Millions Face Year-Long Wait for Social Security Fairness Act Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Millions of retired teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public pension recipients may wait up to a year or longer to receive the full benefits promised under the recently enacted Social Security Fairness Act, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The law, which eliminates penalties for public pension recipients, requires the agency to adjust benefits for more than 3 million people, including retroactive payments dating back to December 2023.

The SSA, however, faces significant challenges in implementing the law due to staffing shortages and a hiring freeze that began in November 2024. In a statement released Friday, the agency warned that its ability to process the changes in a timely manner depends on additional funding. “SSA’s ability to implement the law in a timely manner and without negatively affecting day-to-day customer service relies on funding,” the agency said. “Under SSA’s current budget, SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits.”

The law, signed by President Biden, removes two federal provisions that previously reduced Social Security benefits for public pension recipients and their surviving spouses. The changes are retroactive, meaning eligible recipients will receive full payments dating back to December 2023. However, processing these adjustments is complex and requires manual case-by-case reviews, the SSA noted. Some beneficiaries could see minimal increases, while others may receive more than $1,000 extra per month.

The Biden administration estimates that the average monthly increase for more than 2.5 million recipients will be $360. Despite the potential financial boost, the SSA warned that all Social Security recipients, including those unaffected by the new law, will face delays and longer wait times as the agency manages the increased workload. “We thank the public for its patience,” the agency added.

To manage the surge in inquiries, the SSA has added a recorded message about the Social Security Fairness Act to its toll-free phone line. However, more than 7,000 callers each day still opt to wait for a live representative, creating a bottleneck that is expected to worsen in the coming months. The agency urged beneficiaries to ensure their contact information is up to date in their SSA profiles but emphasized that there is no need to reapply for benefits.

The Social Security Fairness Act marks a significant shift in federal retirement policy, addressing long-standing grievances from public sector workers. Yet, the SSA’s implementation challenges highlight the strain on an agency already grappling with staffing shortages and budget constraints.