US House set to vote on Social Security Fairness Act aimed at restoring full benefits to public employees

The Social Security Fairness Act moves to a vote in the House this month

It is expected the US House of Representatives vote in November on HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, as reported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

This legislation proposes to eliminate two provisions of the Social Security system that currently prevent some public employees from receiving the full extent of their accrued 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 employees across the United States, including firefighters, EMS workers, police officers, educators and other government employees, who are currently seeing their Social Security benefits reduced or eliminated.

Impact of WEP on public employee benefits

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) affects individuals who have earned a pension or disability benefit from non-Social Security-covered public employment while also having separate Social Security-covered employment.

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

For example, a firefighter who works part-time in a job covered by Social Security, such as in a retail store, sees a reduction in the Social Security benefits earned through that job because of WEP.

The Social Security Fairness Act seeks to address this inequity and restore full Social Security benefits to affected workers.

Effects of the public pension offset on families

The Public Pension Compensation (GPO) reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for those whose public work does not contribute to Social Security.

This affects the families of many public servants as it reduces or even cancels benefits for the affected spouses and dependents.

The GPO can significantly affect widows and spouses of public employees who rely on their spouse’s Social Security benefits for financial support.

By eliminating this offset, the proposed Social Security Fairness Act would ensure that families of public employees receive the full benefits originally intended.

Legislative Journey to the Social Security Fairness Act

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

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

In less than 24 hours, the petition had gained 119 signatures, and within nine days the necessary 218 signatures were secured, ensuring that the bill would move directly to the floor for a vote.

The IAFC has encouraged its members to contact their representatives, stressing that the passage of this legislation will provide firefighters, EMS professionals and other public servants and their families with fairer compensation for their years of service.

US House set to vote on Social Security Fairness Act aimed at restoring full benefits to public employees: 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 approximately 2, 8 million public employees in the United States.

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

Sponsored by Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the bill’s advance to the floor follows a discharge petition that gathered sufficient support in September.

The IAFC has urged public employees and supporters to advocate for the bill’s passage, highlighting the impact this amendment would have on fair compensation for the nation’s firefighters, EMS personnel and other public service workers.