Social Security Beneficiaries Could See Delayed, Canceled Checks: Reports

WASHINGTON, DC — Some Social Security beneficiaries could face delays — or even missed checks — starting this month, according to Social Security Administration employees who spoke with USA TODAY.

Retirees making changes to their accounts, such as updating bank information or reporting a move, may experience longer-than-usual wait times.

The administration is manually processing around 900,000 complex Social Security cases, a backlog that could disrupt the agency’s payment systems. Those needing to report a move or a bank account change will be among those who could face delays.

The delays coincide with a recent shift in the agency’s internal priorities.

While the White House maintains the added task won’t impact other beneficiaries, employees told USA TODAY that introducing a new and complex responsibility at the top of their daily workload means other duties fall by the wayside.

Here’s what to know about how the new law could affect benefits:

Employees at Social Security processing centers typically prioritize new claims and appeals. But in late May, staff at many of the nation's eight centers were told to prioritize Social Security Fairness Act payments.

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, a measure to boost benefits for California's public service workers and pension holders, such as retired teachers and postal employees, Patch previously reported.

Such workers previously received reduced payments despite contributing to Social Security through second jobs or seasonal work.

The Social Security Administration set a November 2025 deadline to process more than 3.2 million claims under the new law, according to the agency.

Newly appointed Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano called the payments a top priority, promising the work would be done “while the weather is warm,” according to USA TODAY.

The agency is using automation technology to expedite billions of retroactive payments to more than 2.3 million people, according to White House spokesperson Liz Huston.

But the remaining 900,000 cases must be handled manually by human employees since they are too complex to be handled by automation, SSA said.

Will all public workers see a benefit increase under the new law?

Not all teachers, firefighters, police officers, or other public employees will see a boost in benefits. While these groups are often mentioned in news coverage about the law, only those receiving a pension from work not covered by Social Security may qualify for an increase. The majority of state and local public employees — around 72 percent— already pay into Social Security and are not affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). As a result, they will not see any change to their benefits under the new law.

How much will monthly benefits increase under the Social Security Fairness Act?

Benefit increases will vary widely depending on factors such as the type of Social Security benefit and the size of the recipient’s pension. While some may see only a modest boost, others could receive more than $1,000 extra per month, according to SSA.

Will beneficiaries receive back pay?

Yes. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) no longer apply to benefits paid for January 2024 and beyond. Since Social Security benefits are typically paid the following month, the last payments affected by WEP or GPO were for December 2023, paid out in January 2024.

What should recipients do now?

The law affects both personal benefits — such as retirement or disability — and benefits based on another person’s record, such as spousal or survivor benefits. The next steps depend on your specific circumstances and eligibility. Social Security advises recipients to review their benefit type and contact the agency if they believe the changes apply to them.