The US Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that millions of Americans are set to receive higher payments starting April, thanks to the repeal of two provisions that reduced their benefits. The changes, signed into law by former President Joe Biden, will boost average monthly benefits by $360 for over 2.8 million recipients.
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions, which were repealed in January, affected millions of workers who received pensions from public-sector jobs that did not require Social Security payroll tax contributions. The changes will be made for all relevant recipients starting April.
While the SSA says the payment amount increase will vary depending on individual circumstances, such as type of benefit and pension amount, retroactive payments have already been made to January 2023 for eligible beneficiaries. Those who have not received their April payment can contact the SSA to inquire about its status.
In a statement, Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, said that the agency is expediting payments using automation and will continue to handle complex cases manually. Payments are scheduled to be made on specific dates in April based on birth month.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-checks-boosted-three-million-april-2049043