rules.
Nearly four months after the Social Security Fairness Act took effect, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says it has already deposited more than 2.5 million one‑time retroactive payments into Americans’ bank accounts. The checks correct decades‑old reductions that hit public pension holders, and they come on top of larger monthly benefits that began flowing in April.
Key eligibility details for public workers seeking Social Security retroactive relief
If you paid into a state or municipal pension and had your federal benefit trimmed by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO), you’re on the list. The Fairness Act wiped both rules away, freeing 3.2 million current and future recipients; about 90 percent of those cases are already settled, according to the May 27 SSA update. Wondering whether you made the cut? Check these quick boxes:
- You worked in a job that paid a public pension but did not withhold full Social Security tax.
- You filed—or will file—for retirement, spousal or survivor benefits before November 2025.
- SSA has up‑to‑date direct‑deposit and mailing information for you.
Still waiting? Hang tight. Roughly 200,000 tricky files demand manual review, and the agency says every record should be cleared by November 2025.
Timeline, amounts and simple actions to speed up your Social Security payout
The first back‑pay deposits went out on Feb. 25 and most qualified affiliates saw the money by the end of March. Because Social Security benefits pay a month behind, increased monthly checks started landing in April—with many retirees reporting boosts of several hundred dollars and some topping $1,000 a month. Here’s a quick snapshot of what happens when:
| Key date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Feb. 25 2025 | SSA begins issuing one‑time retroactive payments |
| End of March 2025 | Majority of recipients receive deposit |
| April 2025 payments | First larger monthly checks reflect March benefit |
| By Nov. 2025 | SSA expects to finish remaining 200,000 manual cases |
To keep things moving, log in to My Social Security or call 800‑772‑1213 to confirm your routing and address. A mis‑typed digit could hold up hundreds of dollars—nobody wants that, right?
The bottom line: the Fairness Act is already putting money back where it belongs. Verify your information, watch your mailbox for the official notice, and spread the word to any colleague who still has questions.