Big Checks from the Social Security Fairness Act: Who Qualifies?

March 7, 2025 | By Ben Laurendeau
The Social Security Fairness Act could see some firefighters and government retires celebrating in style! Image of a retiree taking a selfie at the Social Security office.

PLEASE NOTE: FFCCU does NOT have access to detailed information about your Social Security payments. We are not able to answer any specific questions about the deposit. We recommend that members wait for forthcoming correspondence and direct specific questions to the SSA.

If you’re a retiree who previously held public employment, you might have noticed a big boost in your social security payment. Is that…good news? Could this be a scam or error? For some firefighters, teachers, police officers, and other public service retirees— it’s great news! Social Security benefits are increasing as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation eliminated two controversial provisions that limited retirement benefits for millions of former public employees.

If you or a loved one are impacted, here’s everything you need to know about who qualifies for increased Social Security, when to expect payments, and how much you might receive.

 

What Is the Social Security Fairness Act?

In the works for decades, President Joe Biden finally signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law in January of 2025. This legislation removes both the ‘Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)’ and ‘Government Pension Offset (GPO)’—two rules that previously reduced Social Security benefits for individuals who also received pensions from state or local government jobs. For years, these provisions reduced Social Security benefits for firefighters, teachers, and other public workers who paid into the system, but saw lower-than-expected retirement benefits.

 

Who Qualifies for Increased Social Security?

If you or a family member have worked in public service jobs and receive a pension employment that did not require Social Security payroll tax contributions, you may qualify for higher Social Security checks in 2025 under this new law.

Four Primary Groups are Impacted:

  • Retired firefighters, police officers, teachers, and public workers.
  • Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who were previously subject to WEP or GPO reductions.
  • Retirees who worked in both public and private sector jobs and had their Social Security benefits reduced.
  • Surviving spouses of public employees whose Social Security benefits were offset due to their spouse’s pension.

 

How Much Will Your Social Security Fairness Benefits Increase?

If you’re crunching the numbers, the exact amount you might receive from Social Security fairness changes can be a little difficult to determine. The final figure depends on the type of pension and benefits you’ve earned. A one-time retroactive payment dating back to December of 2023 may arrive sooner. Most recipients can expect to see the increase to their payments reflected in April.

The average monthly increase in benefits is $360, and on average, the one-time check for retroactive payments hovers around $6,700. Keep in mind that specific amounts will vary, and these numbers are averages generated from a very large and varied sample size.

 

When Will Social Security Benefits Increase?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a fast-tracked timeline for sending out retroactive Social Security payments and increasing monthly benefits. They have provided a timeline that relies on automations to expedite payments. More complicated situations will require review from human SSA professionals, and could take longer to process.

Here’s what to expect:

📅 February – April 2025: The SSA will begin issuing one-time retroactive payments for benefits owed back to January 2023.
📅 April 2025: The first higher Social Security checks reflecting the increased monthly benefits should arrive.

Most recipients will automatically receive these payments without needing to take action. However, for complex cases that require manual processing, adjustments may require a response and will take longer.

 

How to Determine If You’re Getting More Money

If you believe you qualify for a retroactive payment or increased benefits, keep an eye on your FFCCU accounts. The SSA will be issuing documentation sent by mail, but has indicated the retroactive payments might arrive in your account prior to any correspondence. The upcoming letter from the SSA may have further details about your adjustments, and will include information about how to reach out to them if you observe any errors or have further questions.

 

How Does the Social Security Fairness Act Change Your Financial Plans?

With these increased benefits, many public employees may wish to adjust their savings and retirement contributions. If you’re wondering how this change affects your retirement strategy, savings, or pension income, FFCCU can help.

Our team can offer suggestions, refer you to experts, and help you make the most of increased income.

📞 Contact FFCCU today to discuss your financial future!

 

Posted In: FFCCU News and Info