How the Social Security Fairness Act Affects Everyone
How the Social Security Fairness Act Affects Everyone
Over 3.2 million Americans will get larger Social Security payments because of a new law called the Social Security Fairness Act. But many may have to wait over a year before they see any changes.
The law was signed by former President Joe Biden on January 5. It removed two rules that cut or blocked Social Security benefits for people who also received public pensions. These rules mainly hurt teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public service workers. They also affected spouses of retirees who passed away.
Delays in Payments
The Social Security Administration (SSA) says it doesn’t have enough staff or money to process these changes quickly. A hiring freeze is making things even harder.
Right now, SSA is helping some people, but for most, it could take more than a year to adjust payments.
SSA does not know when all payments will be fixed. They have promised to post updates online.
Because of this extra workload, everyone who uses Social Security may experience delays, even if they aren’t affected by the new law.
Who Benefits and By How Much?
Government experts estimate that:
Over 2 million retirees will get about $360 more per month by December 2025.
Around 380,000 surviving spouses will receive an extra $700 per month.
Another 390,000 spouses could get $1,190 more per month if their benefits were previously reduced.
The Bigger Picture
This law is a big help for many retirees, but the delays will affect everyone who uses Social Security. Expect longer wait times if you need help from SSA.
Also, these higher payments will put more strain on Social Security’s funds, which already face financial problems in the future.
For now, people will need to be patient while SSA works through the backlog.
