Many Americans are about to see more money in their Social Security checks. Thanks to a new law signed by President Joe Biden in January 2025, some retirees will get big increases in their monthly payments. The law ends two old rules that reduced benefits for many public workers who also had private jobs. Let’s break down who gets the extra money, how much they can expect, and what steps you can take to boost your own Social Security in the future.
What Changed with the Social Security Fairness Act?
In January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act became law. It removed two rules: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These rules, which had been around for decades, cut Social Security benefits for people who worked government jobs not covered by Social Security, even if they also worked in the private sector.
Now, with the new law, millions of people will get their full benefits without unfair cuts. About 3 million retirees will see higher Social Security payments.
Who Will Get the Extra Money?
The increase mainly helps public workers who also earned Social Security credits through private jobs. This includes:
- Teachers
- Police officers
- Firefighters
Before the law, their benefits were reduced unfairly. Now, they will receive 100% of the benefits they earned.
Spouses and survivors who were affected by the GPO will also get more money. In the past, if they received a government pension, their Social Security spousal or survivor benefits were reduced. Now, they will get full payments without cuts.
The Social Security Administration started sending out retroactive payments from April 2025, going back to January 2024. Payment dates depend on each person’s birth month.
How Much More Will Retirees Receive?
The new benefit amounts are impressive:
- Those affected by the WEP will see an average increase of $360 per month.
- Those affected by the GPO can expect an extra $700 to $1,190 per month.
Retroactive payments for 2024 are also being deposited. The exact amount depends on when each person retired and their work history.
Moving forward, these payments will also get annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) to keep up with inflation. Retirees don’t have to do anything extra—payments will be automatic and directly deposited.
Who Will Not Benefit from This Change?
It’s important to know that not everyone will get a boost.
Only public workers whose jobs were not covered by Social Security are eligible. According to government data, 72% of state and local workers already have Social Security-covered jobs, so they were never affected by WEP or GPO.
The law also does not change benefits for federal employees whose pensions already include Social Security or for retirees who only worked public jobs without Social Security coverage.
How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefit
Even if you don’t qualify for the extra payments, you can still aim for the highest possible Social Security check—up to $5,108 per month.
Here’s how:
- Wait until age 70 to file for Social Security. If you were born in 1960 or later, waiting beyond the full retirement age of 67 earns you an 8% bonus per year until 70.
- Have a strong work history. Social Security bases your payments on your average earnings over your 35 highest-earning years.
- Max out your earnings. To get the maximum benefit, you must have paid Social Security taxes on at least the maximum wage base (which is $176,100 in 2025) for 35 years.
Without enough high-earning years, your average drops, and so does your monthly payment.
The new Social Security Fairness Act is a major win for many retirees who spent years working in both public and private jobs. With extra money flowing into their accounts, life after retirement just got a little easier for millions. While not everyone will see a boost, there are still ways to maximize your Social Security benefits.
Waiting until 70 to claim and maintaining a strong, high-earning work history can make a big difference. The Social Security Administration is making the process smooth by handling payments automatically, ensuring retirees get what they deserve without extra hassle.
