Sunday, August 2, 2009

SEIU Working to Repeal Provisions that Reduce Social Security Benefits if You Start Working in Public Sector

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are two provisions under Social Security which either reduce or eliminate retiree Social Security benefits upon retirement. Tell your Representative and Senator to repeal these harmful provisions. There are a variety of proposals which have been offered that would either revise or eliminate the GPO and WEP. SEIU supports the Social Security Protection Act (S. 484/H.R. 235) sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Buck McKeon (R-CA) that would repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) allowing public employees to collect the benefits they have earned upon retirement. It is great to see Senator Collins' name on the list of sponsors. Click here to show your support by signing SEIU's petition.

1 comment:

Robert (Robby) E. Schultz III, CFP®, ChFC®, CPWA® said...

While I am in complete agreement that WEP and GPO should be repealed, I feel it is is also important to note that this is nice little PR ploy by our representatives.

Similar legislation has been proposed over the last 5 years or more with substantial bipartisan support (in fact cosponsoring it) to no avail. The bills never leave committee, thus there is no reason to worry about passing it.

Every member of Congress can go home and point to these bills as fighting for the people, but they obviously are not.

I hope it passes, but I am tired of the PR positioning of our politicians.

You can see my post on the subject at my blog - The Educator's Retirement - that points to several facts involved.