Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted in support of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act by the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Together, these provisions unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of retired public servants. The measure passed 327-75-1.
The Social Security Fairness Act was initially cosponsored by 327 members of the House of Representatives, including Congresswoman Hayes.
“The Social Security Fairness Act will restore Social Security benefits to the three million retired public servants who saw benefits reduced or eliminated by the WEP and GPO,” said Congresswoman Hayes. This bill will also ensure that Americans currently working in the public sector will receive full benefits in retirement. Repealing the WEP and GPO will create a fairer future for public servants and their families, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to reform and strengthen Social Security for generations to come.”
Currently, the WEP reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. For example, educators who do not earn Social Security in public schools but who worked in jobs covered by Social Security have reduced benefits, even though they have paid into the system just like others. The WEP currently impacts approximately 2 million Social Security beneficiaries, including more than 22,540 in Connecticut.
Likewise, the GPO affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees — including police officers, firefighters, and educators — if the job is not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension. Nearly 800,000 retirees, including 21,790 in Connecticut, are impacted by the GPO.
In September, Congresswoman Hayes signed a discharge petition to bring H.R. 82 to the House floor for a vote.