The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote in November on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, as reported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
This legislation proposes to remove two provisions in the Social Security system, which currently prevent some public servants from receiving the full extent of their earned benefits.
If passed, the bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
These provisions affect approximately 2.8 million public service workers across the U.S., including firefighters, EMS workers, police officers, educators, and other government employees, who currently see their Social Security benefits reduced or eliminated.
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) impacts individuals who have earned a pension or disability benefit from non-Social Security-covered public sector work while also holding separate Social Security-covered employment.
This provision often reduces Social Security benefits earned from private sector work, even if that income was independently accrued.
For instance, a firefighter who works part-time in a job covered by Social Security, such as at a retail store, sees a reduction in the Social Security benefits earned through that job because of the WEP.
The Social Security Fairness Act seeks to address this inequity, restoring full Social Security benefits to affected workers.
The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for those whose public sector work does not contribute to Social Security.
This impacts the families of many public servants, as it decreases or even nullifies benefits for spouses and surviving spouses of those affected.
The GPO can significantly affect widows and spouses of public servants who rely on their partner’s Social Security benefits for financial support.
By eliminating this offset, the proposed Social Security Fairness Act would ensure that families of public service workers receive the complete benefits originally intended.
The Social Security Fairness Act, co-sponsored by Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), has been gaining momentum.
On September 10, 2024, Graves and Spanberger filed a discharge petition to expedite the bill’s path to a House vote.
In fewer than 24 hours, the petition had garnered 119 signatures, and within nine days, the required 218 signatures were secured, ensuring the bill would move directly to the floor for a vote.
The IAFC has encouraged its members to contact their representatives, emphasizing that the passing of this legislation would provide firefighters, EMS professionals, and other public servants and their families with fairer compensation for their years of service.
The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would repeal two existing provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—that currently reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for approximately 2.8 million public servants in the United States.
These provisions impact workers with public pensions who also earn Social Security benefits from private sector jobs, as well as spouses and surviving spouses of public sector employees.
Sponsored by Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the bill’s progression to a vote follows a discharge petition that gathered sufficient support in September.
The IAFC has urged public service workers and supporters to advocate for the bill’s passage, highlighting the impact this change would have on fair compensation for the nation’s firefighters, EMS personnel, and other public service workers.
