Millions of retirees in the United States will receive a new Social Security check on March 19th but not everyone is eligible. This payment will come after major adjustments were made following the Social Security Fairness Act and due to this, there will be changes in how benefits will be calculated for some retirees.
Changes Following the Social Security Fairness Act
The windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduced Social Security benefits for all retirees who also received pensions from work not covered by Social Security while the Government Pension Offset (GPO) cut out benefits for spouses or surviving spouses who also received pensions from a job that didn’t pay into Social Security.
The Social Security Fairness Act will now stop both WEP and GPO from deducting benefits from retirees and they will receive full Social Security benefits without deductions. More than 3.2 million retired teachers, firefighters, and police officers will yield much from these changes.
The New Social Security Check Explained
For recipients to receive this new payment they must have started receiving social security benefits after May 1997 and their birthday should fall between the 11th and 20th of any month. Those who meet both of these requirements will be part of Retiree Group 3 and their Social Security payments will be scheduled for March 19th.
However, those who started receiving benefits before May 1997 but whose birthday falls between the 11th and 20th are eligible but will not receive their checks on the 19th March.
Who is Eligible?
Not all retirees are eligible for the NEW Check. These changes are only limited to those previously affected by WEP and GPO. If your career was fully covered by the Social Security taxes, your benefits remain the same and this new check is not for you. All eligible retirees will receive a mailed notice from SSA (Social Security Administration) explaining the changes, so watch out for a new mail in your mailbox.
Amounts Retirees Should Are Set to Receive
The amounts of money retirees are set to receive will vary based on their previous benefit reductions under WEP and GPO and their work history. Although the amounts average increase is around $360 per month, some retirees could see increases of up to $1,000.
What if You Are Eligible But You Do Not Receive the Funds?
With new changes, the SSA is working to meet the needs of each retiree and asks them to be patient. If you believe you are eligible but do not receive payments on March 19th, it’s advisable to wait until April since processing might be a bit overwhelming. After April, you are required to reach out to SSA for help. You can also create an account with SSA to track, communicate, and be informed on new announcements.
Since payments are sent via direct deposit, it is necessary to check your bank account. Additionally, update your banking information because missing or conflicting details could be the cause of delays.
Beware of Scammers.
Scammers will see a golden opportunity to scam retirees. You should know that the SSA never Calls, Texts, or Email you asking for personal information or for money. They do not also ask you to verify your Social Security number over the phone. If you receive such suspicious requests, report them directly to SSA.
Conclusion
Retirees who qualify for retroactive payments following the changes in the Social Security Fairness Act will receive new checks on 19th March. Although some retirees won’t receive payments on this date, most will see the payments by the end of March. It is worth noting that moving forward there will be a significant increase in monthly benefits for those previously affected by WEP and GPO.