The Social Security Fairness Act (signed January 2025) repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), eliminating reductions for public employees with non-covered pensions. Affected retirees will see increased monthly payments—averaging $360 more—and receive retroactive payments to January 2024.
This law increases Social Security benefits for certain non-covered public sector workers. This includes some: Public workers at the state and local level—teachers, firefighters and police officers—mainly, in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
What actions do you need to take? If you're already receiving a Social Security benefit, you do not need to take any action. However, you should ensure that your information is accurate by visiting ssa.gov/myaccount. If you or your spouse (if applicable) never applied, you can do so by visiting ssa.gov/apply.
Increased benefits — affected individuals will see an average increase of $360 per month in Social Security benefits, though amounts vary based on employment history. Some people's benefits will increase very little while others may be eligible for over $1,000 more each month.
The benefit reductions caused by Social Security's insolvency would force 875,000 additional beneficiaries into poverty, resulting in a total of 1.76 million poor beneficiaries between the ages of 64 and 78 in 2039 (Chart 1).
If you receive Social Security retirement benefits or SSDI, inheritance money generally won't affect your benefits.
Yes, Social Security recipients received a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025, but the bigger news is that they are getting a larger 2.8% COLA for 2026, announced in October 2025, which began with January 2026 payments, increasing average benefits by about $56 per month. The 2025 COLA was a smaller 2.5% increase, while the 2026 adjustment reflects moderating inflation, leading to higher payments starting in the new year.
Monthly Social Security Checks Are Getting a Boost
In addition to these lump-sum payments, monthly benefit adjustments will also take effect starting with the April 2025 disbursement, reflecting the corrected benefit amounts.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
An identity thief could try to use your Social Security number to do things like open accounts, take out a loan, file taxes, or get a job.
We want you to know that during the federal government shutdown, payments to all people who currently receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue with no change in payment dates. You will still receive your payments on time.
Many beneficiaries will be due a retroactive payment because the WEP and GPO offset no longer apply as of January 2024. Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, which will be deposited into their bank account on record with Social Security.
If your Social Security benefit increases because of the SSFA, it may affect your taxes. Additionally, retroactive payments dating back to January of 2024 that result from the SSFA will be issued as a lump sum and are considered taxable income for the year in which they are received.
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
First, Who's Eligible? The new law impacts individuals who worked in state or local government positions where they didn't contribute to Social Security, but also held jobs where they did pay into Social Security. The Social Security Administration has outlined the following groups who may be eligible: Teachers.
Bush financed income tax cuts and the Iraq war by plundering money from Social Security.
When will a person see their Social Security benefit increase because of the Social Security Fairness Act? Starting February 25, 2025: SSA began adjusting monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the WEP and GPO.
Six Changes to Social Security in 2026