Public Sector Retirees Set for Bigger Social Security Checks in April

Public Sector Retirees Set for Bigger Social Security Checks in April

We understand how long you’ve waited for this moment. Retired public sector employees eligible for additional Social Security benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) will finally see their monthly payments increase this April. If you received Social Security benefits after December 2023 and were affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) or Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reductions, you’ll soon notice more money in your account—a well-deserved change that acknowledges your years of public service.

The good news is that lump sum retroactive payments from Social Security began arriving during the last week of February. Most of you should receive your payment by the end of March. Your money will arrive the same way you normally receive your monthly benefits—either directly deposited into your bank account or mailed as a check to your address. This retroactive payment covers the increase in your benefit amount from January 2024 through March 2025, making up for the time when WEP and GPO unfairly reduced your benefits.

We know you’re eager to see these changes reflected in your regular Social Security payments. The Social Security Administration (SSA) kindly requests that you wait until after receiving your April payment before calling about monthly benefit amounts, as the new amount won’t appear until April (for the March payment).

When Will Your Bigger Social Security Check Arrive?

Here’s when you can expect your April payment. Find your birth date and the corresponding payment date:

There are two special situations to be aware of:

• If you received Social Security benefits before May 1997, your payments are paid on March 3
• If you receive both Social Security and SSI, your Social Security benefits are paid on March 3 and SSI on March 1

For more details on payment schedules, see When Will Your Bigger Social Security Check Arrive?

Your Retroactive Social Security Payment

We know many of you have been waiting patiently for these back payments, which began going out in late February. As of March 4, the average retroactive payment received by 1,127,723 recipients was $6,710, with a total of $7.5 billion already distributed to deserving retirees.

These back payments cover what you should have received in 2024 plus the increase to monthly benefits for January and February in 2025. Your regular monthly Social Security increases will begin with your March payment (which arrives in April).

If you haven’t received your retroactive payment yet, please try to be patient. The SSA is working diligently to process all payments and suggests waiting until April before inquiring about your payment status.

Some Social Security Cases Need Extra Time

We recognize this waiting period may be frustrating for some of you. The SSFA required the Social Security Administration to adjust benefits for over 3 million people, which is an enormous undertaking. While they’ve already processed 75% (2.2 million) of adjustments as of March 14, 2025, some of the more complex cases could take up to a year to process manually. Please know that your case is important and will be handled with care.

Where to Turn for Social Security Support

If your lump sum hasn’t arrived and you’re concerned about your Social Security increase, you can check status by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing and use TTY equipment, call 1-800-325-0778. The representatives are there to help you discuss your benefits and the Social Security Fairness Act, or you can schedule an appointment at your local office.

The SSA is available by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most U.S. time zones. For the shortest wait times, try calling in the morning, later in the week, or toward the end of the month. Remember, you deserve this adjustment to your Social Security benefits, and help is available if you need it.