Search Here

Millions of retirees will see an increase in their Social Security checks starting in April, following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that over 3.2 million beneficiaries will receive higher payments due to the elimination of policies that previously reduced benefits for public pension holders and their families.

The average increase will be around $360 per month, with some recipients seeing even higher adjustments.

The changes stem from a law signed in January that ensures retired public employees, such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters, receive their full Social Security benefits.

The SSA also confirmed that retroactive payments will be issued, with most recipients receiving their adjustments by the end of March.

According to CBS News, payment increases will vary depending on individual benefit and pension amounts. According to the SSA, "Some people's benefits will increase very little, while others may be eligible for over $1,000 more each month."

Since Social Security benefits are paid a month behind, the first adjusted payments arriving in April will cover March benefits.

Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek emphasized the urgency of implementing these changes, stating, "Social Security's aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trump's priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible."

Initially, the SSA warned that processing these adjustments could take up to a year due to resource limitations.

However, the agency now says that timeline will only apply to complex cases requiring manual processing. Most eligible recipients will receive their retroactive payments automatically.

Retirees Advised to Wait Until April for Social Security Payment Updates

Beneficiaries are encouraged to wait until April before inquiring about their payments. Those looking for more information can visit the Social Security Fairness Act website to determine eligibility and expected payment timelines.

The passage of this law follows years of advocacy efforts to remove benefit restrictions on public pension recipients. The first Senate hearings on these policies took place in 2003.

The Senior Citizens League, a major advocate for the bill, welcomed the expedited timeline. Executive Director Shannon Benton stated that rising costs of living make timely implementation crucial.

However, the group also raised concerns about Social Security's long-term financial stability. "Addressing the pending shortfall through comprehensive Social Security reform should happen sooner rather than later," Benton said.

The law passed with bipartisan support but faced opposition over concerns about its cost. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the changes will add $195 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade.

For retirees, the potential for higher benefits is a welcome relief. While the maximum possible Social Security retirement benefit in 2025 is $5,108 per month, very few people qualify for that amount, USA Today said.

Achieving the maximum requires 35 years of earnings at the taxable wage base and delaying benefits until age 70. Most retirees receive lower amounts based on their earnings history and retirement age.