With the Social Security Fairness Act in effect, retirees will see increases in their benefits sooner than expected. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed adjustments for those affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset.
Beginning February 24, SSA will make lump sum payments to those who were cut due to WEP and GPO. The retroactive amounts will apply to benefits retained since January 2024. Direct deposits will be made no later than March, depending on the bank accounts on file.
Update on retroactive payments and monthly adjustments
The new monthly amounts will be calculated beginning in April. Because of the usual payment lag (one month’s benefits are delivered the next), the first increases will take effect at the end of April. The SSA prioritizes cases under both provisions to speed up the process.
Firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other retirees have long waited to receive all of the benefits they earned and contributed to. We are pleased to see that the Social Security Administration has sped up the process.
Notifications from the SSA and deadlines for complex cases
The SSA will mail notices to those affected outlining changes to their benefits. Some will receive two communications: one about the elimination of penalties and another with the updated monthly amount. Retroactive payments may arrive before physical notices.
Cases involving multiple sources of income or record discrepancies will necessitate manual review, delaying payments for a minority group. Before contacting agents, the SSA recommends that you consult its official portal. The minimum recommended wait time is until April to avoid service line congestion.
Payments coming in March 2025
In March 2025, Social Security beneficiaries in the United States will receive their payments on three major dates, which are organized according to the SSA’s calendar and based on each person’s birth date.
The first date is March 12, which corresponds to the second Wednesday of the month, when those born between the first and tenth of a given month receive their payment.
The second date is March 19, the third Wednesday, for those born between the 11th and 20th. Finally, the third date is March 26th, the fourth Wednesday, for beneficiaries born between the 21st and the 31st.
In some cases, special considerations apply. Beneficiaries who began receiving payments prior to May 1997, as well as those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), typically receive their funds on the third of each month, which in March 2025 would be March 3, a Monday.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will not receive a payment in March because the deposit for March 1 was sent on February 28 (SSA does not send payments on weekends or holidays).