Starting February 25, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin issuing retroactive payments to fix the effects of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) on beneficiaries’ payments.
If you’re affected, you can expect a one-time retroactive payment to be deposited into your bank account by the end of March.
This payment will cover the increased benefit amount dating back to January 2024, when WEP and GPO were no longer applied.
Since Social Security benefits are usually paid one month behind, most beneficiaries will see their adjusted monthly benefit starting in April 2025, which reflects their March 2025 benefit.
SSA data shows that around 2,230,045 beneficiaries will receive their retroactive payments between March and April, with over 75% of these payments already processed.
If your benefit is adjusted or you qualify for a retroactive payment, you’ll receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the changes.
You might get two separate notices: one when WEP or GPO is removed from your record, and another when your monthly benefit is updated. Interestingly, you could receive your retroactive payment before the notice arrives.
Thanks to automation, the SSA has been able to speed up these payments. However, more complex cases that require manual processing may take longer to resolve.
This means some beneficiaries might face delays while their records are updated and payments are processed.
If you haven’t received your payment, the SSA advises waiting until April before reaching out. Payments will be processed throughout March, so it’s best to remain patient.
Also, wait until after you receive your April payment before asking about your new benefit amount, as the updated amount won’t reflect until your March payment is processed.
Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.