Social Security Offsets (GPO/WEP)
HIGHLIGHTS
NATIONAL FISCAL COMMISSION SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENTS
The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, appointed by President Obama, has been charged with identifying policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run. Entitlement programs such as Social Security fall within the Commission’s jurisdiction. The Commission will make recommendations to Congress and the President by December 1, 2010.
The Commission is soliciting comments via e-mail. E-mail the Commission at commission@fc.eop.gov. Tell them that Social Security Social Security is the cornerstone of the social safety net for America’s retired workers and that the program and its benefits must be protected. Share with the Commission your story about how the offsets have impacted you, or will impact you, when you retire. Urge Commission members to call for repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. Also urge Commission members to oppose privatization of Social Security and mandatory social security coverage.
Read NEA's written submission to the Commission.
NEA's Social Security Fairness Task Force Chair Lee Schreiner presented at a National GPO/WEP Summit in March 2010 – providing information about NEA’s campaign to repeal the offsets. NEA showed our new Social Security offsets video and distributed advocacy packets to Summit participants.
Urge Congress: Repeal Unfair Social Security Offsets
NEA supports repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which penalize some public employees by cutting or taking away completely Social Security benefits they or their spouse earned.
Legislation (H.R. 235/S. 484) to completely repeal the GPO/WEP has been reintroduced in the House and the Senate. See if your Representative and Senators are cosponsors.
NEA Supports this proposal.
Your help is needed! Tell your Representatives in Congress: Stop penalizing public service! Repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.
NEA's other legislative priorities for Social Security:
- NEA opposes any efforts to privatize Social Security.
- NEA works to ensure that public employees who are enrolled in and have paid into other retirement security plans are not mandated to participate in Social Security. You can make a difference.
- Join the nationwide call to action and use these resources to advocate for the repeal of the GPO/WEP.
The NEA Activist Toolkit is available to assist you in your advocacy efforts on this issue.
Background
TAKE ACTION
Tell your Representatives in Congress: Stop penalizing public service! Repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision
Video
Penalties for Public Service
See for yourself how unfair laws threaten the retirement security of educators. Women are disproportionately impacted. Tell Congress to support the Social Security Fairness Act and repeal laws that discourage qualified educators from the profession.
RELATED ITEMS
What Happened to My Retirement?Some retired educators are paying a price for their years of public service. Does that sound fair to you?
RELATED TOPICS
The Basics- NEA's Position on Social Security Offsets
- NEA on the Issues: Social Security
- NEA Messages to Congress
- NEA Testimony to Congress
- Real Stories from People Affected by the GPO and WEP
- NEA's Partners in the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity
Does GPO/WEP Affect Me?
