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WEP/GPO
www.ssfairness.com
Contact Congress
From the
NARFE website:
National
Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees
Social
Security Reform Momentum
Despite the fact that Social Security’s judgment day comes much later than
Medicare’s, there appears to be some momentum toward overall Social Security
reform sooner rather than later. Indeed, prior to the report’s release, House
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-MD; Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-IL;
and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, held tentative talks on moving Social Security
reform as early as this fall if a bipartisan consensus emerges. However,
consideration of Social Security may have to wait until Congress has completed
work on health care reform.
During the 110th Congress (2007-2008), then-President Bush insisted that any
reform legislation include his proposal to partially privatize Social Security,
which was opposed by the Democrat-controlled Congress. According to Sen. Judd
Gregg, R-NH, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, Republicans have
taken privatization off the table to encourage Democrats to negotiate.
An
Opportunity for GPO and WEP
“The silver lining of an overhaul of Social Security is that it would provide a
legislative vehicle to which to attach proposals to repeal or reform the unfair
and arbitrary Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall
Elimination Provision (WEP),” said NARFE President Margaret L. Baptiste.
“Unfortunately, the precarious position of the Social Security Trust Fund means
that our task will be a heavy lift. That’s why NARFE members must make the case
with their own representatives and senators that addressing the GPO and WEP in
Social Security reform legislation must be a priority.”
We
need action and support as we prepare for the BIG PUSH.......If you have not
signed the NEA WEP/GPO electronic petition or our Gmail ssfairness newletter or
talked with someone about this issue, don't expect WEP/GPO legislation to be
repealed.
Here
are four personal "stories" I receive from affected public service employees who
are impacted by WEP/GPO.
WEP
An outstanding long-term
educator, colleague recently retired, and just applied for Social Security. He
had taught in a private high school in southern California (SS) for 13 years
before coming to Sonoma
County, where he taught in a public high school for 25
years (STRS). To supplement his income, he also worked in the wine industry
for 18 years (SS). He has found out that, “because I have a school pension I
lose half of my social security and because I receive too much pension I will
give 20% of my paltry social security benefit back to the federal government."
WEP
Due to my former husband's (31
yrs of marriage) engineering career, much of my own employment was working at
military bases. We moved around the country as he transferred often. My pay
was low in those days (1960's to 1980's). I cashed in my very small retirement
benefits (less than $3,000) over those years. When I reached 65 yrs of age, I
applied for benefits based on my own meager earnings. Social Security contacted
me, and I was told I could draw on his earnings. I am still getting that
amount. 10 yrs ago, I applied for a job at a small community college in IL and
was hired. I was NEVER told that this employment would affect my social
security checks, since I do not pay into SS but rather into the State of IL
pension program. I am now 70 yrs old and want to retire, but I will be unable
to keep my present SS benefit intact due to this WEP and GPO provision. I will
be destitute, as I have no savings to fall back on. How can I retire? I will
have no money to even pay my mortgage and car payment! Here I am, 70 yrs old,
have had a stroke, and must keep working to keep what meager assets I have.
This is WRONG!!!!! Please do something to correct this horrible inequity.
GPO
Like many of my fellow teachers I
worked in the private sector before becoming a teacher. I now found that I will
be denied SS money that I earned, and benefits should my husband die. I know
teachers who after finding this out quit teaching to save their SS benefits.
This law is causing many wonderful people to not go into teaching. What a shame
to lose, in many cases, highly qualified and dedicated professionals from the
private sector, who have always wanted to teach, but could not afford it.
GPO
It would be very helpful to have
Soc Security benefits from my deceased husband. I had to retire early because he
had a massive stroke. He survived for over 12 years. My financial picture is
survival. I appreciate that I can do that. However, if I had worked for a
corporation and received a pension, I would have been able to draw some of his
benefits.
All the best,
Mark Reischling
SSFairness
Outreach Chair
An
Open Letter to MRTA on WEP/GPO-from MRTA Executive Director, Jim Kreider
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