When the 116th Congress convened in Washington,
D.C., in January, a familiar proposal quickly rose again. The question is
whether it has any chance of being signed into law.
The bipartisan Social
Security Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R. 141) would amend part of the
Social Security Act by repealing the Government Pension Offset (GPO)
and the Windfall Elimination Provision
(WEP). H.R. 141 is designed to address two provisions that reduce or
eliminate Social Security benefits paid to public service employees (and their
spouses) who spend the majority of their careers working for employers that do
not participate in Social Security.
The WEP can reduce earned Social Security benefits for
people who also receive a public pension through a job that’s not covered by
Social Security, as is the case for most Colorado PERA-members. The GPO covers public
employees who are eligible to receive spousal benefits and also worked in non-Social
Security covered positions. Currently, the amount of each reduction is
determined by formulas that include years of service in the private and public
sectors and monthly retirement benefit amounts. The WEP and GPO do not affect
the amount of a PERA benefit.
Federal legislation to reform the GPO and WEP has been
introduced on a frequent basis: One previously
introduced WEP/GPO bill called for using a Social Security benefit
formula based on a person’s entire working career, but instead, H.R. 141 is
similar to a
proposal introduced in 2017 that called for a repeal of the WEP and
GPO entirely.
Previous
bills that have been proposed in the past have not progressed very
far through the ratification process. Public employees say it’s
unfair that they’re financially penalized for their career choices,
but opponents argue that repealing these provisions would over-correct the
system too far in the opposite direction, making it unfair to those who never
worked in the public sector. Still others
point to the cost involved in repealing the WEP and GPO and the
negative impact increased Social Security payments would have on the already
stressed Social Security trust fund.
These still-unresolved arguments make the passage of this
latest bill unlikely, despite its bipartisan support. The only Colorado member
of Congress who has signed on to support this version so far is Rep. Scott
Tipton (R-CO 3). PERA members and retirees who would like to see H.R. 141 passed—or
at least debated or amended further—should contact their member of Congress and
encourage them to support this legislation. The complete list of cosponsors is here.
The U.S.
House of Representatives’ website has a tool that matches ZIP codes
and U.S. Congressional Representatives.
For more
information about how the GPO and WEP are calculated, the PERA
website has this fact
sheet, as well as a
helpful video on YouTube.
Other useful resources:
Windfall elimination provisionA provision of federal law that may reduce Social Security benefit payments to retirees who receive a pension based on work during which they did not contribute to Social Security. The WEP does not apply to those with 30 or more years of substantial earnings in Social Security.Trust fundA fund in which money and/or other assets are held and managed by trustees on behalf of plan participants. PERA maintains trust funds for each of its Defined Benefit Plan divisions (State, Local Government, School, Denver Public Schools, and Judicial).Government pension offsetA provision of federal law that reduces Social Security dependent benefit payments to spouses, widows, and widowers who receive a government pension like PERA.
I live in Arizona and don’t have a rep in Colorado. Please support repeal of WEP so that we effected can get our fair share of SS.
You need to contact your AZ Representative. It doesn’t have to be a Colorado Rep.
why can;t congress do the whats right for our older citizens.we need this income we earned.
if the wep/gpo never will be repealed please tell us. don’t let us linger with hope that it is coming.
please put yourself in our shoes. we need this to be repealed now. thx
Stop voting for the GOP and it will probably get fixed
James, the Democrates DO NOT WANT YOU TO SUCCEED THEY WANT YOU TO DEPEND ON THEM TO SURVIVE WITH WELFARE AND FOOD STAMPS
So true
Ludicrous. They want a everyone to have a chance to succeed, not just the top 1 %. That is why they so strongly support education: and educated population means an educated workforce, and LESS people on public assistance. They want livable wages so people don’t need assistance. Minimum wage has not come even close to keeping up with inflation. They want a healthy population; that is why they so strongly fight for health care coverage. A healthy population means more able-bodied and productive workers. That benefits all of us. Preventative medicine is cheaper in the long run at helping people stay in the workforce and have less chronic illness. Democrats have always supported workers rights, in an attempt to maintain workers rights, ability to unionize, and continue to be supported by good safety standards like OSHA.
Republican Scott Tipton is the only Colorado representative who supports repeal.
ja ja democrats are in power now and they have not done anything my dear
I worked part time and 8 years full time for 17 years. Then I taught school for 12 years. Although I earned enough to have countable quarters they have this substantial gainful earnings so they took 9 years leaving me with 8 years and I dont qualify. I paid in over 40 quarters but they only count years. This is just wrong on every level. I expected a small check but not a total wipeout.
Susan – since WEP is a federal law, be sure to contact your US representative and US Senators.
You need to understand what that would do to SS Trust. How about others behind us?
That’s a cop out Barbara, the federal govt repeatedly raided the SS reserves, which was OUR money and NOT part of the general fund. It should be paid back with interest, and full benefits restored.
Well said! Thank you.
Yes.
Yes, and if you add it up I am sure many of us have been penalized more than what would have been deducted from our paychecks had we paid into SS along with our penions. I have been “paying back” since 2002. I have paid back in full and then some!
Yes!
Thank you. You know most people doesn’t remember when SSA was raided. They are always in fear of running out of money. SSA had a surplus of our money until Reagan took most of it. He also introduced the Wep
This is not fair at all
EXACTLY! Mattie!!
I have not been a teacher my entier career.when i was in private sector I contributed to SS and qualified for SS benefit. If I paid in I should be able to draw without being tax at 85% of SS benefit. I should also be able to draw on TRS benefit when I was not contributing to SS but to teacher retirement. This is not double dippnig. I paid into both and should be able to draw on both without being penalized.
Agreed. I, for example paid I’m into SS from age 12 to 40, then taught 29 years. My SS payback fell 33% when I retired at age 68. Now I’m seeking a fourth career because age liabilities exceed promises made and paid or, in the case of SS, unpaid.
Raela L Bedford, I agree with you and am in the same situation. I paid into social security for almost 15 years and then got in to the school system and soon to retire within a couple of years. I checked with social security and my original calculation of $1015 per month would be dropped to less than $400 per month due to me receiving a teacher’s pension of $700! I to paid into both social security and teacher’s retirement so why should I not receive both and look at the amounts…do I look like I will be living the good life if I receive even both pensions????
You are doing better than me, I started by retirement at 61 and when I could get my SS it was $87 NOW am up to $118, whoopie, Does not compensate for much and does not even cover my electric bill, tired of getting to end of month and holding my hand out to friends and relatives for food.
I understand your frustrations I’m frustrated as well I gave 40 years to EBR school system to find out I will not get no social security benefits even from my deceased husband because I’m drawing a pension from the school system which is not sufficient enough money for my household however they finally came back and said I would get enough to pay my medicare and $180 a month after I went back and work six more years and paying into Social Security this need to be fixed and fast seniors like us have worked all our lives to end up in a private to situation God Bless America
I am in the same boat with my $450 SS payment. I was told I would get $1200 a month, and that’s what I received for two months until they realized I was getting a retirement check from California. Then I had to pay it back.
I thought that they can’t take more than half your pension
Arleene, that’s better then what happened to me. Out of High School I worked in the private sector for 8 years and paid into Social Security for those 8 years. I then got a job with the Federal Government and worked for them for 32 years and retired at 58. Then went back to work for another 9 years in the private sector just to add to my Social Security Time. At 67 I went to the SSA office and applied for Social Security and they advised me that my payments would be 1308 a month. I told them that I was a retired Federal Government employee collecting a pension and if that would affect me. They told me no and that 1308 was the correct payment and that I will be OK. I went back a month later, this time to another office, to confirm. I told them the same thing that I was a retired Federal Employee receiving a pension and if it would affect me. I was, again, told the same thing that 1308 was correct. Flash forward 2 years later and I received a “whoops we messed up” letter from SSA indicating that I was overpaid and that because I was a Federal Employee receiving a pension that the correct payment was 515 a month and that I owe SSA 19,000 dollars!!! When I went to SSA and told them that I advised them twice I was a Federal Employee receiving a pension and two different offices told me that 1308 was the correct amount the response was a shoulder shrug and a “oh well.” (I can see why they’re behind bulletproof glass). This WEP business it an utter unfair joke.
I totally agree. I worked for gov’t for 30 years. In addition worked in private sector 27 yelars. I truly feel slighted. I have been writing and calling for past 30 years. I guess they are trying to wait until we all died. If it was them they would want it. We are not asking for a handout only what we have earned.
They have a repel in ways and means committee. Hopefully it will be taken seriously. I hope they realize most of us didn’t make enough working for public service to get a pension large enough to survive on. SSA would surely help. I am sorry you have to pay them back
Total repeal is the only way, give the taxpayers what they deserve,you paid in to the system, you should be able to get back,like everyone else.forget about the cost of total repeal,it’s not the government’s money to begin with.total repeal.total repeal only.
I agree with you 100 percent. I remember when Reagan did this to us.. Then he borrows 3.6 trillion dollars from SSA
What a shady deal
You are so right. We as teachers should not be punished. We already make so little money as it is. I have always had to have a second job to make ends meet. So unfair!
?yes.agree
I totally agree! it’s not double dipping.. it’s making a career choice. Why punish individuals for making a decision on where to or who to work for. There needs to be better options not penalty’s.
My god the government tries to kill the people as they get older . why? My god want they just give us what we need. I have worked 48 years combined with public Service. They don’t give us a choice to take our money out of public.
There are people out there who have never worked a day in their lives and are getting a portion of their husband’s social security. I was supposed to get $1,000 a month from my husband’s SS and instead I get $156.00 because I worked for the federal government and it’s considered double dipping. How fair is that? My husband’s hard earned money is being distributed to others who never worked. This needs to be be fixed. If something happens to my husband I will not be able to stay in my house since it will be too expensive for me on my own.
True
Why aren’t we going to Washington and marching with signs? Why aren’t we insisting that all candidates running for office bring up this issue? I am writing the candidates, asking them to bring up this issue. The education union president needs to be pressured into talking about this. We need to write to newsworthy stations with this issue so it will get the attention it deserves? We need to organize a huge protest.
I agree! Lets go!
It is not up to State employees to ensure the solvency of the SS Trust fund.
Hi Susan,
I think we need to start a lobby for this. The argument that SS is financially stressed is wrong. (Besides, the cap should be raised to include the SS Tax on all pay up to 1,000,000 per annum. (Simple solutions that “the Rich” won’t support. We need to contact our Senators and Congress people – but we need to to it in very LAAAAAARGE numbers. I wonder if we can get the School District Unions to get the teachers in every state to send an e-mail to their representatives and senators?????
Where to start?
that sounds like what we should be doing, all band together instead of each group working independently, a larger group would be much more powerful. I hope I live long enough tro see this horrible law repealed
Ban together, my feeling exactly. I have to all 196 who cosponsored HR141 and 32 that cosponsored S.521, thanked them and asked them to seek other signatures. I have written to every other senator and asked them to please cosponsor S.521, and I have written to dozens of other House and asked them to cosponsor. But how can we go public in our great numbers? Any ideas?
Start a Facebook page? Or is there one already?
Yes yes we need to get Wep abolished. Thanks
ATPE (Association of Texas Professional Educators) have been working on this for years. I paid into SS, now not only can I not collect what I paid in, I can’t receive survivor benefits from my husband’s SS. This is totally shameful.
I live in South Texas, I started paying Social Security at age 14 in 1966, I’ve paid until October 28, 2002 when I went to work for Union Pacific Railroad, I worked 10 years then retired on am injury in 2013, The United States Railroad Retirement Board will not give me any of my Social Security, the career retirees get it but they change it to an annuity. There is no law for them to hold my Social Security and their people are double dipping.
WEP is not fair to the working folks that have earned 40 credits…… why is it only for those in 11 states??? If I lived elsewhere, I would receive 100%….why??? Soc Sec is federal and should be for EVERYONE!!! All of it!!!
Once again, no action from Congress.
Hi Larry. To answer your question, Social Security’s rules aren’t based on the state you live in but instead on the number of years you paid the Social Security tax. Some employers that have defined benefit plans have the option to not participate in Social Security, in which case neither the employer nor the employee pay the Social Security tax that fund that benefit later on. For example, most PERA employers do not participate in Social Security (a few do participate in both PERA and Social Security). It takes 40 credits (about 10 years) of paying that tax to become eligible for a Social Security benefit, and 30 years paying that tax to be eligible for the full worker benefit. If you paid the Social Security tax for between 10 and 30 years, the amount you receive a percentage of that full amount.
It’s cruel. Worked two jobs at least 24 years. I’m not asking for much, I worked very hard caring for homeless mentally ill tenants. Lucky I didn’t fall over dead. Plus my poor wife struggling along side of me. She deserved something to retire on as well. I don’t get what I and my wife worked so hard for. When does things ever get better? I see people living high on their pension. Me, that’s never happen, as hard as I worked. That’s all I have to say, I don’t usually complaint, just keep pushing on and on and on.
That was very unfair with Ronald Reagan due to government workers we should not have to buy on military time but serving our country I should be entitled to all my social security I paid for it my
Civil Service pension has nothing to do with Social Security they are two different Pension funds I would like to get the money in my social security that I paid for change the law that was so unfair all right
First…..repeal: WEP and GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET! PASS: HR 141….Rodney Davis. Then…PASS: HR 860…2100 ACT. American widowed women…who teach….need their SURVIVOR BENEFITS…to avoid POVERTY in retirement!
YES. Divorced single parent women who were married over 15 years make up the poverty class of this country. I taught for 20 years and lost all of the SS benefits my husband earned because of this.
I am affected by GPO. Retired in 2002, kept in contact with John Kerry, completely useless. Repeal them both, not one at a time!
It’s ironic that SS is in such dire straights, even when it’s kept the money we put into it! No one in Congress will pass this repeal. It would cost too much money for them. In the meantime, those of us who put in our fair share will never see it returned to us. These laws were socialist ideas from their inception. Great example of by the people for the people!
Linda, socialism has nothing to do with the WEP. It was enacted by REPUBLICANS as a vehicle for further robbing US citizens of their earned benefits, and only “necessary” because these same republicans (and some democrats too) robbed SS to fund other projects, which in one way or another lined their own pockets. SS was NEVER supposed to be used by the general fund. Socialism is (in broad general terms) a spreading of the wealth, the WEP is the exact opposite of that, it takes from the common citizen and indirectly (but clearly) supports the wealthy. It is arbitrary and unfair.
I agree with this response completely! SS would not be going down in funds if the Republicans would quite stealing OUR money from the SS fund it would NOT be going broke like They claim!!! I and my employers put that money in the fund, NOT the government, and they have NO RIGHT TO IT!!
this is not a just republican robbing SS its democrates too. they are all a bunch of criminals only looking out for themselves. if a bill is not good enough for them then it’s not good enough for us.
agree with you 100 per cent
I’m sure they would pass it if it effected their pensions
At the very least, the monies that we and our employers paid into social security should be paid out to us.
The Congress will bever give up the WEP funds. It all goes into their Welfare for all Master Plan!
i agree with you people that work hard never get help
Every PERA member needs to start calling every Senator and Representative in Congress!! We all need these bills repealed!! Now!!! Not two or three years from now!!!!
How could you ask people to give back to tgeir communities by being teachers as a second career when, if they do their si isl security eill be in jeopardy.
I have my 40 quarters at the very least the amount I am penalized by SS should be adjusted lower. At least change the percentage to be more equitable to me and the SS Administration.
I agree with these comments. I worked many years for the private sector and paid into SS. Now, because I receive PERA, WEP takes away the $ I should get from SS. Unfair! Glad Scott Tipton is trying to change this socialist law.
I have paid into both systems for 30 years, i should be able to collect from both without penalty
My same situation. I have 40 plus quarters
Referring to ……..”The bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R. 141) would amend part of the Social Security Act by repealing the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). H.R. 141 is designed to address two provisions that reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits paid to public service employees …..”
It is dreadfully unfair to reduce or eliminate Social Security for those of us who contributed to SS major part of their careers. In my case my employer made the changes that subjected me to this reduction in retirement. United States should be more responsible and fair to working citizens. I hope you will vote to right the wrong!
Here is a situation: I worked enough outside of government to draw full social security. I worked 30 years for government. Then I worked 27 years in private sector earning 40 quarters plus. Now where does this leave me
At full WEP. However, did you notice when you worked for the Government that your Box 1 wages on your W-2 were net of your government pension contributions, so you paid less in Income Tax. And did you notice that when you worked in private sector, your Social Security benefits did NOT reduce Box 1 income? I think the WEP is fair since we already received a tax deduction for our pension contributions and people in Social Security did not receive that deduction from Box 1 income. People who contributed their entire life to Social Security and then are taxed on it when they receive it are the ones who being treated unfairly:
You’ll be taxed on: up to 50 percent of your Social Security benefits if your income is $25,000 to $34,000 for an individual or $32,000 to $44,000 for a married couple filing jointly and up to 85 percent of your benefits if your income is more than $34,000 (individual) or $44,000 (couple
I returned to teaching after a divorce, taught ten years, small pension, I get 225 from SS paid into for 21 years, I get zero from Gov off set from spouse that paid 30 years while I was at home raising three kids, why is this fair? I live at a poverty level now 71. So They are double dipping! We suffer!
I paid more to my government pension plan than you did to social security, and my net retirement dollars is the same as what I would have gotten if I never worked those last 13 years for the state. So don’t tell me about my income tax being less when my pension cost me more than yours. Plus at other jobs which were MOST of my working career, I did pay taxes on those box 1 wages. It isn’t right if you are better off not working than working. You need to look at your calculations and refigure, because you are wrong.
You missed the whole point in this debate. If you paid into SSA with another career why wouldn’t you get the same as someone who didn’t get a second job. People are getting penalized for working a second job plan and simple. If you pay into an insurance you should expect the benefits from that insurance. PERIOD.
Catherine…..If you worked for 30 years under SS and your income was the amount that SS deems significant for at least 30 years you will get full SS benefit. SS has a chart showing what those amounts were/are per year. You would also get the benefits from your job outside government, as I understand it.
Catherine,
You would have to contact Social Security for information on what impact working for a public employer would be. Your PERA benefit would not be reduced because of work for a non-PERA employer.
Yes. But your social security benefits will be effected. Up to a maximum reduction of around $390 from your SS benefit each month.
The consequences of living in a state supporting WEP/GPO should be made known to any student who wants to be a teacher in those states. They can then make an educated choice as to whether or not they can afford the consequences of teaching in those states . Once the powers that be realize the teacher shortage in their states, they may at that point vote to repeal the WEP/GPO.
Really the cost we been waiting for repeal of gpo and wep forever but in the blink of an eye same sex couples are entitled to now draw spouse and widows benefits no one was worried about that cost
Wow, what a bizarre leap… do try to stay on topic
I never had a choice when they withheld social security from my paychecks when I worked in the business world. So why do they have a choice in paying the benefits I earned? I’ve had to work two jobs to make ends meet my whole teaching career, so it’s very upsetting to know I’ll get punished when I retire for doing a job that pays into a pension, and their justification is that I’ll be making a windfall if they allow it.
Hello
I support repealing wep and gpo.
Interesrting only Scott Tilton is on board,
Btw 40 quarters i think has been eliminated and replaced by substanial earnings, getting that is really hard, my $1 an hour days donot count for anything.
I think taking a lifetime avreage should be an option for ss.
Political noise Also cost me duringbthe pera is going under days a decade ago, i cashed out, losing 50% match money, got a tiny pension back by a short stint back at OIT.
Wish you all well, IF your lucky enough to be able to retire at all.
There are others on board now in Colorado. At this point 198 total house members support the bill. It is bipartisan. Every congress there are more people that support the full repeal. I think with a push through the committee, there could be enough support to pass it. The rest of the house needs to be cornered and asked how they will vote.
The majority of teachers have worked second and third jobs to support their families. Most of these jobs were social security pension withdrawals. You are, again, penalizing teachers for their choice to teach and work extra jobs. Again, kicking teachers to the curb.
I Have worked 25 years contributing to Social Security and 20 years to Pera. I will only recieve 250.00 from Social Security due to not contributed in the past 10 years enough units rather than the entire time I did work and contributed. Not fair!
you have to work 40 quarters to draw SS, that is fair for all. if you work 40 quarter then you should be able to draw SS and teacher retirement.
I have been a public servant all my adult life! I AM PENALIZED BECAUSE I HAVE A STRONG WORK ETHIC. To say the WEP and GPO are good because it protects people that don’t have govt. pensions is ABSURD! THEY chose to seek careers in the private sector, usually because of HIGHER PAY POTENTIAL. I not only earned a PERA pension, I was a Marine, Coast Guardian, Harbor Patrolman and bodyguard…all that earned MY RIGHT to Social Security (none of which ended with a pension). I HAVE MY QUARTERS IN AND AM ENTITLED TO $750 monthly, not the paltry $150 monthly I currently receive. TRY TO AFFECT CONGRESSIONAL RETIREMENT AND SEE HOW PROACTIVE CONGRESS WOULD BE THEN! I’m sick of the lack of understanding and apathy from Washington.
Amen!!! They. Congress Senate sure would not give up anything. They have no problem voting themself a raise those
This is NOT Right! A person works, contributes but is not allowed his rightful share. The statement that this is “unfair” to those that did not work in the pubic sector is ridiculous! People have choices and chose either to work in different sectors or not! If they did not work, earned, and paid in to the system,– they have not earned the right to be able to get funds from Social Security! Give us a break!!
Those who worked and put in the time and effort are the ones being cheated out out of their “earned” share! The amounts earned through Social Security are not high to begin with but low in reality. These small amounts can often be the difference between having enough to pay for GOVERNMENT MANDATED payouts (medical, medicines etc). This, does, in turn affect how much food gets to our tables! We paid our way, had no handouts and freebies and no increases in out wages unless earned. When we began working in the public sector everyone was MANDATED to pay into Social Security, with the plan in mind that when we retired we would receive retirement income that was expected. This is not what has happened. Those who chose to work more, thought ahead and planned so they could have a better standard of living for their retirement years.
BOTTOM LINE is the government has not lived up to their promises! This is theft and fraud by the government! We need to get what is rightfully ours!
It would be great to receive a larger Social Security benefit, but I personally can’t complain. I worked in the private sector for only about 16 years (when my salaries were not very high). I have already received way more SS benefits that I every paid in.
Folks is it fair for a non working, stay at home, never paid into the system spouse to collect half of his/her spouses SS? This while hard working men and women paid into the system for years, have the 40 quarters but not the FULL thirty years required to collect? A joke. Politicians should be ashamed of themselves for borrowing and stealing collected revenue. Yes that includes the Ole Gipper Reagan!
WEP also cut who have green card or even become US citizen with pension from other countries that they worked and paid tax before they came to US. SSA said that because they didn’t pay tax to IRS for their work before they came so their pension have to be cut around half. For example, you worked in UK 20 years and came to the US to work 15 years, Then you got pension $1500 from UK and you should get $1000 from SSA, But SSA said you didn’t pay tax to US IRS so they only can pay you $500 or less based on WEP.
Same problem. I worked in Barbados before emigrated to the USA…got my green card and after 5 yrs I became a US citizen. My social security was reduced because of my Barbados pension. The idiots used the wrong exchange rate by multiplying my Barbados pension by 2 instead of DIVIDING!!
My wife has paid social security taxes for 44 years. It was not optional, it was mandated with the promise to be repaid at retirement age. She worked a second, teacher-level job for the past 25 years, paid no FICA taxes at this job but continued paying them at her first job. She has access to a modest pension but WEP and GPO will virtually wipe out her projected social security benefits and spousal benefits. She has more than enough quarters but it’s the substantial earnings requirement that’s hurting her. She’s being punished because she had the fortitude to work two jobs, at great personal sacrifice. The U.S. government has raped the social security trust fund, taken trillions of dollars out of it. WEP and GPO were instituted primarily to stop the bleeding caused by greedy, irresponsible politicians. People on both sides of the argument have their own self interests in mind but make no mistake, those who worked in government type employment are the big losers. WEP and GPO are heavily punitive and something should be done about it ASAP. The FICA taxes paid by those who are now being denied full benefits are used to pay benefits for those who never worked at all or who didn’t earn much money in their lifetimes. These people get a RAISE for their lack of earnings. Can your spell S-O-C-I-A-L-I-S-M? It’s a bloody mess and we’re not optimistic about seeing the problem resolved, at least not in our lifetime. My wife WORKED for her retirement benefits, unlike so many others who abuse the system, live off government benefits, pay next-to-nothing in FICA taxes then because they are “poor,” collect substantial security benefits. It’s government fraud to take your taxes under false pretenses. Why not simply give someone the option of opting out of paying FICA taxes? Or, after decades of paying into social security, simply offer those being punished the option to be refunded what they’ve contributed and just forego the paltry benefits being thrown their way? Yes, Congress, give us back the money you stole from us and we’ll go quietly into the night. But it won’t ever happen, they will not relinquish one cent because then they’d have to find another way to get it back…
I agree. I worked 34 years but only 23 are considered substantial. My years when i was the poorest are being used against me.. its nuts
The WEP and GPO are separate things, go after then separately. The GPO seems to have some merit, the WEP… none whatsoever, it was purely political and purely arbitrary, and it is 100% unfair.
Other retirement vehicles such as 401k’s, real estate investments, private sector pensions, stocks etc aren’t penalized, how are those things so significantly different from public sector work? I paid into SS early in my working days, those payments have been gathering dividends for 30+ years. Those wages weren’t large, and the small payout is more-or-less fairly based upon the earnings. WEP steals well over half of my hard earned paltry benefit, it’s just plain wrong.
Pssst, PERA, stop avoiding this question… explain to us why you are not looking out for the best interests of PERA retirees and not fighting tooth & nail for the repeal of the WEP. You’ve been nothing more than a neutral observer of this, well past time to start doing your jobs.
They aren’t any different. How could one have merit and not the other? One is your own benefits and the other is your spouses. People who never worked and have a spouse with SS benefits get half of their spouses benefits. Why would you say PERA retirees shouldn’t get what other spouses get?
I just turned 66 and went to apply for SS. I was asked when I was going to retire from my government job. I said 4 years from now, 2024. I was then told that I would loose 91% of my SS payment. I contacted all of my Representatives and Senators and none responded with any sincerity about understanding what I was talking about. The WEP and GPO are so unfair to government workers. It makes me angry that this has gone on for over 30 years also. Washington, “Hear our cry for help in repealing this unfair legislation!” I understand that for every piece of new legislation they are suppose to get rid of 2 old pieces of legislation. Well here they have the perfect opportunity to do just that!
All of my SS contributions were made either prior to or after my government service of 35 years. During my SS contribution years, I was not given the option to not contribute to SS, but that is what I get for my contributions, NOTHING! Thanks for GPO and WEP!
The WEP is a very unfair policy. I put in the necessary time at jobs that did pay into SS to be eligible for a full pension but just because I worked for a state previously that did not pay into SS I am affected by the WEP. It is s very unfair policy. I am not understanding why it was enacted. I can understand if I never worked for an employer that didn’t contribute but I did, therefore I deserve a full pension from SS. Please do something to change this law.
My husband worked for the postal service for 30 years after serving our country. He passed away at 56 years old. Our children were young when he passed. I was fortunate to receive his annuity payments for our children through age 21 & still receive the payments for myself. Checked into social security last week because I was thinking about retiring & found out I will not receive anything because of the Government Pension Offset. So I guess I just continue to work & pay social security, even though I will never receive one bit of it.
You can still get SS while you are working. So I would apply for SS while your working. I got mine at 66. So I got my full amount of SS until I retired at 70. Then they cut it from $919 to $500 then $135 comes out for Part B. I now get only$365.
Why does the national media refuse to report on the movement to repeal WEP/GPO? WEP/GPO is unconstitutional because it only effects public servants in 26 States. These victims are some of the most important people in the country: policemen, firemen, public school employees, postal workers, State employees, etc. Much more important than the politicians who could fix the problem! Are they going to wait until someone calls 911 and no one answers or they are put on hold?
HR 141 needs every ones help. use social media tweet, email, call, write letters to the editor. Congress has hotly debated this issue for years. Mainly because they use our funds for their own use..Trillions have been taken and will continue. HR 141 needs more sponsors and remember this is a Federal issue. So if it makes it we all benefit. 82% affected by the GPO are women 73% lost all or most of theirs spousal survivors benefits. 42% of the WEP are women. Max WEP reduction for recently retired worker is $463.00 per month. THE GPO CAN REDUCE A SURVIVOR BENEFIT BY $2000.00 PER MONTH. Mine will drop to $13.00 per month.Why? because I married a teacher.So get involved.2020 is an election year bring up this issues.
You are correct.and all this is sad. I became a widow almost 3 months ago. When I applied for my husband’s Social Security check I was turned down due to the GPO & WEP. All I have is my teacher retirement check to pay bills, taxes, and to live on etc. All politicians are smart enough to know how we are hurting but ignore it or just forget about it.. Our spouse’s SS is write-fully ours as spouse and survivor. Instead they are giving it to those who never paid a penny into Social Security. Most of us who are hurting are older retirees who really need the help. Our spouses worked hard as teachers, etc. to secure the surviving spouse, not to give it away to someone else. I see there is no hope for us just wait until we die, one less to worry about.
Elections are coming in November.. Many vote straight Republican or Democrat. We need to vote only for those who will commit themselves to help us pass this bill without putting it on the back burner. Must be done now. Enough is enough, Social Security going broke? Retirees are already broke. .
I contacted Congressman Tom McClintock and he responded with
From: Congressman Tom McClintock
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2019 3:31 PM
To: kareenshane@sti.net
Subject: RE: Social Security
Dear Kareen:
Thank you for contacting me regarding Social Security. I appreciate hearing from you.
The Social Security system faces financial challenges that, if left unresolved, will require an increase in taxes, a decrease in benefits, or a change to the retirement age. When considering possible reform proposals in Congress, I will remain committed to the following priorities:
Protecting the benefits of current retirees and near-retirees,
Preventing tax increases,
And ensuring any changes regarding personal accounts for younger workers are voluntary.
I also support policies that encourage individual saving. The Thrift Savings Plan available to federal employees is a great way to encourage personal saving and help people plan for their own retirement.
As Congress debates proposals to preserve Social Security, we must keep our promise to seniors. Retirees and those nearing retirement have worked all their lives and planned their retirement according to Social Security’s promise. Changing their benefits after a lifetime of work and paying taxes is wrong. However, we must also look for solutions that encourage people to plan for their futures and reduce reliance on the government.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to contact me again regarding any issue that concerns you or your family. Also, please visit my website at http://www.mcclintock.house.gov for additional information.
Sincerely,
Tom
My wife and I both worked on jobs that pay and do not pay into social security (SS). We have been working on our SS paying jobs only for 20 years, meaning we will be receiving $900 less each month in our SS checks. That is a lot of money for a retiree and some one planning to retire in few months. We know, if we work 10 more years, we will not loose any SS benefit. We don’t see any reason to penalize us $900/month for working the SS paying job for 20 years? PLEASE REPEAL THE WEP.
I live in Dayton Ohio. I worked for the county. I am 70 years old. I just retired last Jan. I get $1104 gross from OPERS. I was getting $784 from SS. Because of the Windfall Elimination Provision I now get $365 a month. I then had to repay $2095 because they forgot to do this six months ago. I was able to survive before but not I am in 250 percent of the Federal Poverty level. He sure wasn’t a windfall for me. This is the biggest ripoff. I paid into SS for years. I should get all of my SS. There are two lists that SS has. One is all the years that you paid into SS and they have a list of the years. Let’s say that in 1984 I only made $9000, but their list says I should have made $15,000. That year doesn’t count. But I paid SS on that year or years. So the years that don’t match or exceed their list, the percent of what you get goes down. RIPOFF RIPOFF. So now if need to find a part time job and also see what programs I qualify for to help pay the bills.
Hi my name is Joe Lange and was stated in 1966 and was extreme glad to serve my country and upon separation from my military device chose to serve my community as a firefighter in Newark nj for 27 years also worked many part-time jobs in order to give my family a better life I paid into a pension and social security and believe I should be entitled to both at the proper amounts
We just want what we are due. By working jobs and paying into Social Security. And working government jobs long enough to earn retirement benefits.
I live in Louisiana, and I worked for thirty five years in the private sector paying into Social Security. After leaving the private sector I’ve been working a government job for over seventeen years. When I inquired about my Social Security Benefit, I was told that I wouldn’t be able to get my full benefit from Social Security due to the Windfall Elimination Provision even when Social Security identified that I paid over thirty years into the Social Security System.
I am a retired Chicago firefighter who also suffers from the windfall elimination provision. I have worked other jobs for 35 years that paid into social social security, however our government decides to take all that extra money and put it into whatever fund they decide is Worthy. I believe that if we contributed we should also be able to receive those Social Security benefits without being harmed. We are earned it we deserve it
The way PERA states this issue in this article is erroneous. I actually spent the majority of my working years working in a career paying into social security. I have more than twice the required quarters to receive social security. I spend only 8 years working as a teacher, yet the teaching pension I would receive gets cut in half. That’s a state vs. federal government issue and is not as straight forward as PERA makes it sound. Also, I am not some anomaly. I know quite a large number of people in this boat. The truth is, the coffers of people like me, who are now senior citizens, worked all of our live under and following a set of rules laid down by the government. Then the government not only changes the rules, the government begins handing money from those plans they require us to participate in to people who have NEVER paid into that plan at all.
Which is why in addition to repealing the WEP, I favor phasing out benefits for spouses who never paid into the system. Not older ones who didn’t have the opportunity to work, but everyone else. It’s not 1935. People can pay for their own, or their spouse’s retirement themselves.
IN NEW YORK IF YOU WORK TEN YEARS AS CITY WORKER—YOU GET REIMBURSED FROM MEDICARE EVERY PENNY AND YOUR SPOUSE ALSO A TOAL OF AT LEAST 3000 A YEAR FOR BOTH WHILE I AS FEDERAL WORKER HAVE TO PAY 402 DOLLARS EVERY THREE MONTHS UNTIL I RETIRE WHICHE IS A JOKE-BECAUSE WHEN I DOATT 66_I GET LESS THAN 100 DOLLARS A MONTH FROM SOCIAL SECURITY -WHAT A JOKE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE ANYONE HAVE A RALLY FOR ALL OF US AFFECTED-WHILE OUR HARD EARNED MONEY GOES TO PEOPLE WHO DONT CONTRIBUTEALSO VERIZON ALSO GAVE EMPLOYES FREE HEALTH CARE SO WE ARE TAXED OVER AND OVER NO RELIEF -REAGAN WAS THE WORST EVER AND BUSH RIGHT THERE WITH HIM LOSERS
As the cost of living goes up for us retired people affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision, poverty is becoming a reality, especially for those of us who have been retired for a while. Cost of living increases of $9 or $26 do very little to help in an economic environment where medicines and food are skyrocketing. Eliminating the WEP would be a considerable help to many of us seniors who have worked two jobs our entire working careers. Although compelled, we paid fairly into social security. We deserve to be treated equally! We “earned” the right to collect our appropriate social security benefits, just as other working Americans. It is an evil act and unfair to discriminate against hard working citizens by legally STEALING money which could make our lives somewhat better in our crucial senior years where money is most needed. We have a right to fair treatment. It is just infuriating to me when I receive the $367 in benefits after paying into Social Security for 45 years. Some Windfall! Then, the knowledge that the bulk of my true benefit is going to government programs I don’t agree with (as well as to people who have never paid into Social Security) just infuriates me further. Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision. It is neither a windfall nor a provision. It is legal discrimination, legal theft, and legal oppression!
As everyone else has indicated, this is a travesty. You either don’t find out about this until you’re ready to retire or you’re young and don’t care. If they don’t repeal the WEP provision, then they should do one of two things, #1, Reimburse everyone the percentage that you are being penalized from what you have paid, or #2. Reduce the amount you’re currently paying by that percentage. The reality of it is at 61, I’ll never live to see the WEP, totally repealed. The way I figured it out today, my future reduction will be over $600.00/month.
Its hard to work all your life only to retire and find you cannot support yourself on your pension because your SS is being reduced to basically nothing. Then you realize yiy have to work part time to just live. Then you discover your new $10 hr wage is still taxed for social security, even tho you are 70. And that social security you are paying you will never see. Then when you calculate your tax return after working all year at minimum wage you find your minimum wage job created higher federal tax and you pay more taxes again. Really! This is the best we can do? Repeal the WEP and Offset! Its unfair and hurting us all!
I worked 40+ years as a librarian in the corporate sector until 1983 and the oil bust. I then went to work for a School District.
Imagine my surprise when I was ready to retire after 28 years of working and was told that I couldn’t also collect my full Social Security that I worked and paid into because of the WEP and GPO. Instead of collecting approximately $1,700.00 Social Security I only collect $312.00.
Fast forward to this July when my husband suddenly passed away from Liver Cancer and I also lost his Social Security (and because of the WEP and the GOP) can’t collect survivor benefits either. I am now struggling to make ends meet. If I had my full Social Security, I wouldn’t have worry about house payments, medicine or bills.
It is not right that people like me who paid into Social Security and now in our seventies are having to look for work to make ends meet.
So, please see that this very unfair situation is repealed. Or at least the people like me that paid fully into Social Security are able to collect their full amount due them.
I agree that the wep needs to be eliminated. I worked since I was 13yrs old. Worked 2 jobs as a single mom. Worked 25 years first as csrs than as csrs. Offset however my social security will be offset by wep. This is not fair I paid into SSA system all my life and still paying into SSA. However other people get there pensions with no offset.
Stop paying our money to the SSI people
Who continually have kids with different father’s no cap on the amount of money
They get or how many kids they get money for. These people are living off our tax paid dollars and getting housing food and medical and clothes for free from our tax dollars and living off there kids.
SSI SYTEM NEEDS TO BE RELOOKED AT THAT IS WHY THE GOVT CANT PAY THE FULL AMT OF SSA BENEFITS AND ARE USING OUR OFFSET TO PAY SUPPLEMENT SSI ABUSERS.
THIS IS UNFAIR.
Put a cap on the AMT of. SSI benefits
Paid out per household.
You will see how fast they stop having children that they can’t take care of.
But live off.Make them work for there
Check. Do volunteer work .
We need SSI REVISED. AND MAYBE TGEN WE CAN GET OUR FULL SSA BENEFIT THAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO
WITH NO WEP OR GPO OFFSETS TO OUR SSA BENEFITS.
Worked as public servant for >22yrs, and then >20 years in public sector…paying the maximum in SS taxes. After that, my SS benefit is not based on contribution but reduced due to WEP. Really? I don’t benefit from spousal either due to PERA. Want a reasonable lifetime pension with excellent healthcare benefits? Become a congressional representative…their benefits are entirely different than workers’s ! We can kvetch all we want but this will not change mainly because it may threaten their benefits or term. Additionally, when things look bleak and they have messed up their spending…they can rob Peter to pay Paul because they make and enforce the laws as they deem behind closed doors…who can possibly hold them accountable? After all, it’s not their own pockets! After 2 years/ full-term, they have assured receipt of full benefits for self!
I meant to say I work private corporation after PERA and paid max Soc Sec taxation…
The windfall needs to be repelled, it is discrimination against all civil service workers, who have paid into this system.
This country need to fix it now.
You wonder why we have homeless people? You encourage it by rewarded those that are lazy and suck the system dry. We worked and put money into sea, fair treatment all across the board.
There are many reasons against the repeal of WEP, but it is unconstitutional. If WEP never existed there would be no discussion about the Trust. How is it fair that you pay into two systems but don’t get what you paid into back? I had two careers. I paid into my pension and SS, yet my SS was cut in half because of WEP. Then, if that isn’t bad enough, Medicare is deducted from that. Not right.
A few years ago I had to take my mom to the Social Security Office and there was a guy in there demanding how to get his mom money he was saying she deserves?! He said he finally got her her green card and they were telling him what he needed to do for her to get paid, yet she never paid into the system. I was also told Social Security pays the refugees. And some receive up to $5,000 per month and each family member receives a payment each month. Not sure how true this is, but I do know for sure people not paying into the system and who are not a citizen are collecting. Yet we have to struggle to survive on Social Security. So wrong!
This bill won’t help us private sector workers that are fortunate enough to have a small foreign pension. It only mentions public servants. It needs to be expanded to cover everyone equally.
I worked and earned over 40 credits in the private sector then went to work as a public servant. I am not entitled to my full retirement through the private sector because I chose to work in a school district. I EARNED all the retirement/pension and should receive those dollars in retirement. I know multiple people who receive a pension as well as social security. Why penalize one group of people from what is rightfully theirs? I believe it is because the government has used those dollars inappropriately and they are not available to those who earned them. The government needs to correct this as well as look at those who are currently receiving social security. The money earned was not be used for illegals or other political abuse. Do the right thing by the people who have placed you in a position to speak for them.
My situation is this. My husband passed away in 2003. I am 66 and working in a government job. I do get his survivor benefit of 1900.00 month. When I retire, it goes to 700. He will never use this money and it should go to me. Instead the remainder will just be reabsorbed back into the system. I pleaded my case with our Ohio Representative last year. They did get back with me but to no avail, nothing has or will change.
I worked out of the country, in Canada. For years I looked at my social security report both in the US and Canada and expected X number of dollars to help subsidize my retirement income, all was well. I took my social security at age 65 and about 2 weeks later I got the infamous letter in the mail from Social Security saying that I was going to lose about 45% of my US Social Security and 49% of my Canadian Social Security because I worked out of the Country. What! I said is this a crime? Wow what a harmful surprise! No heads up, no warning. I call Social Security office and that is when I found out about WEP. This is a complete government plan to rip people off of their Social Security money. The Gov. calls it double dipping, I call it double working. Social Security took my money all these years and I expect them to uphold to our agreement and pay me my full Social Security benefits just like everyone else.. I am 72 and still working, and so far if I calculate the Social Security rip off, they have short changed me by nearly $57,000.00 what a scam! REPEAL WEP NOW! I think the change should include a retroactive payment to all the US Citizens who have been harmed by this ancient and unfair bill. In the house now we have 218 CO SPONSORS for bill HR141 and we need you to help us get this to the house floor. Please get this unfair WEP bill implemented in 1977 and 1983 repealed , too long of a time harming HARD WORKING US CITIZENS! So please jump in there and get bill HR141 and S521 passed ASAP.
RESPECTFULLY
ROBERT
They need to take a look at the 8th circuit court of appeals
https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/11/02/092374P.pdf
agree with you 100 per cent
Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were responsible for cutting the earned Social Security benefits for teachers, police and others. Some members of our lying congress pretend to be concerned and submit bills for supposed “fairness.” Those bills have been submitted for years but NEVER NEVER leave committee. It’s a game to garner votes. Meanwhile the rats in government are more concerned with sending aid to Ukraine and giving free health care for illegals. Our government is corrupt from top to bottom.
Your site looks great but I did notice that the word “Prok” appears to be spelled incorrectly. I saw a couple small issues like this. I thought you would like to know!
In case you wanted to fix it, in the past we’ve used services from a websites like HelloSpell.com to keep our site error-free.