A Long-Awaited Victory: Public Workers Set To Receive Higher Social Security Benefits After Senate Passes Social Security Fairness Act

On Dec. 21, the U.S. Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill to eliminate reductions in social security benefits for millions of Americans. With a vote of 76-20, the bill now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for final approval. This marks a significant milestone for retired educators, firefighters, police officers and government employees. 

For decades, certain provisions have reduced Social Security payments for retirees receiving public pensions. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) were initially set to prevent overlapping benefits but have been widely criticized as unfair. 

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"Millions of retired teachers, firefighters, letter carriers and state and local workers have waited decades for this moment," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor. "No longer will public retirees see their hard-earned Social Security benefits robbed, thanks to this bill."

Repealing the WEP and GPO will restore full Social Security benefits to nearly three million retirees nationwide. Advocates argue that these workers deserve the benefits they've contributed to throughout their careers. 

"Everyone knows a teacher, firefighter, law enforcement officer, nurse or public worker who's paid into Social Security year after year, only to have their payments curbed by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset when they retire," said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers. 

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Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a leading advocate for the bill, said Social Security is a bedrock of the American middle class that public workers pay into like anyone else and that the WEP and GPO restrictions make no sense. "These workers serve the public," he said, addressing the Senate. "They protect our communities. They teach our kids."

National organizations representing public workers have also praised the decision. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's website shares celebratory messages from those in the National Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Education Association and others. 

Rebecca Pringle, president of the National Education Association, celebrated the bipartisan effort, saying, "Public service workers have been waiting 40 years for this wrong to be righted and we are grateful that members of Congress, in both the House and now the Senate, put aside partisan politics to come together and pass the Social Security Fairness Act."

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While the legislation is celebrated for its fairness, not everyone agrees it is the right path forward. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), repealing the WEP and GPO will add an estimated $195 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade. The Social Security Trust Funds, already projected to be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2035, will see their insolvency date increased by about six months.

Critics of the bill, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, expressed concerns about its long-term impact. "We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis," he said. Others, like Sen. Rand Paul, proposed alternative solutions such as gradually raising the Social Security retirement age, though such amendments gained little support.

The bill now awaits President Biden's signature. Once enacted, it will provide immediate relief to retirees who have seen reduced benefits for years. Since the bill was set to apply to payments beginning January 2024, the CBO suggests that benefits owed before fiscal year 2025 may be paid retroactively. 

This legislation represents a long-awaited victory for public service retirees and a step toward a fairer retirement system. Stay informed about updates on Social Security and other retirement-related news to plan for your future.

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