Social Security Boost: Millions Of Retirees To See Increased Monthly Payments After Major Announcement

2025 has been more than a mixed bag when it comes to Social Security benefits, and the year is still young. In addition to the already planned three big changes coming to Social Security in 2025, current and potential beneficiaries have also seen a lot happen to Social Security since the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (or COLA) was announced in mid-October 2024.

However, despite alarming staff shake-ups, Social Security offices closing due to Department of Government Efficiency cuts, and concern over how too-low COLA rates will affect beneficiaries in 2026, the dark cloud surrounding Social Security has at least one silver lining: the Social Security Fairness Act. After decades of complaints this bill is set to significantly impact Social Security. In fact, implementation of this freshly passed act means that millions of retirees will soon see increased benefits after years of reductions.

In a February 2025 press release, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the immediate payment of retroactive benefits, as well as an increase in monthly benefits to qualified individuals who were previously impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These now-null provisions restricted public sector workers — who were already receiving a public pension — from accessing their full Social Security benefits in retirement.

The Social Security Fairness Act was actually signed into law by then-president, Joe Biden, in January 2025 after the bipartisan act received overwhelming support in both House and Senate votes. The new law rolls back the WEP and GPO provisions which were first signed into law in the '70s and '80s by then-presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, respectively. At the time, the WEP and GPO were thought to be part of necessary Social Security reforms made in the name of fiscal responsibility and as attempt to keep Social Security funded for as long as possible into the future. However, public sector workers and their advocates have long critiqued the decision. These old provisions didn't fully consider how unlivable modern public pension benefits can be, nor the fact that many people work a mix of jobs across the public and private sectors throughout their lives.

According to the SSA, over 3.2 million people will be positively impacted from ending the WEP and GPO. Specifically, public workers that previously received non-covered pensions (meaning pensions without Social Security benefits for work not requiring the payment of Social Security taxes) stand to see benefit increases. However, 72% of public sector workers already covered by Social Security will not see increases. The remaining percentage of qualifying public sector workers includes some teachers, firefighters, police officers, as well as federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement system or covered by foreign social security systems.

Beginning February 24, 2025, beneficiaries that are due retroactive benefits should receive a one-time lump sum payment for said benefits anytime before the end of March 2025 — deposited into the beneficiary's SSA account. This one-time payment should cover all retroactively owed benefits through January 2024, the month that payments for December 2023 (the official end of WEP and GPO) would have been paid. Reminder: Social Security benefits are paid for the current month during the following month. Increased monthly benefits for those affected by the end of WEP and GPO should begin in March, meaning increased amounts will be seen in April payments. Benefit amount increases will vary, with some beneficiaries seeing very small increases, and others seeing up to $1,000 more per month depending on pension types, amounts, and other factors.

Understandably, adjusting benefits for 3.2 million people will be a multi-phase process. Though the SSA is adopting what they call an "aggressive" payment schedule, the office also urges patience when it comes to potential beneficiaries inquiring after their benefit and retroactive lump-sum payment status. 

Avoid scams and misinformation by checking out the frequently asked questions and answers listed on the Social Security Fairness Act website. If you have never filed for retirement benefits or relevant spousal benefits due to WEP or GPO, you may need to file via ssa.gov/apply. If you have already filed, you may simply need to confirm the information the SSA has on file for you is correct, via ssa.gov/account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.