Millions of Americans could soon see significant changes to their Social Security benefits after the Senate voted to remove two controversial provisions from the Social Security Fairness Act.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Virginia) and Garret Graves (R-Louisiana), aims to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions, enacted in 1983, have long reduced or denied retirement benefits for over 2.4 million public servants, including police officers, firefighters, teachers, and government employees.
A recent report highlights the impact: the WEP has affected more than 1.7 million Americans, while the GPO has reduced benefits for over 420,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, more than 320,000 retirees face the combined effects of both provisions.
Advocates for the bill, including Congresswoman Spanberger, emphasize its importance for surviving spouses of public workers, who have often been denied benefits under current rules. With the U.S.Senate’s approval following a House vote last month, the legislation now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval.
It will be interesting to see how this change impacts Social Security recipients across the country. However, we think there is another Social Security change that desperately needs to happen. The Elder Relief Act would dramatically increase benefits for the retirees who need it the most. Learn more about this proposed legislation here.