There’s a renewed push to restore full Social Security benefits to two million retirees, by passing the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82/S. 597). The legislation would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), both of which currently reduce Social Security benefits for select workers and beneficiaries. The bipartisan legislation has more than 300 cosponsors in the House and 49 cosponsors in the Senate.
Impact of WEP/GPO
The WEP impacts workers who earned a pension from an employer who did not withhold Social Security taxes and worked a separate job where they paid Social Security taxes. Many impacted workers are government workers from across the spectrum, including law enforcement, teachers, postal workers, firefighters, and others. Those affected are also Polish Americans who worked both in Poland and the United States
For those affected by WEP, Social Security benefits are calculated using a worker’s average indexed monthly earnings. It’s then plugged into a formula to calculate basic benefit amount, often resulting in a 40 percent to 90 percent reduction in benefits. For the GPO, spousal benefits are reduced by two-thirds if the retiree worked in a job not covered by Social Security. The benefits could be zero if two-thirds of the government pension is more than the Social Security benefit.
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) can affect how Social Security calculates your retirement or disability benefit. See this document EN-05-10045
WHY IS IT UNFAIR TO MANY CITIZENS OF POLAND?
The WEP unfairly reduces the U.S. Social Security benefits of not only U.S. government workers but also of those who have worked both in the United States and another country.
U.S. citizens who have worked outside the U.S., naturalized U.S. citizens who have worked in their country of birth, and legal immigrants all have their monthly Social Security pension significantly reduced because they receive a foreign pension.
For 2023, their Social Security pension can be reduced by up to $557.50 monthly.
The WEP disproportionately affects lower-income earners, and a large number of these earners are foreign pension recipients whose combined income is often at or near the poverty level
WHAT ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE WEP
Repeal the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
US. Congress pass Pass House Bill H.R. 82 and Senate Bill S. 597
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
ACTION 1: EMAIL THIS LETTER TO EACH REPRESENTATIVE. (Staffer email addresses for this group of Representatives are listed after this letter.)
Subject: Call for a “mark-up” session—Repeal the WEP & GPO through a favorable “mark-up” of H.R. 82.
Dear Representative,
On November 20, 2023, a successful field hearing (https://bit.ly/3U2J6Ua) was held for the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). We saw immense and enthusiastic support from legislators and witnesses for repealing these Social Security penalties.
Coupled with this important hearing, H.R. 82, the bill to repeal the WEP and GPO, has overwhelming bipartisan support represented by 304 cosponsors. Please bring this decades-old injustice to a close by requesting a “mark-up” session for the bill to assist in getting the repeal to a favorable conclusion.
The notion that repealing the WEP and GPO would negatively impact the solvency of the Social Security trust funds is unfounded. For nearly 50 years, the Social Security Administration has used our earned benefits to bolster the funds and maintain its solvency. The only way to rectify this unfair situation is to repeal the WEP and GPO through federal legislation. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to your help in repealing the penalties in the 118th Congress.
Thank you,
(Your name)
Staffer Email addresses for Day 1 Representatives are:
#FavorablyMarkUpHR82—Bring decades-old injustice of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) to a favorable conclusion.
Thank you!
Representatives’ X handles for Day 1 are:
@RepTerriSewell
@RepDavid
@RepThompson
@RepJimmyPanetta
@RepJudyChu
@RepLindaSanchez
@RepSteel
@RepJohnLarson
ACTION 3: POST THIS COMMENT ON THE REPRESENTATIVE’S FACEBOOK PAGE. (Representatives’ Facebook page addresses are listed after the comment.)
Foreign pension recipients are counting on you, , to help #EliminateWEPGPO in 2024, and H.R. 82 does just that!
It is time to bring the decades-old injustice of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) to a close, so please request a “mark-up” session for the bill, moving forward to #FavorablyMarkUpHR82.
Representatives’ Facebook addresses for Day 1 are:
