The Social Security Fairness Act (SSA) has resulted in unexpected financial impacts for seniors who received a windfall deposit due to the act, particularly in Illinois. The windfall payments, which included at least 12 months’ worth of differential, often contained at least one-time “catch-up” payments in 2025. This, in addition to the full benefit being paid, has tax implications. Some seniors may have set aside money for taxes on the extra income, but subsequent tax legislation increased the standard deduction to $6,000 for most seniors, potentially offsetting some of the additional income tax. The additional windfall may also increase Medicare Part B and D premiums, which requires higher-income seniors to pay more for Medicare. However, the General Assembly did not make this law go into effect for 2025, the year many seniors received their increased income.