In April 2025, many Americans receiving Social Security benefits will notice a positive change in their payments. Thanks to a new law passed by the U.S. Congress—called the Social Security Fairness Act—some people will receive higher monthly benefits and even retroactive payments dating back to January 2023.
This adjustment mainly helps those who were affected by older rules that unfairly reduced their Social Security benefits.
Let’s break down what’s changing, who qualifies, how much money is involved, and when you can expect your new payments.
What Was the Problem? WEP and GPO Explained
Two old rules—Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)—used to lower Social Security benefits for people who also received a public pension. These rules affected public workers like teachers, firefighters, and federal employees, especially those who worked in systems that didn’t pay into Social Security.
These rules caused millions of Americans to lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars over the years. The new law eliminates these two rules, making Social Security fairer for many.
What Is the Social Security Fairness Act?
The Social Security Fairness Act was passed in January 2025. It removes or weakens the effects of WEP and GPO and gives higher monthly Social Security benefits to eligible people. Even better, it allows for retroactive payments starting from January 2023, so some people will get back pay they missed out on.
This law started being applied in February 2025, and most new benefit amounts will begin showing in April 2025 payments.
Who Will Get These Higher Benefits?
Not everyone will see a change. The law applies mainly to:
- Teachers
- Firefighters
- Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System
- People receiving a foreign pension
Keep in mind that 72% of public employees already pay into Social Security, so they were never affected by WEP or GPO and won’t receive this increase.
If you’re eligible, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has likely already sent you a letter. But in some cases, people received their updated or retroactive payments even before they got any official notice.
Some may see a retroactive payment of around $1,000, but this amount can vary. The maximum monthly retirement benefit in 2025 is now $5,108.
When Will You Receive the Updated Payment?
If you’re getting Social Security, your April 2025 payment will follow the usual schedule based on your birthday:
April 9:
For people born between the 1st and 10th
April 16:
For people born between the 11th and 20th
April 23:
For people born between the 21st and 31st
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you already got your April payment. In May, SSI recipients will get two payments—on May 1 and again on May 30.
What If Your Payment Is Delayed?
The SSA says they’re working hard to handle the updates, but with millions of adjustments to process, some delays can happen. If you haven’t received your updated payment:
First, check with your bank.
If the issue continues, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office.
Thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, many retired and disabled public workers will finally receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve. This includes both increased monthly payments and retroactive funds that were missed since January 2023.
While not everyone qualifies, those who do could see meaningful boosts to their income. The SSA is currently processing over 2.3 million cases, and payments will be updated in the coming weeks. Make sure to check your mailbox or bank account if you’re eligible, and stay patient if there are small delays—your money is on its way.
