Expanded benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act

Millions of retirees and public sector workers will see a boost in their Social Security benefits by the end of March 2025, following the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act. Signed into law by former President Joe Biden in January, the legislation aims to provide financial relief to over 3 million beneficiaries.

Who is eligible for increased benefits?

The new law benefits federal employees covered under the Civil Service Retirement System, as well as certain teachers, firefighters, and police officers in states where their work was previously not covered by Social Security. It also applies to individuals who have contributed to foreign social security systems but held side jobs that paid into the U.S. Social Security program.

For example, a retired teacher who worked a part-time summer job and contributed to Social Security will now receive the full benefits they earned, rather than seeing reductions due to their pension status.

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Cost-of-living adjustment and retroactive payments

The 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was already set in January, increasing the average monthly benefit of approximately $1,900 by about 2.5%. However, the new legislation provides an additional increase, with some retirees receiving lump sum back payments covering adjustments retroactive to January 2024. These payments will be distributed by direct deposit by the end of March.

Depending on pension size and Social Security contributions, beneficiaries could see increases ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 per month. The larger adjusted checks will be issued starting in April.

Removal of benefit reductions under WEP and GPO

A significant aspect of the new law is the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions previously reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for individuals receiving pensions from non-Social Security-covered employment. With their removal, affected retirees will now receive their full Social Security entitlements.

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According to the Social Security Administration, approximately 72% of state and local government employees were already covered by Social Security and will not see additional changes to their benefits.

Changes in benefit access and application procedures

As part of an administrative overhaul, the Social Security Administration is tightening access to benefit applications. Individuals must now verify their identity online before applying for or modifying benefits, replacing the long-standing system that allowed phone-based applications. This shift has raised concerns among senior advocates, especially for those without reliable internet access.

To avoid difficulties, retirees are encouraged to:

• Bring valid identification when visiting Social Security offices
• Ensure their identification includes full name, birth date, and a recent photo
• Use passports, driver’s licenses, or state-issued ID cards for verification

With these adjustments, beneficiaries should prepare for potential delays in accessing services, particularly in rural areas where online access may be limited. However, these challenges do not affect the upcoming benefit increases, which remain on track for March 2025 distribution.

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