Millions of seniors are getting a welcome windfall.

And it’s about time.

On Jan. 5, Congress ended two provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) — which axed or reduced retirement and disability benefits for more than 3.2 million workers who receive a pension from employment not covered by Social Security.

The WEP, signed into law in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits for workers who receive a pension based on earnings exempt from Social Security payroll taxes. The intention behind the WEP was to prevent a situation of “double dipping,” with federal, state and local government workers with non-covered pensions receiving higher Social Security benefits as though they were low-wage earners who had paid into Social Security over the long term.

The GPO, passed in 1977, reduced Social Security benefits for spouses, widows and widowers whose partners receive pensions from federal, state or local government.

I understand the intention of the provisions. However, teachers, police officers or firefighters who at some point held jobs that did withhold Social Security taxes felt that they and their spouses were being unfairly penalized.

What is important to remember is that Social Security uses your earnings and work history to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits, or your family’s eligibility for survivor benefits when you die. For 2025, you can get one credit for every $1,810 in earnings, maxing out at four credits per year. You must earn at least 40 Social Security credits — which you receive when you work and pay Social Security taxes — to qualify for benefits.

But these two provisions meant that millions of retirees got shortchanged. And over the years, I have heard from many readers upset that their Social Security benefits have been reduced, making it harder for them to make ends meet.

“I divorced at age 40, went to school and became a teacher,” one woman wrote to me. “I don’t understand the windfall elimination [provision]. Are teachers being discriminated against?”

“I worked for years driving a taxicab,” wrote another. “And then I went back to school and got a PhD and then I got a job for 22-plus years as a teacher, with the university taking money from my pay and placing it in a pension fund. When I retired, Social Security says I only get half of my earned Social Security money because I have a school pension.”

This changed with the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in January. It seeks to address the complaints from workers who did ultimately pay Social Security taxes to earn benefits.

This month, many people started receiving catch-up payments. As of March 4, the Social Security Administration said it has paid about 1.1 million people more than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments, which cover their benefit back to January 2024, when WEP and GPO no longer applied.

The average one-time lump sum payment thus far has been $6,710. Going ahead, Social Security recipients covered by the repeal of WEP and GPO should start to see higher monthly benefit payments in April.

How much these people will get monthly will vary depending on the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, according to the SSA. Some folks could see a jump of $1,000 or more a month.

But don’t assume that because you are a public service worker, you are covered by this change and will receive a windfall. The repeal of WEP and GPO only applies to people who receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security. (SSA says most state and local public employees — about 72% — pay Social Security taxes and will not be receiving an increase.)

Also, watch for fraud. If you’re affected by the change, you should get a notice in the mail about any retroactive payment and benefit adjustment. Don’t respond to any text message, email or communication on social media platforms, which can be exploited by scammers.

If you want to verify that the mailing address and/or direct deposit information that SSA has on file for you is correct, check your personal “my Social Security” account. If you don’t have one already, you can create an account at ssa.gov/my account. If you have questions or trouble creating an account, call 800-772-1213.

However, be prepared for a long wait. When I tried the number, the system said the average hold time was 120 minutes. The agency says more than 6,000 people each day are choosing to wait to speak to a representative about the repeal of WEP and GPO, and it advises waiting until you receive your April monthly payment before contacting them if you have questions. Social Security phone lines are jammed because of staff cuts orchestrated by the Trump administration, but nonetheless keep trying to contact the Social Security Administration directly if you need more information.