Davis Re-Introduces Bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act

Press Release

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) re-introduced H.R. 82, the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), two titles of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted much of their careers to public service. Co-leading the legislation with Rep. Davis is Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). The legislation currently has 21 bipartisan co-sponsors. In the last session of Congress, Davis organized a bipartisan group of 264 co-sponsors of the legislation.

"This bipartisan bill ensures that a teacher who spends his or her summers working a second job or a police officer who changes careers after years of service will not face a possible 40 percent reduction in their Social Security benefits," said Davis. "By repealing these outdated provisions that unfairly penalize public servants in Illinois, we can provide some certainty to retirees while helping to recruit future teachers, firefighters, and police officers."

"Virginians shouldn't be penalized for careers in public service -- and that's why eliminating the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision is so important. Many Central Virginians -- including teachers, first responders, and public employees -- are negatively impacted by these outdated provisions that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits they've earned," said Spanberger. "The Social Security Fairness Act makes sure educators, firefighters, and law enforcement professionals are able to enjoy the secure retirement they deserve. I'd like to thank Congressman Davis for his partnership on this bipartisan bill -- and I urge my colleagues to recognize the need to provide financial certainty to public sector employees amid the COVID-19 crisis."

"NARFE applauds Reps. Davis and Spanberger as they reach across the aisle, setting an example for their parties, in an effort to put an end to these shameful policies, which have harmed millions of hardworking and dedicated public servants for too many years." -- National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) National President Ken Thomas

"Educators who dedicate their lives to ensuring all students -- no matter who they are, where they come from or where they live -- should be able to retire with respect and dignity. The Social Security Fairness Act will ensure that educators and other public servants receive the benefits they have earned. For far too long, educators and other public servants have been wrongly penalized, and this legislation ensures that these noble public servants fully receive the benefits they are due. The National Education Association, which represents 3 million educators, healthcare workers and public employees, is pleased to support this important bipartisan legislation." - National Education Association President Becky Pringle

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) represents 356,000 law enforcement officers and supports the passage of H.R. 82. FOP National President Patrick Yoes wrote a letter of support for the legislation. You can find that letter here.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), which represents 241,000 law enforcement officers across the country, also wrote a letter of support for H.R. 82. You can find the NAPO letter here.

H.R. 82 Background

The Windfall Elimination Provision (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 the public schools but who work part-time or during the summer in jobs covered by Social Security have reduced benefits even though they pay into the system just like others. The WEP also affects people who move from a job in which they earn Social Security to a job, such as teaching, in which they do not.

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees--including educators, police officers, and firefighters--if the job is not covered by Social Security. GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension. Nine out of 10 public employees affected by the GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even though their spouse paid Social Security taxes for many years.

The WEP substantially reduces benefits workers included and counted on when planning their retirement and it substantially penalizes lower paid public employees. These provisions also discourage qualified, talented individuals from entering into public service professions, hindering efforts to attract new math and science teachers from the private sector unwilling to sacrifice earned Social Security from prior careers. The WEP and GPO provisions do not eliminate a windfall for workers, they penalize public service employees by taking away benefits they earned throughout their careers.

Source