Still Waiting on Your Social Security Increase? The Truth About the Fairness Act Revealed

If you’ve been expecting a bigger Social Security check thanks to the new Social Security Fairness Act, and it hasn’t shown up yet, you’re not the only one wondering what’s going on. Let’s walk through what this new law actually does, where the payments are, and what you can expect moving forward.

What the Fairness Act Is All About

For years, millions of public workers — like teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others — were hit by two rules that reduced their Social Security benefits: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

These rules basically penalized people who worked in government jobs and also paid into Social Security at some point. So even if you earned your benefits fair and square, you didn’t get your full amount.

The Social Security Fairness Act was passed to fix that. It gets rid of WEP and GPO altogether, which means public service retirees can now receive their full Social Security benefits without those unfair reductions.

So, Where’s the Money?

This is the question on everyone’s mind: if the law passed, why haven’t the checks gone up yet?

Here’s what’s happening:

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) started issuing retroactive payments in February 2025. These cover missed benefits going back to January 2024.

• Higher monthly payments began in April 2025, covering March benefits.

• Many people have already received their updated payments, including back pay. On average, those retroactive checks are around $6,700, with monthly increases ranging from $360 to over $1,100, depending on the individual case.

Still Haven’t Received Anything?

You’re not alone. Nearly 1 million eligible people are still waiting. Here’s why:

• Some cases are more complex and require manual processing.

• The SSA is still dealing with limited staffing and outdated computer systems.

• They’ve said their goal is to get all payments out by November 2025.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do:

• Check your information with SSA — especially your bank details and mailing address.

• If you haven’t received anything by the end of April, it’s okay to call and follow up. The number is 1-800-772-1213.

• The SSA is also sending out official letters explaining any changes to your benefits, so be on the lookout for those.

• If you have a “my Social Security” online account, log in and check for updates there too.

One More Thing: Your Taxes Could Be Affected

Now that your Social Security benefits are going up, your total income might increase too — which could mean some of your benefits become taxable. It’s something to be aware of when filing your taxes next year. If you’re unsure how this affects you, it might be a good idea to check in with a tax advisor.

Yes, the process has been slower than expected, and yes, it’s frustrating. But this isn’t just talk — the changes are real, and they’re happening. Millions of retirees are finally getting the benefits they should’ve been receiving all along.