The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced the early completion of payments tied to the Social Security Fairness Act, disbursing over $17 billion to 3.1 million recipients. The move comes five months ahead of schedule and marks a significant administrative achievement under the Biden administration.
The payments follow the repeal of two controversial provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—which had long reduced or eliminated retirement benefits for certain public-sector workers and their families. These updates impact a large group of workers, including teachers, firefighters, police officers and other government employees.
Historic Repeal Delivers Financial Justice to Millions
The bipartisan repeal of the WEP and GPO provisions in January 2024 marked a shift in the treatment of workers with mixed Social Security and public pension histories. According to Newsweek, both policies had disproportionately affected individuals who had served in state or federal positions not covered by Social Security payroll taxes.
The Windfall Elimination Provision had previously reduced benefits for those who had earned a pension from non-covered employment, even if they had also contributed to Social Security through other jobs.
Meanwhile, the Government Pension Offset lowered or completely offset spousal or survivor benefits for similar groups, often leaving retirees with reduced or no benefits. The SSA began issuing updated and backdated payments in February 2024, with retroactive coverage extending to January of the same year.
The agency confirmed that 3.1 million payments had now been successfully distributed, with the total amount exceeding $17 billion. This early rollout contrasts with initial government estimates that projected longer implementation timelines.
SSA Modernization Improves Service Delivery Nationwide
Alongside the payment milestone, the Social Security Administration has reported notable improvements in its overall service infrastructure.
According to a recent agency press release, telephone systems in 841 field offices—around 70 percent of the national network—have been upgraded, reducing the average wait time on the main helpline to 13 minutes, a 35 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Field offices have also adopted a new service model that cut customer wait times by 10 percent year-on-year. Progress was also recorded in the handling of disability claims: the initial backlog fell by 25 percent, from 1.2 million to 950,000 cases, while pending disability hearings declined to 276,000, with processing times reduced by 60 days.
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano stated, “The American people have waited long enough for better service, and they deserve the absolute best from their government.” He credited the agency’s workforce for achieving both operational and customer service improvements in a relatively short timeframe.
The SSA confirmed that it will continue efforts to enhance public service delivery, with further modernization planned across digital and in-person platforms.
