The wait is finally over. Social Security has completed sending retroactive payments linked to the Equity Act, thus closing one of the largest benefit corrections in the program's history.
If you were among those affected by the previous rules, your account should already reflect the money owed. Here we explain how to know if you were eligible to receive these payments and how to confirm if they've already been sent to you.
What were these payments about?
For years, two complicated rules, WEP and GPO, reduced Social Security payments. This especially affected those who also received a government pension that didn't pay into the system.
Teachers, police officers, firefighters, and federal employees in the Civil Service Retirement System were among the most affected. Even their spouses and survivors could see their benefits reduced.
On January 5, 2025, the Equity Act in Social Security repealed these rules, restoring full benefits. There was still a question about payments withheld since early 2024. The solution was retroactive payments, which cover the missed months and increase future benefits.
The SSA began sending them in the spring and finished on July 7, 2025. The average amount was $6,700, and monthly payments will increase by about $360, although this figure varies according to each work history. In total, more than $17 billion were distributed in at least 3.1 million payments.
How to know if you were eligible
Not everyone received the retroactive payments. To qualify, the following had to be met:
- Having lost benefits due to WEP or GPO in the past.
- Receiving benefits between January 2024 and March 2025.
- Having up-to-date bank and address information.
If you still work in a job not covered by Social Security, you didn't receive a retroactive payment. Your future benefits will be calculated without reductions when you retire.
How to confirm if you've already received your money
The easiest way is through your My Social Security account. There you'll see a notice indicating the correction to your record. You also should've received a CP-126 letter, explaining your new monthly benefit and the retroactive amount deposited.
If you believe you were eligible but don't see changes, call 800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office.
Beware of scams
Unfortunately, scammers are already active. Some calls or emails promise to speed up your payment in exchange for a fee or ask for payments in gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
The SSA will never charge a fee or ask for payments to release benefits. The only official channels are: the SSA website, its letters by mail, and the agency's phone line. Suspicious messages should be reported to the SSA Inspector General: 800-269-0271.