U.S. House passes bill to repeal WEP, GPO
Social Security Fairness Act moves on to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain
By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Nov. 13, 2024 – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Social Security Fairness Act, a measure that would repeal two Social Security offsets that impact 2.8 million Americans, including more than 265,000 Ohioans.
Known also as H.R. 82, the act would do away with the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which reduce Social Security benefits for many workers who also have a pension based on non-Social Security-covered earnings.
H.R. 82 is now headed for the Senate, where its future is uncertain. Opponents have pointed out that the bill would run an estimated $196 billion over 10 years and that no funds have been set aside to cover the extra cost.
The House bill had 330 cosponsors but recently appeared to be stalled after some maneuvering by several members of that chamber. But on Nov. 12, it passed under suspension of the rules, by a vote of 327-75. All 15 members of the Ohio House delegation voted in favor of the bill.
The measure’s passage followed years of work by its main sponsors, Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va. The representatives released a statement that read in part:
“By passing the Social Security Fairness Act, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives showed up for the millions of Americans — police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other local and state public servants — who worked a second job to make ends meet or began a second career to support their families after retiring from public service. A bipartisan majority of the U.S. House voted to provide a secure retirement to the hundreds of thousands of spouses, widows, and widowers who are denied their spouses’ Social Security benefits simply because they chose careers of service.
“These tireless advocates have for decades urged their elected representatives to listen to their stories and correct this injustice — and today, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House voted for them. For more than 40 years, the Social Security trust funds have been artificially propped up by stolen benefits that millions of Americans paid for and that their families deserve.”
Also this week, an effort to pass the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, which would reform, rather than repeal, the WEP, failed to pass.
OPERS staff will continue to follow the progress of H.R. 82 in the coming weeks and provide updates as they become available. Earlier this year we posted a blog that took an in-depth look at the issue.
Michael Pramik
Michael Pramik is communication strategist for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and editor of the PERSpective blog. As an experienced business journalist, he clarifies complex pension policies and helps members make smart choices to secure their retirement.
It is about time
Thanks for the info. Hope and pray it goes through. Please keep us informed.
Just under 20 years in pers and 22 years in social security. I went with Opers for retirement Ssi I get a third of what I earned that doesn’t seem toooooooo fair.only because of this stupid law , there is no reason for it outher then jealousnes .
I think when president Ronald Reagan sign that bill, he wasn’t all there, just like Biden is today.
Does this mean we will no longer receive our VIA reimbursement if this passes for what we pay for our health insurance? When will this go into effect?
Barbara,
The bill has nothing to do with OPERS health care or any OPERS benefits. It’s related to the Social Security retirement benefit that some public workers receive if they contributed to Social Security retirement. As stated in the blog, it wouldn’t go into effect until it passes the Senate and the president signs it.
It is only fair that those of us who did work enough to get both should be able to access both.are we going to get the mo ey we should have gotten when we retired , both OPERS and. Social Security
How does this bill differ from the Social Security Fairness Act, S.597?
Chris,
The Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act is a companion bill. While it’s not identical to the House version, it’s substantially the same.
WEP and GPO is in effect as some states employees (including Ohio) don’t pay into both OPERS and Social Security. If the H.R. 82 passes the Senate and is signed by the president, would we then begin to pay into both?
Tonia,
There is no provision in the bill for that.
I paid into social security for 36 years, 21 of which was while I was in the U.S. Navy. I had never heard of WEP until I retired from Butler County and applied for social security. I have been WEP’d for 18 years. IT’S ABOUT TIME A REAL ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE TO CORRECT THIS WRONG
WEP needs repealed now or it is delayed and it’s inequitable for those who worked private industry and paid into social security to not receive their full benefits. Ohio is one of the few states with this provision and it has created hardships for many. Please push this legislation in favor of repealing it’s time for equitable payment for what we’ve paid into social security now this year. Kicking the can down the road again and again doesn’t resolve anything and We The People need equitable treatment instead of being penalized. Enough is enough. Not having the money is inexcusable our Government is supposed to work for us not against us. This provision should have never been initiated or passed in the first place. Thank you.
I also only get one third of my SS because of WEP. When I was singing up for SS and was informed of the cut, I mentioned to the guy from SS that this would happen to him too. He said “Oh no I won’t, I work for the government “! So tell me how’s that’s fair!
I am a retired CPA. WEP affected my Social Security benefits even though I had over 19 years of substantial earnings under SS. I worked under PERS for 11 years.
GPO affected my widow’s benefits. My husband never worked under a government pension plan and his SS benefit was three times more than my SS benefit. The GPO rule required that 2/3 of my small Ohio pension be subtracted from my widow’s benefit when he passed away. I have emailed Senator Schumer asking him to bring the bill to the floor for a vote before this session ends.
With the current political climate, I look forward to more unfair practices to come for hard working middle class people. Senate will bury this.
Your Democratic buddies have been in office the last 4 years and 8 before that but have done nothing with it. Sooo
I believe it has 62 co-sponsors in the Senate. This should get passed before the end of December. That of course is just my humble opinion.
When will it be voted on at the senate level, if it passes will biden sign it this year?
Shelly,
It’s not clear whether the Senate will vote on it or not. If a vote is not held by the end of the year, the bill will fail and a new one will have to be initiated in future Congressional sessions.
Thank goodness!! Let’s all contact our Senators and ask them to pass this! Ohio is one of only 3 states that have this punitive system. The lawmakers always seem to find funding for the things they want and Ohio currently has a surplus – so money should NOT BE the issue to continue this unfair practice. I spent 27 years paying into Social Security BEFORE the 20 years I’ve worked for the State. Why should I be denied the bulk of my Social Security benefits over this stupid WEP!!!! This issue comes up repeatedly and has always failed. LET’S GET IT PASSED THIS TIME!!!!
Thank goodness — I have NEVER understood why I would not get my full Social Security benefits, while others, who have never worked get Social Security. To provide for my family, I had to get a job after retirement, and I made sure it was in a state-pension funded position so that I could have it go towards an annuity. Why would I want to work, contribute to SS and not get my full benefits. Many call me a double-dipper, but I explain to them the benefits I DON’T receive, but paid into and they now understand why many who have retired under a state pension and need to go back to work, select a position that has a state pension.
This is awesome news! I have a question to clarify something: In the article’s 6th paragraph, it states “…police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other local and state public servants — who worked a second job to make ends meet or began a second career to support their families after retiring from public service…”
My concern is that I worked in the private sector for 20+ years and THEN started a job 19 years ago at an Ohio county agency contributing to OPERS, where I currently work. Does it matter if you worked for the private sector first and then now in OPERS? (or visa versa) I’m assuming it does not matter, just due to the fact that I contributed to Soc Security for those 20 years. I appreciate any feedback/answers.
Melinda,
No, it doesn’t matter which type of job you do first. There is more information on Social Security’s website about the WEP/. In fact, you can use a calculator on the Social Security website to estimate the effect of the WEP on your Social Security benefit.
Thank you for this update. I too have been following the progress and crossing my fingers it passes in the Senate and soon!
Wow this is amazing news. I am a person who has worked 2 jobs continuously for more than 30 years. 1 in SSA and 1 in OPERS. Please let me collect both when I retire in 12 years. Knowing I might be able to retire with enough to live on is why I push myself to work so hard now. PLEASE lets get this bill passed.
I have 26 “credits” of service paid toward my SS benefit. When my last private-sector job was outsourced, I was lucky enough to find employment with a municipality and get into the OPERS system. However, having the SS portion of my retirement reduced (assuming it’s even there by the time the incoming administration gets done with their reforms) means I will likely never be able to retire, and that is not the future I’ve worked for since I was 16! There is definitely no “windfall” for most of us – it’s desperately needed income that we’ve paid for most of our working lives.
IF, IF this comes into effect, will people retired under OPERS, SERS & STERS be paid for monies lost SINCE RETIREMENT? Meaning will they ‘backpay’ money that was lost to SS or just start at the beginning of whenever it is signed?
If it is not signed by the end of the year, I have little hope it will ever go into effect if it has to be started/initiated all over again.
Philip,
There is no catch-up provision in the Social Security Fairness Act.
No one here seems to be paying any attention to the cost: the $196 billlion over 10 years. SS is already running on fumes: in 10 years or so, if nothing is done, benefits for all those on SS will be cut. The passing of the Social Security Fairness act will bring those cuts closer. If it’s not paid for, everyone is hurt. So when you contact your reps, tell them to work on a full solution.
As members who have paid into social security and will receive a future retirement from OPers what do you suggest we do to support this bill?
Patty,
Because the bill is now in the Senate’s hands, you might try contacting your senators.
As a payroll clerk, I have always hated making new hires sign off on the Windfall Elimination Provision paperwork. If you worked and earned all of your quarters under social security and then work enough time to earn a pension- collecting both is not a WINDFALL!!!! It is simply reaping the benefit of the years you put in under both systems.
We continue to allow the government to raid ssi , do you think their IOU will ever be repaid, stop the bleed, do some research and see what has been going on for years., tell me if I am wrong
Worked private sector for 30 years, full SS credits. Working for the State 10+ years, hoping to retire soon. I hope my hard work pays off, not fair to be penalized.
We need for this to pass. I worked hard to get my Social Security. Please email your senators. We all did. Thank you.