Could you be owed money from Social Security? Here’s what to know about the 2.5 million payments being sent out
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If you’ve ever felt like Social Security was more puzzle than promise, you’re not alone.
This year, a major change in federal law has triggered one of the largest waves of back payments in the agency’s history—2.5 million retroactive deposits have already gone out, and more are on the way.
Whether you’re receiving benefits now or plan to apply soon, this update could mean more money in your pocket.
Here’s what’s happening: a new law signed in January is reversing a long-standing rule that limited Social Security benefits for some retirees.
If you—or someone you know—spent a career in public service and paid into a government pension, you may be newly eligible for a one-time payment and higher monthly checks going forward.
But even if that’s not you, the broader changes to how benefits are calculated and distributed may affect how you plan for the future.
What changed—and who benefits?
For decades, two little-known provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—reduced or eliminated Social Security payments for individuals who also received public pensions.
These rules affected millions of Americans who paid into both Social Security and a public retirement system, often leaving them with less than their private-sector counterparts.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminated WEP and GPO starting January 2024, and made the changes retroactive, allowing payments to be issued for missed benefits dating back over a year.
December 2023 was the final month these reductions were in effect, according to the SSA.
Also read: Your June 2025 Social Security check: When it's coming and how to plan ahead
When will I get my payment?
The SSA began issuing retroactive deposits on February 25, 2025.
Most people who were eligible should have received a one-time deposit by the end of March into the bank account on file.
New, higher monthly benefits also began in April, with the April payment reflecting March’s benefit due to the usual one-month delay.
But not everyone has received their payment just yet.
While 90% of cases have been processed, around 900,000 still require manual review.
According to USA Today, SSA staff have been directed to prioritize these cases above other workloads to ensure full completion by November 2025.
Also read: Don’t let these 3 surprising Social Security changes drain your retirement in 2025
Still waiting? Here’s what to do
If you haven’t seen your payment yet, the SSA urges you to check your account information and contact details:
“Ensuring that SSA has the correct information allows you to get any retroactive benefits and your new benefit amount quicker,” the agency says in its latest update.
Also read: Mistakenly declared dead? Social Security errors cause disruptions for some recipients
How much will I get?
The exact amount varies depending on your personal situation—especially the type of Social Security benefit and the public pension you receive.
According to the SSA, some people may see only a modest increase, while others could gain more than $1,000 a month, according to SSA.
Everyone who receives either a retroactive payment or a monthly benefit increase will get a mailed notice explaining the change.
If you never applied—now’s your chance
If you didn’t apply for retirement or spousal benefits in the past because of the old rules, now’s the time to take another look.
You may need to submit an application, which you can do by visiting www.ssa.gov/apply.
According to the SSA, more than 200,000 new applications have been submitted since the law changed, and as of the week ending May 23, about 87% of them have already been processed.
Also read: Seniors in these states could see big Social Security cuts—are you affected?
A long-overdue step toward fairness
This sweeping change is more than a policy shift—it’s an act of justice for those who spent their lives serving others.
After years of frustration and financial penalties, public retirees are finally getting the compensation they deserve.
While the SSA hasn’t publicly commented beyond its recent updates, the message is clear: if you were previously impacted by WEP or GPO, this is the time to check your status, update your records, and claim the benefits now available to you.
Read next: Good news for Social Security recipients: A change is coming that could speed things up
Have you or someone you know received a retroactive Social Security payment—or are you still waiting? How has this change affected your retirement plans? We’d love to hear your experience.
This year, a major change in federal law has triggered one of the largest waves of back payments in the agency’s history—2.5 million retroactive deposits have already gone out, and more are on the way.
Whether you’re receiving benefits now or plan to apply soon, this update could mean more money in your pocket.
Here’s what’s happening: a new law signed in January is reversing a long-standing rule that limited Social Security benefits for some retirees.
If you—or someone you know—spent a career in public service and paid into a government pension, you may be newly eligible for a one-time payment and higher monthly checks going forward.
But even if that’s not you, the broader changes to how benefits are calculated and distributed may affect how you plan for the future.
Social Security is now paying back millions of public retirees who were previously denied full benefits—some are seeing thousands in retroactive deposits. Image Source: Pexels / Pixabay.
What changed—and who benefits?
For decades, two little-known provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—reduced or eliminated Social Security payments for individuals who also received public pensions.
These rules affected millions of Americans who paid into both Social Security and a public retirement system, often leaving them with less than their private-sector counterparts.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminated WEP and GPO starting January 2024, and made the changes retroactive, allowing payments to be issued for missed benefits dating back over a year.
December 2023 was the final month these reductions were in effect, according to the SSA.
Also read: Your June 2025 Social Security check: When it's coming and how to plan ahead
When will I get my payment?
The SSA began issuing retroactive deposits on February 25, 2025.
Most people who were eligible should have received a one-time deposit by the end of March into the bank account on file.
New, higher monthly benefits also began in April, with the April payment reflecting March’s benefit due to the usual one-month delay.
But not everyone has received their payment just yet.
While 90% of cases have been processed, around 900,000 still require manual review.
According to USA Today, SSA staff have been directed to prioritize these cases above other workloads to ensure full completion by November 2025.
Also read: Don’t let these 3 surprising Social Security changes drain your retirement in 2025
Still waiting? Here’s what to do
If you haven’t seen your payment yet, the SSA urges you to check your account information and contact details:
- Log in at ssa.gov/myaccount
- Or call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213
“Ensuring that SSA has the correct information allows you to get any retroactive benefits and your new benefit amount quicker,” the agency says in its latest update.
Also read: Mistakenly declared dead? Social Security errors cause disruptions for some recipients
How much will I get?
The exact amount varies depending on your personal situation—especially the type of Social Security benefit and the public pension you receive.
According to the SSA, some people may see only a modest increase, while others could gain more than $1,000 a month, according to SSA.
Everyone who receives either a retroactive payment or a monthly benefit increase will get a mailed notice explaining the change.
If you never applied—now’s your chance
If you didn’t apply for retirement or spousal benefits in the past because of the old rules, now’s the time to take another look.
You may need to submit an application, which you can do by visiting www.ssa.gov/apply.
According to the SSA, more than 200,000 new applications have been submitted since the law changed, and as of the week ending May 23, about 87% of them have already been processed.
Also read: Seniors in these states could see big Social Security cuts—are you affected?
A long-overdue step toward fairness
This sweeping change is more than a policy shift—it’s an act of justice for those who spent their lives serving others.
After years of frustration and financial penalties, public retirees are finally getting the compensation they deserve.
While the SSA hasn’t publicly commented beyond its recent updates, the message is clear: if you were previously impacted by WEP or GPO, this is the time to check your status, update your records, and claim the benefits now available to you.
Read next: Good news for Social Security recipients: A change is coming that could speed things up
Have you or someone you know received a retroactive Social Security payment—or are you still waiting? How has this change affected your retirement plans? We’d love to hear your experience.
