The Social Security Fairness Act heads to a vote in the House of Representatives this month

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, in November, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) reports.

This legislation proposes to eliminate two provisions in the social security system that currently prevent some civil 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 U.S. public employees, including firefighters, emergency responders, police officers, educators and other government employees, whose Social Security benefits are currently being reduced or eliminated.

Effects of WEP on the performance of civil servants

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) affects people who have received a pension or disability pension through work in the public sector that is not subject to social insurance contributions and at the same time have separate employment subject to social insurance contributions.

This provision often reduces Social Security benefits earned through work in the private sector, even if that income was independently earned.

For example, a firefighter who works part-time in a job that requires Social Security, such as a retail store, will see a reduction in the Social Security benefits he receives from that job because of the WEP.

The Social Security Fairness Act aims to address this inequality by restoring full Social Security benefits to affected workers.

Effects of state pension equalization on families

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for those whose work in the public sector does not contribute to Social Security.

This has an impact on the families of many civil servants, as it reduces or even eliminates benefits for spouses and surviving spouses of those affected.

The GPO may have a significant impact on widows and spouses of civil 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 workers receive the full benefits originally intended.

Legislative Pathway of the Social Security Fairness Act

The Social Security Fairness Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), has gained momentum.

On September 10, 2024, Graves and Spanberger filed a discharge motion to expedite the bill's path to a House vote.

In less than 24 hours, the petition had garnered 119 signatures, and within nine days the required 218 signatures were secured, ensuring the bill went straight to a vote.

The IAFC has urged its members to contact their representatives, emphasizing that the passage of this law would provide firefighters, EMTs and other public servants, as well as their families, with fairer compensation for their years of service.

The US House of Representatives will vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to restore full benefits to civil servants: summary

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 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 about 2.8 million civil servants in the United States.

These provisions affect workers with public pensions who also receive Social Security benefits from private sector jobs, as well as spouses and surviving spouses of public sector employees.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), was brought to a vote following a relief petition that garnered sufficient support in September.

The IAFC has urged public service employees and supporters to advocate for the passage of the law, emphasizing the impact this change would have on equitable compensation for the nation's firefighters, emergency personnel and other public service employees.