The Social Security Administration said Friday that under its current budget, it could take more than a year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act, and explained how many recipients would actually be covered under the new law.
“SSA’s ability to implement the law in a timely manner and without negatively affecting day-to-day customer service relies on funding,” the agency said in question-and-answer guidance on its website page dedicated to updates on the new law.
“The Act did not provide money to implement the law,” SSA said, adding that the law requires SSA to adjust benefits for over 3 million people.
Since the law’s effective date is retroactive, SSA must adjust people’s past benefits as well as future benefits.