Millions of Americans will notice a larger Social Security check arriving this April, thanks to a historic change in federal retirement benefits signed into law earlier this year.
The increase is part of the rollout of the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation signed by then-President Joe Biden in January 2025. The law eliminates two long-criticized provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that previously reduced Social Security benefits for many public-sector retirees.
Who Is Getting Bigger Checks?
This change primarily benefits retired public employees who receive a government pension — such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers — and who also qualify for Social Security based on other work. Previously, the WEP and GPO reduced or eliminated benefits for these workers, even if they had paid into the system through other jobs.
As of April 2025, those affected by WEP and GPO will receive increased monthly payments. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) began issuing retroactive lump-sum payments in late February, covering missed benefits dating back to January 2024 — the month the repeal took effect.
Payment Schedule: What to Expect in April
According to the SSA, the first round of updated monthly benefits is being distributed in April for the March benefit period, as Social Security checks are paid a month behind.
Here’s the April 2025 payment schedule:
- April 9: Recipients born between the 1st and 10th of the month
- April 16: Recipients born between the 11th and 20th
- April 23: Recipients born between the 21st and 31st
SSA officials say they’ve automated the process for the majority of cases. “For the many complex cases that cannot be processed automatically, additional time is required to manually update the records and pay both retroactive benefits and the new benefits amount,” the agency noted on its website.
As of March 28, SSA had processed approximately 2.3 million adjustments — roughly 75% of the expected total. The agency aims to complete updates for all eligible beneficiaries by early November 2025.
Who Is Not Affected?
Roughly 72% of state and local government employees work in jobs where they pay into Social Security throughout their careers. These workers were never subject to WEP or GPO and won’t see changes to their benefit amounts.
Looking Ahead
The repeal of WEP and GPO marks a major shift in retirement policy that supporters argue restores fairness to the Social Security system. Critics of the old rules long claimed they penalized public service workers who earned Social Security through other jobs.
For now, beneficiaries affected by the changes can expect a noticeable increase in their monthly income — and for many, a sizable lump sum that reflects over a year of back pay.
If you’re still waiting for your payment adjustment, SSA advises holding off on inquiries until mid-April, as processing continues through the spring.
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