APWU – 9/19/22 – For years, APWU has been fighting to end the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which dramatically reduce the Social Security benefits of many retirees. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), is scheduled for a vote by the House Ways and Means Committee. The vote is an accomplishment for APWU’s long-running campaign to correct this injustice.
The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal the WEP, which penalizes many APWU retirees who receive a civil service pension but paid into Social Security in previous employment. It also repeals the GPO, which unfairly penalizes many spouses and widows with prior employment pensions.
This vote means that we are closer than ever to removing the GPO and WEP. However, we must continue fighting to make sure that the bill is voted out of committee with a bipartisan majority. That bipartisan majority is key to making sure it does not stall in the Senate, where it will likely need broad support to pass. Similarly, we must keep pressure on the House of Representatives to guarantee that the bill receives a floor vote before the end of the month.
It is more important than ever to let your member of Congress know that you support this bill. APWU is holding a National Day of Action to call House members on Tuesday, Sept 20. We encourage everyone to participate. Contact your representative by calling our legislative hotline at 844-402-1001 and urge them to support the Social Security Fairness Act.
Also from NALC:
A vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) is expected in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. In advance of the anticipated vote, NALC wants to hear from you. Please fill out this form and tell us how the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) have affected you.
H.R. 82 would repeal the GPO and the WEP titles of the Social Security Act, which unfairly reduce or sometimes eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of federal workers, including letter carriers. On July 15, the bill reached 290 cosponsors in the House. Under current House rules, when a bill reaches 290 cosponsors it can go to the House floor for a vote after 30 days if the committee of jurisdiction, the House Committee on Ways and means for H.R. 82, does not act. With 298 bipartisan cosponsors, a vote on H.R. 82 is expected before the end of the month.
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