The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Tuesday it has paid out over $7.5 billion in retroactive benefits to more than 1.13 million public pension holders—think teachers, firefighters, and police officers—thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act. Signed into law by former President Joe Biden in January, the measure scraps two long-standing rules that slashed federal retirement benefits for these workers and their families, delivering an average retroactive windfall of $6,710 per recipient as of March 4.
The SSA’s payout blitz, detailed in a CBS News report, stems from the law’s repeal of policies that docked benefits for those with public pensions and reduced survivor payments.
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Retroactive to December 2023, the fix has unleashed a cash surge—$7.5 billion across 1.13 million beneficiaries so far—with monthly boosts set to hit checks starting April, reflecting March’s uptick. Biden touted the change as a $360 average monthly lift for over 2.5 million recipients, though exact increases vary widely by pension type and benefit.
“Some people’s benefits will increase very little, while others may be eligible for over $1,000 more each month,” the SSA noted, underscoring the personalized impact.
For eligible recipients, the retroactive haul—averaging $6,710—covers a year’s worth of adjusted payments, righting a penalty that once left public servants with partial Social Security checks despite decades of service.
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The rollout’s not done yet. The SSA said it’s still processing payments, with more expected as it works through the backlog. Economists peg the law as a lifeline for retirees hit hardest by the old rules, though it’s drawn scrutiny amid a looming March 14 government funding deadline—GOP lawmakers like Florida Sen. Rick Scott are pushing to curb federal spending, per a letter sent Tuesday.
For now, the SSA’s pumping cash—$7.5 billion and counting—into pockets nationwide, a tangible win for public pensioners as the agency gears up for April’s full rollout.
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