Why is the Social Security Fairness Act Important?
Under the GPO, a widow or widower’s spousal Social Security benefit is reduced or eliminated if s/he is eligible for a pension from a local, state, or federal government job that was not covered by Social Security. Similarly, the WEP reduces a worker’s own Social Security benefits if that worker is also eligible for a federal, state, or local pension from a job that was not covered by Social Security. Those who receive private rather than state pensions and spouses who never contributed to Social Security do not receive these reductions. Yet today’s teachers and first responders, those who nurture our children and protect us from danger, are punished upon retirement for a decision (not to participate in the Social Security system) that is often out of their hands-typically made by their employer, years before the employment relationship in question ever began. Although the Social Security Fairness Act has been introduced repeatedly over the past several years, the House Republican lead
