The Social Security Administration has already processed more than 70% of all 3.2 million benefit adjustments following the urging of Senator Collins.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) responded to a letter she sent last month, along with 27 of her Senate colleagues, calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA). Signed into law in January, the SSFA, coauthored by Senator Collins and former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), eliminates two provisions that unfairly reduced earned benefits for individuals who worked in both the public and private sector or who had a spouse who paid into the Social Security system.
According to the SSA’s letter, of the approximately 3.2 million Americans who are due benefit adjustments or retroactive payments under the SSFA, already more than more than 1 million people have received a combined total of more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments dating back to January 2024. The SSA also announced that the agency has completed the future benefit adjustments for more than 70% of the nearly 3.2 million people who are due such an adjustment. The SSA believes that most will see their retroactive payment by the end of this month and will see their benefit adjustment reflected in their April benefit payment.
“I am pleased that the Social Security Administration has begun implementing the Social Security Fairness Act, ensuring that millions of retired public employees and their families receive the full benefits they have earned. This law finally repealed unfair provisions that have penalized teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other dedicated public servants for decades. I will continue to monitor the SSA’s progress to ensure that the law is implemented as swiftly and efficiently as possible,” said Senator Collins.
Mainers like Maryann Murray of Orrington and Mary Small of Bath have already started receiving their retroactive benefits:
“I was proud to work at Brewer High School for almost 30 years. When I got my benefits after all this time, it just took my breath away. I said, ‘I can’t believe someone finally thought of us.’ I’m so thankful Senator Collins did,” said Maryann Murray, former administrative assistant at Brewer High School. “I never thought this would get fixed in our lifetime. It’s amazing.”
“I want to thank Senator Collins for championing this legislation and restoring fairness to the social security system for teachers, law enforcement and state retirees. This has been proposed many times before and it took real leadership and, dare I say, bipartisanship to get it passed. I was glad to receive my retroactive benefits and I'm even more excited knowing Maine teachers, firefighters, police officers and more are finally receiving the benefits they are owed. Senator Collins once again shows the advantage of working across the aisle to get things done,” said Mary Small, former state legislator.
The SSA also noted that because retroactive payments are being expedited, beneficiaries may receive their payment before receiving an explanatory notice. The agency urges beneficiaries to wait until after receiving their April benefit payment before inquiring about the timeline for their benefit adjustments.
Updates on the SSA’s implementation of this law, including a subscription link to receive all future updates, are available here.
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