House Advances Social Security Fairness Act Repealing WEP, GPO

The United States House of Representatives has passed the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation aimed at ensuring full Social Security benefits for millions of Americans. On Tuesday, the bill was approved with bipartisan support by a 327-75 vote during the lame-duck session of Congress. It now awaits a vote in the Senate, where its passage is uncertain despite considerable backing.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the bill seeks to repeal two longstanding federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — which currently reduce Social Security payouts for approximately 2.8 million individuals. These provisions mainly affect people who also receive a pension from employment not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses who receive their own government pension.

Among those heavily impacted by these policies are former state, local, and federal government workers, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. «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,» stated Representatives Garret Graves of Louisiana and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, the bill’s lead sponsors, emphasizing fairness in their argument for repeal.

The bill would significantly affect federal spending, potentially adding $195 billion to deficits over a decade, as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office. This increase raises concerns about the Social Security Trust funds, which are predicted to face funding shortages by 2035. Consequently, some conservative lawmakers have expressed opposition due to the potential fiscal implications.

In the Senate, the Social Security Fairness Act has garnered 63 sponsors, just above the required 60-vote threshold to pass legislation. Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine are spearheading efforts to bring the bill to a vote. «We encourage Senate leadership to build upon this clear momentum,» said Spanberger and Graves, urging their colleagues to focus on delivering promised benefits to public sector workers.

However, the Senate’s crowded agenda poses a challenge. Priorities like securing government funding, disaster relief, and the annual defense bill may delay consideration of the Social Security Fairness Act. According to John Hatton, staff vice president of policy and programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, «The biggest challenge is convincing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others that this is a priority that needs to get done now.»

If the Senate approves the bill, it will be sent to President Joe Biden for signing into law. The changes would come into effect for benefits payable after December 2023. Nonetheless, if the Senate fails to act before January 3, when a new session begins, the legislative process will have to restart.