Although the final version of the TCJA did not repeal As part of the 320-page bill, the GOP also proposes to block Bidens plan to grant student loan forgiveness, repeal green energy tax credits and kill new Internal (a) WebCongress passed the WEP to prevent workers who receive non-covered pensions from receiving higher Social Security benefits as if they were long-time, low-wage earners. I believe this is possible, but only if we continue to do our part to keep the pressure on. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, H.R. The commission shall post a report received under subsection (1) on its The legislation would apply to benefits payable for months after the bill is enacted. Mass Retirees is committed to working as hard as we possibly can, for as long as it takes, to bring relief to those members impacted by WEP. 2023 Ralph R. Smith. Medicare repeal 82/S. General Schedule According to the FERS Transfer Handbook issued by the Office of Personnel Management back in 1987, this is why the government pension offset exists and impacts the retirement income of some former federal employees. With such strong support within just the first 90 days of the new Congress, we have the opportunity of more time to work on increasing cosponsors, which puts increasing pressure on congressional leaders to act. If passed, the legislation is unlikely to advance in the Senate, but it would set the stage for the next round of negotiation between House Republicans and the White House over raising the debt limit. Webthe Right to Organize Act (H.R. website. CRS Updates Report on Windfall Elimination Provision to Reflect The harm brought to nearly 2 million public retirees by the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is a serious problem that must be resolved. 82) on Sept. 20, which would fully repeal the Windfall Elimination Program (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security program. The new version would repeal rules that reduce Social Security benefits for public workers and their spouses, widows or widowers who also have pension income. Thereafter, I argued the adjustments based on WEP and GPO arent really all that harsh when compared to what you would have earned had you worked a full career in Social Security. The Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 H.R. duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the The 2021 infrastructure law Donald Trump Anyone who had at least 5 years of either CSRS Offset or FERS service would be exempt from the GPO. The reason for the WEP was to eliminate the windfall that could result if a federal employee were to receive a CSRS pension based on many years of federal service not covered by Social Security and also receive a full Social Security Benefit. The bill would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer who did not withhold Social Security taxes. The GPO always applies to straight CSRS retirees. Washington, January 4, 2019. section 9 of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.209. The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2020 ( S. After 37 years of waiting, the time to act is now. The bill already has 128 cosponsors in just four weeks. Introduced by Representatives Swearingen, Bodden, Brooks, Edming, Gundrum, Mursau, Novak, in Senate Similar bills have been introduced every year for a number of years. 5834, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021, SECURE 2.0 a Step in Right Direction, But Participants Yearn for More, A Look at DOL Guidance, Regs and Plans Exercise of Shareholder Rights, DOL Issues FAQs on Notice Requirements for Multiemployer Plans that Received SFA Funds, Record Increases Forecast for 2023 Contribution and Benefit Limits, Record Increases Projected for 2023 Retirement Plan Limits, Limits on Wealthy Retirement Accounts Not in Inflation Reduction Act, A Fresh Look at Those the WEP Affects, Proposals to Change it. WebWe feel these methods are the best means to still get the repeal bills passed. The bill provides immediate relief to current Social Security beneficiaries affected by the WEP. The bill also would provide a rebate payment starting nine months after enactment for workers (up to $100 per month) and their dependents (up to $50 per month) affected by the current WEP. Sen. Sherrod Brown Introduces Bill to Repeal WEP & GPO FLRA Windfall Elimination Provision I applaud his leadership and urge Congress to pass it immediately, said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers. prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,". Checking in on Legislative Activity So Far This Year of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.211. The report includes information concerning bills before chambers of Congress that would affect the formulae. 29. The author critiques a proposed WEP reform bill and offers alternate solutions to the problem posed by the WEP. 4540, please ask them to sign on and help pass the bill into law. Despite all of the challenges we are collectively facing, our Association has never lost focus on the need to reform the WEP. Everyone deserves to retire with dignity, and after years of public service Americas educators earned a fair deal in retirement. WEP reduces earned Social Security benefits for CSRS employees and for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees, who also receive a public pension from another job not covered by Social Security. Follow Ralph on Twitter: @RalphSmith47. 82, the WEP Repeal Bill Introduced in Senate. the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.208. Meanwhile, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits after two previous statutes reduced them. The Windfall Elimination Provision affects only Social Security benefits to which you are entitled based on your own earnings record. In 2021, OCACT estimated that the legislation would increase program costs by about $27.7 billion (or $26.3 billion net of the revenue from the income taxation on benefits) over the period 2022-2031. These bills call to strengthen current federal laws by allowing private-sector workers to organize and join a union and bargain for better wages and benefits. Committee: Economic and Community Development . I urge Congress to pass this bill immediately and help retired public servants nationwide.. When you contribute to Social Security, it should be there for you when you retire. GPO currently reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension. That isnt even thinking. In 2021, the Social Security Administrations (SSA) Office of the Chief Actuary (OCACT) estimated that the bill would increase program expenditures by about $30.6 billion (mainly from the rebate) between 2021 and 2030, which would be reimbursed from the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury. bill The WEP and GPO provisions do not eliminate a windfall for workers; instead, they have proved to be a windfall for the Federal government at the expense of public employees. The bill would replace the WEP with the new proportional formula for individuals who become eligible for OASDI benefits in 2023 or later. H.R. Unions That isnt fair. ), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and John Barrasso (R-Wy.) list of contributions to a separate segregated fund established by that ACT TODAY, ACA's comprehensive worldwide guide to tax preparers: www.acareturnpreparerdirectory.com, For only $70 a year you can help ACA with its important work on behalf of overseas Americans. INTRODUCED BILL The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Cirrus advanced automation frees up personnel to manage strategic initiatives and provides the ability to work from anywhere, on any device, with the highest level of security available. WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sens. Legislation to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) has been introduced in the Senate. All rights reserved. Both of the statutes significantly reduce benefits for nearly 2.3 million Americans. GPO affects CSRS employees and spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state or local government employees if the job is not covered by Social Security. This small fix will help these families have the peace of mind that their Social Security benefits will be there for them when they retire from a life of dedicated service to our communities., Public servants from across the country have dedicated their professional careers to the service of their country, yet many face reduced retirement benefits due to the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, said Senator Collins. The WEP and GPO provisions do not eliminate a windfall for workers; instead, they have proved to be a windfall for the Federal government at the expense of public employees. (c) Bill This issue to too important and too many of our members have been harmed for us to ever give up. On April 22, 2021, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introducedS. 1302, the Senate companion to H.R. House Committee Approves Social Security Legislation - IAFF The House bill, H.R. These Ohioans worked their whole lives teaching our children and keeping our communities safe theres no reason law enforcement officers and teachers shouldnt be able to retire with their full Social Security benefits, said Senator Brown. In Massachusetts alone, some 74,000 public retirees have had their Social Security benefit reduced by the WEP. These changes would be effective for benefits payable after December 2021. Obviously, many readers will not agree with this position as can be seen from the numerous comments this article received. 2023 FedSmith Inc. All rights reserved. Elimination If your local member of Congress has not signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. As Congressman Neal explained to our members during our Town Hall meeting this summer, he is working to attach the H.R. I applaud his leadership and urge Congress to pass it immediately, said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers. Labor Relations Just three years after Alaska voters approved a ranked choice voting and open primaries, a trio of conservative House members are pushing a bill that would repeal the new system. Two bills, one in the House and one in the Senate, calling for repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) were introduced in the last 117th Congress, and both bills have been recently re-introduced in the new 118th Congress: Write to your Representatives in Congress and educate them on how WEP affects U.S. citizens living and working overseas using ACA's write-in campaign, H.R.82 - Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, S.597 - A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions, Congresswoman Titus Reintroduces Legislation to Help Citizens Overseas, ACA Writes to Treasury and Key Offices re: Regulatory treatment to improve FATCA compliance, ACA's Statement on Recent Senate Finance Committee Report: Credit Suisses Role in US Tax Evasion Schemes. H.R. The WEP was enacted in 1983 as part of major amendments designed to shore up the financing of the Social Security program. In addition to Brown and Collins, U.S. wep We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Sen. Brown understands the burden this creates for working families and his bill removes these penalties once and for all. public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to The WEP was enacted in 1983 as part of major amendments designed to shore up the financing of the Social Security program. The Senate version is the Social Security Fairness Act ( S. 1302) with 38 co-sponsors. WEP and GPO Repeal Bill Introduced in the Senate (1) An electric utility or INTRODUCED BILL