Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Government Pension Offset and The Windfall Elimination Provision, Why These 2 Social Security Provisions Should Be Repealed
The Government Pension Offset and The Windfall Elimination Provision, Why These 2 Social Security Provisions Should Be Repealed
The Government Pension Offset and The Windfall Elimination Provision, Why These 2 Social Security Provisions Should Be Repealed
The GPO and WEP are unfair to public employees Prepared by SSFAIRNESS.COM For use by public in fight to repeal the GPO/WEP
Even though you and/or your spouse have paid the required minimum or more into Social Security, your benefits may be cut by thousands of dollars or completely eliminated!
You have had two jobs: one in which you paid Social Security taxes and therefore earned your own Social Security credits and another job in which you did not pay SS taxes. Penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
You must pay a higher rate Medicare premium if you lose all Social Security benefits.
You will be denied the $255 burial payment sent by the Social Security Administration to other bereaved families, if you are a widow/ widower with a government pension.
It is not uncommon to be penalized by both the Government Pension Offset (GP0) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
Social Security & public pensions are different. The offsets were based on a decision to treat pensions from certain public positions as if they were the same as benefits from federal programs such as Social Security, despite the fact that these non-covered state and local positions have nothing to do with Social Security.
Why Social Security and public pensions are different. These pensions were earned separately and differently from Social Security, yet they are used to reduce the amount of Social Security benefits that a worker receives during retirement. When participation is required by both Social Security and also State and local pensions, the public pension is earned and collected separately.
Federal Tax Law differs for Social Security & public pensions
Federal tax law treats Social Security & public agency pension benefits differently. While federal income tax is collected on public agency pensions, Social Security benefits are sheltered, often completely, from this tax. State community property laws may treat them differently, also. These two differences are even more evidence that a public pension should not be used to offset the amount of Social Security earned.
All who pay full Social Security contributions do not receive full benefits. The present GPO/WEP do not treat all citizens equally when computing benefits. It is possible to pay Social Security taxes of as much as $90,000 and perhaps more and, yet, receive nothing in retirement benefits.
Affordable cost to restore these benefits which were duly paid for
The cost of repeal of the GPO/WEP is minimal when compared to the total amount paid to retirees annually. In addition, these benefits were paid for by required Social Security taxes. The cost of repeal of the GPO/WEP is only 2% of the overall Social Security costs paid to recipients. Find Estimated Trust Fund Information at http://www.ssa.gov.
The GPO/WEP penalizes more women than men. The GPO currently penalizes about one half million retirees. 80% of them are women. Of those affected, the average non-covered pension for men was $961 more per month than those paid to women. (NARFE)
GPO/WEP cuts to earned benefits are substantial, commonly causing serious lifestyle reductions, sometimes even to poverty levels. 75% of those affected by GPO lose their entire spousal benefits. Even a pension of as little as $1,500/month can cause TOTAL LOSS of needed survivor benefits. Few people can survive on that amount without the addition of Social Security benefits which have been fully paid for as required.
In 2005 law to inform new employees But, still not well understood
New Public employees still not well informed. The law to require notification of new employees about the WEP/GPO did not go into effect until 2005. Even with notification, the WEP/GPO are so lacking in logic and complex, that many of these new employees still do not understand their long term financial effects.
Serious information gap remains Especially for those hired before 2005 and even pre-retirees
Furthermore, there has been no requirement that employers inform those hired before 2005 of the effect that the GPO/WEP penalties will have on their retirement income if they will be social security recipients or beneficiaries Not even pre-retirees are informed when counseled on retirement and what income to expect. Expected benefits disappear With NO prior notification!
The GPO/WEP do not treat all citizens in an equitable manner when distributing Social Security benefits. Our government is built upon democratic principles, and therefore all laws should abide by the principle of equal rights for all citizens.
Sign up to receive Action Alerts Share two explanatory PowerPoint presentations Spread the word about our cause
Join our Facebook page, Social Security Fairness Repeal the GPO/WEP
Lets Go Viral
Mark Like and use Share option to publicize the cause
Write your Senators and Representatives Write editorials for local newspapers Explain to family, friends, and colleagues
Now is the time Social Security changes are being considered and there is a window of opportunity. This may be our last chance to be heard for quite some time to come. Just as Gandhi persisted, we too must persist.