With the Social Security Fairness Act in effect, retirees will receive increases in their benefits sooner than projected. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed adjustments for those affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Starting February 24, SSA will issue lump sum payments to those who faced cuts due to WEP and GPO. The retroactive amounts will cover benefits retained since January 2024. Direct deposits will be completed no later than March, based on bank accounts on file.
Update on retroactive payments and monthly adjustments
The new monthly amounts will be calculated starting in April. Due to the usual lag in payments (one month’s benefits are delivered the next), the first increases will be reflected at the end of April. The SSA prioritizes cases under both provisions to expedite the process.
Firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other retirees have waited a long time to receive all the benefits they earned and contributed to. We are pleased to see that the Social Security Administration has expedited the process.
Notifications from the SSA and deadlines for complex cases
The SSA will send postal notices to those affected, detailing changes to their benefits. Some will receive two communications: one about the elimination of penalties and another with the updated monthly amount. Retroactive payments could arrive before physical notifications.
Cases with multiple sources of income or record discrepancies will require manual review, which would delay payments for a minority group. The SSA recommends consulting its official portal before contacting agents. The minimum suggested wait is until April to avoid congestion in service lines.
Payments coming in March 2025
In March 2025, Social Security beneficiaries in the United States will receive their payments on three main dates, organized according to the SSA’s calendar and based on each person’s date of birth. The first date is March 12, which corresponds to the second Wednesday of the month, when those born between the 1st and 10th of any month receive their payment.
The second date is March 19, the third Wednesday, for those born between the 11th and the 20th. Finally, the third date is March 26, the fourth Wednesday, for beneficiaries born between the 21st and the 31st.
Additionally, there are special considerations for certain cases. For example, beneficiaries who began receiving payments before May 1997, or those who also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), typically receive their funds on the 3rd of each month, which in March 2025 would be March 3, a Monday.
Those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will not see a payment in March, because the deposit equal to March 1 was sent on February 28 (because SSA does not send payments on weekends or holidays).