The Social Security Fairness Act will be voted on in the House of Representatives this month

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, in November, as reported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

This legislation proposes to eliminate two provisions of the Social Security system that currently prevent some public employees from receiving the full extent of their earned benefits.

If passed, the bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

These provisions affect approximately 2.8 million public sector workers in the U.S., including firefighters, EMTs, police officers, teachers and other government employees, who are currently seeing their Social Security benefits reduced or eliminated.

Impact of WEP on civil servant benefits

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) affects individuals who have earned retirement or disability benefits from public sector work that is not covered by Social Security, while also working a separate job that is covered by Social Security.

This provision often reduces Social Security benefits earned through private sector work, even if that income is earned independently.

For example, a firefighter who works part-time in a job covered by Social Security, such as in a retail store, will see a reduction in the Social Security benefits he earns from that job because of the WEP.

The Social Security Fairness Act seeks to address this disparity and provide affected workers with full Social Security benefits.

Effects of government pension compensation on families

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces social security benefits for spouses or survivors for those whose public sector work does not contribute to social security.

This affects the families of many civil servants by reducing or even wiping out benefits for spouses and surviving spouses of those affected.

The GPO could have significant consequences for widows and spouses of civil servants who rely on their partner’s social security benefits for financial support.

By eliminating this offset, the proposed Social Security Fairness Act would ensure that families of public service workers receive the full benefits originally intended.

Legislative process of the Social Security Fairness Act

The Social Security Fairness Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), is gaining momentum.

On September 10, 2024, Graves and Spanberger filed a petition for discharge to expedite the path to a vote in the House of Representatives.

In less than 24 hours, the petition had collected 119 signatures and within nine days the required 218 signatures had been obtained, which would put the bill directly to the vote.

The IAFC has encouraged its members to contact their representatives, stressing that passage of this legislation would provide firefighters, ambulance professionals and other public servants and their families with fairer compensation for their years of service.

The U.S. House to Vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, Aiming to Restore Full Benefits to Public Employees: Summary

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82), which would repeal two existing provisions – the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) – that currently reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits. for approximately 2.8 million civil servants in the United States.

These provisions affect public pension workers who also earn Social Security benefits from private sector jobs, as well as spouses and surviving spouses of public sector workers.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), follows a dismissal petition that received sufficient support in September.

The IAFC has urged public sector officials and supporters to advocate for the bill’s passage, highlighting the impact this change would have on fair pay for the firefighters, ambulance crews and other workers in the public sector.