Finance
Bad news for Social Security retirees: these beneficiaries will have to wait up to a year to collect up to $1,190 in additional payments
Over 3.2 million Americans are now eligible for new benefits due to the Security Social Fairness Act, but many won’t get them right now.
![Over 3.2 million Americans are now eligible for new benefits due to the Security Social Fairness Act, but many won’t get them right now.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/FGO5LNRTSJGL3KLNSE4G6LCCBI.jpg?auth=8f58c988f2f90a5ade1d2c084f90d04debd9f5ffb7a719a5e194e7331398a64d&width=360&height=203&focal=609%2C451)
The recently passed Security Social Fairness Act is good news for 3.2 million Americans, who are now eligible for new benefits. The bad news, however, is that many of them may face a wait of over a year to get their hands on their money.
The Act was one of Biden’s last moves as US President, signed into law on January 5. It repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which had previously stopped US citizens who were eligible for a pension or a retirement program from their employers (mainly in the public sector) from also getting Social Security benefits.
That money is now available, just now for everyone at present.
Why are Social Security benefits delayed?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) claim the delay is down to a lack of funding. It says it does not have the ability “to implement the law in a timely manner and without negatively affecting day-to-day customer service” because “the Act did not provide money to implement the law”.
It also states the distribution process is “made more difficult by SSA’s ongoing staffing shortages, including operating under a hiring freeze since November 2024,” which is “likely to continue”.
As for the timeframe regarding the payments, the SSA says it has also started assisting some beneficiaries but “expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits".
How much can a person’s monthly benefit increase?
According to the Congressional Budget Office, over two million affected Americans are estimated to receive an extra $360 per month on average as a result of the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision.
The repealing of the Government Pension Offset, meanwhile, should see approximately 380,000 spouses receive a monthly average of $700, and an estimated 390,000 surviving spouses get $1,190 on average per month.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.