APWU Supports Fair Benefits for America's Seniors
America’s seniors have earned their benefits. The sad truth remains that despite their contributions, a law enacted in 1983 has placed an undue financial burden on many senior citizens.
APWU supports expanding Medicare to guarantee the right of healthcare for all Americans. Further, America's seniors should see their benefits expanded with fair increases to Social Security benefits, Cost of Living Adjustments based on calculations which adequately takes into consideration the spending habits of seniors, and the repeal of predatory provisions which penalize those who paid their fair share into Social Security.
The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82, S.597)
Lead Cosponsors: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-06)
This bill, introduced in the House on January 9, 2023 and Senate on March 1, 2023, would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which are parts of Social Security law that unfairly reduce, or sometimes eliminate, Social Security benefits for millions of federal annuitants.
The WEP formula reduces the Social Security benefits of those with pensions from employers who were not required to withhold Social Security taxes, but still qualify for Social Security benefits through secondary employment.
This reduction can total up to fifty percent of the pension amount and directly impacts retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who currently have government pensions.
The GPO is similar to WEP, but affects spouses and widows(ers) of those receiving pensions from employers who were not required to withhold Social Security taxes.
This GPO reduction is equal to two thirds of the pension, making spousal and widow(er) benefits equal to only one third of what they should be.
Unfairly, the GPO and WEP penalize CSRS retirees that meet the requirements for Social Security benefits and have paid their fair share into the program.
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