A major change in the Social Security system has brought good news for many retired public workers in the US. Thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, signed by President Joe Biden in January and kept in place by President Donald Trump, more than 3.2 million people are now receiving higher monthly payments.
This law removes two old rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—which used to reduce benefits for people who had non-taxable government pensions, like teachers, police officers, firefighters, and postal workers.
Let’s break down what’s changing, who is affected, and what to expect in the coming months.
What Is the Social Security Fairness Act?
The Social Security Fairness Act is a law aimed at fixing unfair benefit reductions that affected many public sector workers. Before this law, people with certain government jobs received smaller Social Security payments because of WEP and GPO rules.
Now that these rules are gone, their Social Security benefits are going up, and many are also receiving retroactive payments.
Who Is Getting More Money?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) said that over 3.2 million people were affected by the old rules. These include:
- Teachers
- Police Officers
- Firefighters
- Postal Workers
- Other public employees with pensions not covered by Social Security
Since the rule change, more than $7.5 million has been paid in back payments to 1.1 million people—an average of $6,710 per person.
When Are the Payments Happening?
The retroactive payments, covering money owed since January 2024, were mostly sent out at the end of March 2025. However, the new increased monthly amounts will show up from April 2025 onwards, because Social Security payments are paid one month late.
The payment schedule for April 2025 is:
- Birthdays from 1–10: April 9
- Birthdays from 11–20: April 16
- Birthdays after 20th: April 23
Those with more complex cases, such as tricky pension calculations, may see updates as late as November 2025.
How Much More Will People Get?
Not everyone will receive the same increase. According to SSA:
- Some people may get up to $1,000 extra per month
- Others may see smaller increases
- Priority is given to retirees living below the poverty line
So far, 2.3 million records have already been updated, and 81% of the retroactive payments have been processed.
SSA Warns Against Scams
The SSA also warned people about fake messages or calls asking for personal banking information. The agency made it clear:
“We never request banking information by mail or telephone.”
So, if you receive any suspicious communication, it’s best to ignore it and report it.
Cost of These Changes
According to Congress, removing the WEP and GPO will cost about $182 million. But analysts believe this adjustment is especially helpful in states with large numbers of public workers, such as:
- California
- Texas
- New York
These states will likely see a bigger share of the increased payments.
The Social Security Fairness Act is a big win for retired public workers. With the removal of WEP and GPO, many former teachers, police officers, and others are finally getting the benefits they deserve. While the process of updating all records will take time (up to November 2025), millions are already seeing more money in their bank accounts.
The SSA is working hard to make sure everyone receives what they’re owed without errors. As this law corrects past inequalities in the system, it’s giving relief and justice to those who served the public for years. If you’re part of this group, be sure to check your updated payment schedule and avoid scams.