House Resolution 82, the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, has once again been introduced in the House. Last year 305 members co-sponsored the bill, well more than the number needed to advance the legislation, but it was never voted on because the bill lacked the number of U.S. Senators needed to pass it.

Since the 1980’s, teachers, and many other affected public workers have been unfairly affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)/Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Association of Retired Teachers of CT (ARTC), the National Education Association (NEA), and a National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force are working hard to repeal this unfair bill.

This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government. The bill eliminates the government pension offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who receive government pensions of their own. The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.

Many people do not know how this law affects them until they retire, and then it is too late. Nationally, more than 2 million retirees lose part or all of their earned Social Security benefits due to the current law. Connecticut is one of fifteen states adversely affected by the GPO/WEP. The people affected by these offsets have paid into Social Security just like everyone else. Yet, most retirees only receive about 1/3 of their earned Social Security benefits because they taught in the State of Connecticut. If you have worked two jobs while teaching or are a second career active teacher, this law will affect you. Please consider contacting your representative to tell them to support H.R. 82:

· Joseph Courtney mariacostiganmailhousegov 202-225-2076 (DC); 860-886-0139 (CT)

· Rosa DeLauro mariegaultierimailhousegov 202-225-3661 (DC); 203-562-3718 (CT)

· Johanna Hayes mirandagantermailhousegov 202-225-4476 (DC); 860-223-8412 (CT)

· Jim Himes hannahaikenmailhousegov 202-225-5541 (DC); 866-453-0028 (CT)

· John Larson emilynadenmailhousegov 202-225-2265 (DC); 860-278-8888 (CT)

Use this link if you need help identifying your legislators.

To read more about how the GPO and WEP penalize educators, police officers, and other state and local government employees who dedicate their lives to public service, please visit https://www.nea.org/resource-library/about-gpo-and-wep.

Respectfully,
Scott J. Nozik
Federal Relations Coordinator, NAESP/CAS