The U.S. Congress has approved retroactive Social Security payments for public sector workers. These payments will go to teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others whose benefits were reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The WEP reduced monthly Social Security benefits for people who worked in jobs without Social Security coverage.
The GPO cut or eliminated benefits for spouses or survivors of public sector workers. Many people who worked in both public and private sector jobs were affected. Eligible recipients include public employees affected by the WEP who had enough work history to qualify for Social Security.
Spouses and survivors whose benefits were eliminated by the GPO are also eligible. The retroactive payments are based on the benefits withheld during the WEP and GPO years, adjusted for cost of living increases. Some payments may be as high as $40,000.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is calculating the payments based on the withheld benefits and cost of living adjustments. The exact amount varies for each person. The oldest retirees will get their payments first.
Beneficiaries do not need to submit new applications, but some may be contacted to confirm employment data. If you think you are eligible but have not received your payment, check your information on the My Social Security website or visit a local SSA office. Organizations like NARFE and AFT recommend monitoring your mail and bank activity closely and reporting any errors right away.
This decision acknowledges the dedicated service of public sector workers.
Retroactive payments restore fairness
For many, it is a milestone in the pursuit of fairness and justice.
The retroactive payments symbolize a hard-earned victory for public sector retirees who have spent their lives serving the community. In Ohio, the new Social Security Fairness Act has brought payments totaling nearly $1.5 billion to more than 200,000 people in recent months. About 50,000 people in Kentucky and Indiana have collectively received $344,000.
Dan Mitchell, a former Cincinnati police officer, said “I’m just happy to see it happen, especially for the much older guys who have been retired longer than me.” He explained that he had been unable to collect Social Security benefits from other jobs due to outdated restrictions, despite not paying into Social Security as a police officer. Sharon Cross, a retired Kenton County teacher, noted “I got around $7,000, and my friend received $29,000.” She added “It was unfair — when people pay into something, but they don’t get to see it.”
Thanks to the new law, both Mitchell and Cross received retroactive Social Security payments back to January of last year. They will also get monthly benefits going forward.
Mitchell described how life-changing the law is for a former CPD officer in his 90s who went from less than $50 to over $300 per month in Social Security. “It makes a lot of difference when you’re 90-something years old,” he said. The new changes eliminating the WEP and GPO took full effect in January 2025.
Impacted beneficiaries are receiving retroactive payments back to January 2024. Most will see an increase in their monthly checks beginning in April 2025, reflecting their March 2025 benefits. The SSA has already adjusted benefits for around 85% of impacted beneficiaries through an automated system.
More complex cases are being manually adjusted, with all records expected to be updated by early November 2025. Beneficiaries will receive a notice from the SSA explaining the changes. The monthly increase will vary based on the type of benefit or pension amount, ranging from small increases to over $1,000 per month for some.
