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If you’re following the buzz around the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), you might be wondering how it affects your own retirement. In a nutshell, the SSFA just made more than 3 million public sector retirees happy — especially teachers, firefighters, police officers and federal Civil Service retirees who receive pensions from work that didn’t pay into Social Security.
If that’s you, thousands of dollars could be heading your way. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Social Security Fairness Act?
The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5, 2025, wiping out two controversial rules — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that have quietly cut into Social Security benefits for decades.
The WEP and GPO were originally designed to prevent “double dipping” — the idea that people shouldn’t collect both full government pensions and full Social Security benefits at the same time.
But public sector workers argued these rules were fundamentally unfair, penalizing workers who split time between specific government jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security and private-sector jobs which did.
Now those rules are history, starting with benefits paid from January 2024 forward.
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Are you eligible for the SSFA?
The SSFA applies to you if you receive a pension from government work that didn’t contribute to Social Security. This distinction is important, because not all government jobs are the same when it comes to Social Security coverage, including:
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Retired government workers whose jobs weren’t covered by Social Security
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Spouses getting benefits based on their partner’s non–Social Security government work
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Widows and widowers in the same situation
Who won’t benefit
The majority of government workers — about 72% of state and local employees — already pay Social Security taxes and were never hit by these penalties, so they won’t see changes to their benefits.
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How much money is owed?
The SSFA provides two types of financial benefits: ongoing monthly payment increases and retroactive lump sum payments covering back through January 2024, when the WEP and GPO were eliminated.
The timeline for payments rolled out quickly. Kiplinger reported that by early March 2025, over 1.1 million people had received their lump sum payment, with an average amount of $6,710. Meanwhile, the new higher monthly payments kicked in by April 2025 and continue going forward, ranging from modest increases to more than $1,000 each month.
The monthly increases depend on several factors:
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What type of benefits you’re getting — retirement, spousal or survivor benefits may have different calculations
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How big your government pension is — generally, the larger your pension, the more you were likely penalized (and the more you’ll gain now)
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When you retired — timing affects which rules apply to you
🔍 Read more: COLA countdown: Social Security benefits estimated to rise 2.7% in 2026
When will the money hit your account?
As of July 7, 2025, SSA completed sending over 3.1 million payments totaling $17 billion to beneficiaries eligible under the Social Security Fairness Act. This includes both retroactive payments (covering back pay from January 2024) and the new ongoing monthly benefit increases that started in April 2025.
⏳ Still waiting for your money? You might be among those who filed new claims after the law passed. The SSA is working through these systematically.
🔍 Read more: What’s the typical Social Security check for Sept. 2025?
What you need to do (if anything)
Most people don’t need to take action. If you were already getting reduced benefits and the SSA has your current contact information and bank details, they’ve likely handled everything automatically.
But if the SSA doesn’t have your correct details or you’ve never applied for Social Security because of WEP or GPO penalties, call 800-772-1213 right away and say “Fairness Act” when they ask what you need. They’ll connect you with a specialist trained on these cases.
⚠️ Unsure if you ever applied? Better to check than miss out on money you’ve legitimately earned.
🔍 Read more: 5 retirement withdrawal steps to make your money last longer
What to watch out for
While the SSFA brings welcome relief to many, there are a few issues to watch for as implementation continues and scammers inevitably try to take advantage of the situation:
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Medicare changes. Once benefits increase, Medicare will deduct premiums from your Social Security check again. However, you should keep paying your premiums directly until you receive an official notice from SSA telling you the switch has happened.
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Scam alert. Be aware that fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries. The SSA never charges fees for processing benefits or asks for payment to expedite services. If someone calls offering help for money, hang up.
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Complex cases. Some situations require manual review and could take longer to resolve. The SSA is working through these case by case, which means you may not receive an update until November 2025. Call 800-772-1213 with any questions.
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The bottom line
The SSFA represents one of the biggest Social Security expansions in recent history, delivering financial relief to millions. If you think you might qualify but haven’t heard anything yet, don’t assume you’re not eligible. With billions in back payments and ongoing increases at stake, it’s worth a phone call to find out where you stand.
Editor’s note: Social Security rules are complex and subject to change. When in doubt, call the Social Security Administration directly for personalized guidance.
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About the writer
Kat Aoki is a finance writer who’s written thousands of articles to empower people to better understand technology, fintech, banking, lending and investments. Her expertise has been featured on sites like Lifewire and Finder, with bylines at top technology brands in the U.S. and Australia. Kat strives to help consumers and business owners make informed decisions and choose the right financial products for their needs.
Article edited by Kelly Suzan Waggoner
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