Senate passes Social Security Fairness Act [5HoDfqmN5NU]
Senate passes Social Security Fairness Act The Senate passed a bill to increase Social Security benefits for 3 million public sector workers, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers. The bill eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce benefits for workers who have both Social Security and government pensions. The WEP affects workers with fewer than 30 years of Social Security earnings who receive pensions from non-Social Security jobs. The GPO reduces spousal or survivor benefits for those who receive pensions from non-Social Security employment. The Congressional Research Service estimates that 28% of state and local government employees and most federal employees hired before 1984 are affected by the GPO and WEP. Supporters argue that these provisions penalize public sector workers who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities. Opponents contend that the bill is unaffordable and will accelerate Social Security's insolvency date. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will cost nearly $200 billion over 10 years, potentially advancing the insolvency date by six months.