Bigger Social Security Checks on the Way for Millions of Recipients

Good news for the 3.2 million retired teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others with public pensions who are now entitled to Social Security benefits thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act. According to CBS News, they will begin receiving retroactive benefits starting in April. That’s far sooner than was originally projected.

The Social Security Fairness Act, which President Biden signed into law shortly before leaving office, expanded benefits for millions by eliminating two federal policies that barred employees with a public pension from collecting their full benefits under the federal retirement program. 

Under the new law, the benefits hike would be retroactive to December 2023. That means some beneficiaries could see their benefits increase by more than $1,000 per month.

The Seniors Trust believes Congress now needs to work to enact The Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will give all retirees an immediate benefits increase of about $200 a month, a fair annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), increased minimum benefits, and will ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.