Widowed or divorced? Social Security Administration update may boost your monthly checks

Some people in the US are now getting bigger Social Security payments in 2025 because of new rule changes. This change is helping widows and divorced spouses, especially those connected to government workers. Around 28% of state and local public employees are linked to these benefits, so many families are affected.

Around 2.5 million people may get more money after this update, according to The Independent. This mostly includes workers like police officers, firefighters, and teachers. The big change started when Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025. The new rules are not starting all at once — they are being added slowly over time. Widows and divorced spouses are affected because their benefits depend on how much their spouse earned.

How much money can you get?

A widow or divorced spouse can get a percentage of their spouse’s Social Security benefit. At age 61, they can get over 71.5% of the spouse’s benefit. At age 63, they can get over 80%. At age 65, they can get over 90%. At full retirement age (66–67), they can get up to 100% of the spouse’s benefit.

What was the problem earlier?

Before 2025, two rules were reducing these benefits for many people. These rules were called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) stopped some workers from getting both a government pension and full Social Security.

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduced payments for spouses who had both spousal benefits and a government pension, as per The Independent. Because of these rules, many widows and divorced spouses were getting less money than they should have.

What changed now?

The new law has removed BOTH WEP and GPO rules completely. This means people can now get full or higher benefits without unfair cuts. Because of this, some people may get $1,000 or more extra every month, according to Social Security Administration via The Independent.

Real impact examples

The National Education Association (NEA) said its members may get about $360 extra per month on average. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) said some members could get up to $587 more monthly. But the exact increase is different for each person. It depends on things like type of benefit and pension amount.

What should you do now?

If you are widowed or divorced, you should check if you qualify for higher payments. You can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to check your benefits.

Big rule changes in 2025 are giving more money to widows and divorced spouses, especially those linked to government jobs, as cited by The Independent. Removing old restrictions means millions of people may finally get the full benefits they deserve.

FAQs

Q1. Who will get higher Social Security payments after the 2025 update?

Widows and divorced spouses, especially those linked to government workers like teachers or police, may get higher monthly benefits.

Q2. How much extra money can Social Security beneficiaries receive now?

Some people may get a few hundred dollars more each month, and in some cases even $1,000 or more depending on their situation.