Social Security Fairness Act
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this -- including my clients who would be affected. I never really understood how the WEP and GPO worked. I have clients who are retired government workers and did not pay into Social Security for much of their working life. But it always seems to me that some of them get more SS than they should anyway, and others get too little.
One article says that 28 million SS beneficiaries would be affected by this bill. The Senate is still trying to find time to vote on it this week. It needs 60 votes, so passage is not certain. It's a budget buster, but who cares?
On November 12, 2024, the House passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, by roll call vote, 327-75, under suspension of the rules. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. The Senate companion bill, S. 597, is pending in the Committee on Finance.
H.R. 82, as passed by the House, would:
- repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision, both of which can reduce Social Security benefits when someone receives a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security; and
- apply with respect to benefits payable for months after December 2023.
