NEA Resources

Resources to Help Fix Pension Offset, 'Windfall' Provisions

Congress won't act unless they hear from their constituents. You can make a difference by:

• Telling your friends, family and colleagues across the country about this problem.
• Writing or calling your members of Congress.

NEA offers the following resources to those who want to help:

• Send an email to your federal representatives through NEA's Legislative Action Center.
• View a sample letter to Congress
• View a list of congressional leaders to contact.
• Learn how to write an effective letter to Congress.

Take a Quick Quiz

Here's a quick quiz to test your knowledge and understanding of how Social Security benefits are applied to many public employees.

NEA Fights to Repeal SS Rules that Reduce Retirees to Poverty

In "Retiring on Next to Nothing" NEA Today reports on true stories that demonstrate the personal tragedies caused by the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision and on NEA's efforts to correct the injustices they inflict on public school employees. (February 2002)

Educators Call on Congress to Respect Public Service

This NEA news release reports that more than 140 NEA members traveled to Washington, D.C., to urge their elected representatives to "repeal laws that reduce the Social Security benefits of public employees." (May 2002)

Provisions Unfairly Target Public Employees

While retired public employees have their Social Security or survivor benefits reduced, non-public employees with private pensions get to keep their entire pension and receive their full Social Security or survivor benefits. Read how these provisions affect hundreds of thousands of the nation's public employees.

Brief History of Pension Offset and 'Windfall' Provisions

The "Brief history of pension offset and 'windfall' provisions" offers some background on the Government Pension Offset enacted in 1977 and the Windfall Elimination Provision enacted in 1983 as amendments to the 1935 Social Security Act.

Real Stories About Real People

There are countless stories of hardship and some real tragedies caused by the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision amendments to the Social Security Act. We urge you to read about just some of them.