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Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public School Personnel

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WEP/GPO


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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or our Gmail ssfairness newletter or talked with someone about this issue, don't expect WEP/GPO legislation to be repealed.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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