Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign to Eliminate GPO/WEP

October 31, 2007

The Latest News:

GPO/WEP Hearing Scheduled for Nov. 6!!

The Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, chaired by Senator Kerry (D-MA), will hold a hearing on the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision  on Tuesday, November 6. MTA/NEA retired member Peggy Kane – a high school English teacher for 35 years who retired four years ago from the Medford (MA) public school system – will testify at the hearing.

Announcement of the hearing is a huge victory for NEA members and other activists who have been pushing hard for movement on legislation to repeal the GPO and WEP.

The Subcommittee will accept written submissions for the record. Your statement must be typewritten and single-spaced, not exceeding 10 pages in length. The first page must clearly state your full name and address as well as the title and date of the hearing ("GPO and WEP: Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security" November 6, 2007).

Statements must be MAILED (not faxed) to:

Senate Committee on Finance
Attn. Editorial and Document Section
Rm. SD-203
Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6200b

Statements must be received no later than two weeks after the hearing. In submitting a story for the record, please:

• Follow exactly all the submission standards as outlined above.
• Be clear and concise in your message.
• Tell your story using polite language and urge Congress to repeal the GPO and WEP.
• Be sure to correct all spelling or grammatical errors prior to submitting.

Urge Congress: Repeal Social Security Offsets

NEA supports repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which penalize some public employees by cutting or taking away completely Social Security benefits they or their spouse earned. 

Legislation (H.R. 82/S. 206) to completely repeal both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision has been reintroduced in the House and Senate. See if your Representative or Senators are cosponsors.

 NEA supports this proposal.

Tell your Representatives in Congress: Stop penalizing public service! Repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. 

Join the National Call to Action

NEA needs your continued help to put pressure on lawmakers to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Public employees have lived with these unfair burdens long enough.

Join the national call to action to call attention to the re-introduced Social Security Fairness Act and urge Members of Congress to cosponsor the bills. See the menu of activities and toolkit  to make your voice heard. NEA grassroots muscle can have a strong impact on influencing legislators.

More Info on Social Security Offsets

News

• House Ways and Means Subcommittee hearing, January 2008
  • Statement of NEA
  • Statement of NEA member Margaret Cagle 
• The Latest News on GPO/WEP
• "Offsetting Priorities," NEA Today, March 2007
• Testimony of NEA Member Patty Myers to the Senate Finance Committee, 3/20/07
• Social Security Fairness Act news conference in Washington, DC, 2/6/07
  • Remarks by NEA President Reg Weaver
  • Statement of NEA member Margaret Cagle

The Basics

• NEA Testimony and Letters to Congress
• NEA's Position on Social Security Offsets
• NEA on the Issues: Social Security
• Real Stories from People Affected by the GPO and WEP  
• NEA's Partners in the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity

Does GPO/WEP Affect Me?

• What Is the Government Pension Offset?
• What Is the Windfall Elimination Provision?
• FAQs about the Government Pension Offset
• FAQs about the Windfall Elimination Provision
• Take the GPO/WEP Quiz

Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means

January 16, 2008

Chairman McNulty and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the unfair and devastating impact of Social Security Offsets on many public servants. I would like to share my personal story as one example of the harm these offsets are doing not only to individuals, but also to the teaching profession and society at large. 

After 15 years practicing and teaching architecture, I made the move to teaching mathematics in a public school that is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. While I had always found my work as an architect to be profoundly rewarding, I responded to a call for professionals from science, technology, engineering and math related fields to change careers in order to address a serious shortage of mathematics teachers in California in the mid-1990s. I had been able to measure the impact of my work in architecture with commercial and residential buildings across New York, Connecticut, and California, but I believed that I could make a greater impact and serve a greater good as a math teacher in a large urban school district. It is rare for a child to fall in love with math all alone; most students require a knowledgeable and impassioned teacher to guide them in realizing and embracing the relevance and beauty inherent in mathematics. Over the last 14 years, I firmly believe that I have done just that for my students.

While the choice to take up the work of teaching in a public school has provided me with great personal rewards including three national teaching awards, it has simultaneously punished me financially. Changing careers was not an easy decision. After spending six years in college studying architecture and urban planning, then apprenticing, passing rigorous state and national licensing exams, and building and running my own practice, I had a substantial investment in my profession. During those years, I was paying into Social Security, including several years paying at the higher self-employed rate. Having made the move to teaching, those contributions have been rendered nearly worthless to me. I had no idea that I was throwing away those years of contributing towards my retirement. As you would probably expect, architecture is generally a more lucrative career path than teaching, so I knew that my career move would result in an immediate pay cut. I did not realize, however, that I would suffer further financial penalties upon retirement. Had I been fully informed at the time, I seriously doubt that I would have chosen to embark on a career in public service.

Throughout the history of civilized society, individuals have been called upon to suffer personal injustices and to make sacrifices in order to serve a greater good. Tragically, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are requiring individuals to suffer and to sacrifice under a system which is also penalizing society. In California alone, it is projected that one-third of the current teachers will retire within the next 10 years, with even higher percentages among math and science teachers. At the same time as No Child Left Behind is requiring a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, enrollment in teacher preparation programs is dropping nationwide. The launch of Sputnik sparked an unprecedented focus on STEM education 50 years ago and now the globalization of the economy, flattening of the world and concerns about national competitiveness are spurring a renewed resolve to provide each child with an outstanding math and science education.

We can ill-afford to wait to attract more mathematically proficient and scientifically trained individuals to our nation's classrooms. Though the majority of math and science majors do not initially seek to pursue K-12 teaching careers, after working in private industry they may realize that there are greater personal if not financial rewards to be found in teaching. In recruiting from the private sector, I can assure potential teachers of the extraordinary opportunity of shaping the future through educating our children, but I cannot assure career-change teachers that they will not suffer monetarily when they retire. Ironically, the more practical experience that second-career teachers could bring with them to invigorate and enrich their classrooms, the more financially devastating that move would be. Without the repeal of the punitive provisions of the Social Security code, it is highly unlikely that knowledgeable and passionate individuals will choose to move to public teaching from the private sector, knowing that they are likely to take an immediate and substantial pay cut as well as face further financial hardships when they retire.

I urge the passage of H.R. 82 and S. 206. The current regulations under the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are unfair to the present work force, and, on a larger scale, they seriously compromise the ability of our schools to recruit greater numbers of passionate and accomplished individuals to teaching at a time when we suffer from a critical shortage which is expected to worsen in the coming years. If there is any "windfall" in the current law, it has been to the federal government which reaps the rewards of not paying benefits to the individuals who earned them. The projected expenses associated with changing these regulations should be seen as an obligation rather than a cost; an obligation to the people who paid into the system with every expectation of receiving their benefits upon retirement. And an obligation to the next generation of citizens seeking a quality education to ensure that they will be equipped to be productive in careers that do not yet exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, to meet challenges that are not yet identified, in order to secure the future of this great nation.

I thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today and will be happy to answer any questions.

Submitted by NEA to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, U.S. House of Representatives

January 16, 2008

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:

On behalf of the National Education Association's (NEA) 3.2 million members, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). We commend the Subcommittee for holding this important hearing on a matter of great concern to educators and other public employees.

NEA strongly supports complete repeal of the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision, which unfairly reduce the Social Security and Social Security survivor benefits certain public employees may receive. 

The Government Pension Offset: A Devastating Loss of Benefits for Widows and Widowers

The Government Pension Offset reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of the individual's public pension. Thus, a teacher who receives a public pension for a job not covered by Social Security will lose much or all of any spousal survivor benefits she would expect to collect based on her husband's private sector earnings. 

Congress and the President agreed in 1983 to reduce the spousal benefits reduction from a dollar-for-dollar reduction to a reduction based on two-thirds of a public employee's retirement system benefits. This remedial step, however, falls well short of addressing the continuing devastating impact of the GPO. 

The GPO penalizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service. Nationwide, more than one-third of teachers and education employees, and more than one-fifth of other public employees, are not covered by Social Security, and are, therefore, subject to the Government Pension Offset.

Estimates indicate that 9 out of 10 public employees affected by the GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even though their deceased spouse paid Social Security taxes for many years. Moreover, these estimates do not include those public employees or retirees who never applied for spousal benefits because they were informed they were ineligible. The offset has the harshest impact on those who can least afford the loss: lower-income women. Ironically, those impacted have less money to spend in their local economy, and sometimes have to turn to expensive government programs like food stamps to make ends meet.

NEA receives hundreds of phone calls and letters each month from educators impacted by the GPO. Many are struggling to survive on incomes close to poverty, fearing they will be unable to cover their housing, medical, and food expenses on their meager incomes. For example, consider the following stories:

From NEA member Cecilia in Texas:

"My husband died 3 years ago. The Government Pension Offset will leave me with my small Texas Retirement System pension of $216.00 a month and only $500.00 a month from my husband's survivor benefit, totaling to $716.00 a month. I would have received $1400.00 a month from both sources. I am too old to find another job. If I had known this, I would have never taken this low-paying job."

From NEA member Joyce in Rhode Island:

"I am a 69-year-old widow whose life is greatly affected by the Government Pension Offset Law. I am unable to collect my deceased husband's Social Security benefits. I worked under Social Security for 18 years, and he also paid into the plan for 32 years.... I am now experiencing a financial crisis because of the rising prescription drug costs. They average about $379.00 per month. I receive my pension and $100.00 per month from Social Security. My health insurance is $114.00 per month. I have gone back to work 15-20 hours per week as an associate in the Stop and Shop grocery chain bagging groceries. It seems so unfair."

The Windfall Elimination Provision: A Shocking Loss of Earned Benefits

The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. Congress enacted the WEP ostensibly to remove an advantage for short-term, higher-paid workers under the original Social Security formula. Yet, instead of protecting low-earning retirees, the WEP has unfairly impacted lower-paid retirees such as educators.

The WEP penalizes individuals who move into teaching from private sector employment, or who seek to supplement their often insufficient public wages by working part-time or in the summer months in jobs covered by Social Security. Educators enter the profession often at considerable financial sacrifice because of their commitment to our nation's children and their belief in the importance of ensuring every child the opportunity to excel. Yet, many of these dedicated individuals are unaware that their choice to educate America's children comes at a price -- the loss of benefits they earned in other jobs. 

While the amount of reduction depends on when the person retires and how many years of earnings he or she has accumulated, many public employees can lose a significant portion of the Social Security benefits they earned in other jobs. Like the GPO, the WEP can have a devastating impact on educators' retirement security. For example:

From NEA member Lee in Nevada:

"I was employed in private industry for 18 years, paying into the Social Security system. When I decided to become an educator, I did so knowingly taking an almost 50% reduction in pay, but felt that financially I could do this based on my investments, Social Security, and other retirement options that I had paid into and earned. Now I learn that the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision state that I am not entitled to my full investment in Social Security, or my spouse's investment. This is criminal! Public employees like educators, police officers, and firefighters should not suffer a penalty for dedicating their lives to public service."

From NEA Member Judith in Massachusetts:

"I am a special education teacher who began teaching in public schools at the age of 49. Before that I worked in the private sector in children's services and paid into the Social Security system for 28 years…. I assumed that with my earned Social Security I would be able to manage. Imagine my surprise to find that under the current Windfall Elimination Provision law, I'm being penalized for working in the public sector with some of its most challenged children, and will lose most of my Social Security benefit. Although I find teaching in public schools to be the most rewarding work I've done, as a single woman in my mid-fifties trying to prepare for retirement, I find that I may need to leave the profession. Is this what these laws intend?"

From NEA member Russell in Maine:

"After returning from Vietnam, I worked a couple of jobs, but decided I want to be a teacher. I went to the University of Maine. My wife and 4 children moved to Orono, Maine, while I earned my degree. With 4 children, I always worked at least one job and went to school. When I graduated, I was hired as a Physical Education teacher. I coached several sports to supplement my teaching salary. I also worked as a bartender, hunting safety instructor, pumped gas and finally as a club manager, all while teaching and coaching. As a club manager, I left home at 4:30 am, worked in my office until 7:30 am and then went to school. After school (and after practice or games) I went to my office at the club and worked until 8 or 9 at night. On weekends I worked 8- or 10-hour days at the club. Needless to say, I missed many dinners and activities with my family. My wife also worked a full-time job. But all 4 of our children graduated from college, are doing very well, and we are proud of them. After 25 years of teaching, I retire from education, but I am still working full-time in club management. Now when I am preparing to retire, I find it very unfair to be penalized because I am receiving Maine State Retirement. I worked hard for many years, both as a teacher and at other jobs. My wife and family sacrificed a lot, but we needed the money and never imagined that when retirement time came that I would not get back the money I contributed to Social Security. The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision are an insult and injustice to those of us who dedicated our lives to teaching."

The "Double Whammy": Educators Impacted by Both the GPO and WEP

Many NEA members report that they are subject to double penalties -- losing both their own benefits and spousal benefits due to the combined impact of the GPO and WEP. For example:

From NEA member Donna in Kentucky:

"I am a public school teacher with 19 years of experience. I worked and paid Social Security for 10 years prior to becoming a teacher. My husband also paid into Social Security for over 30 years before quitting his job due to being diagnosed with cancer. We are in debt due to his early retirement, and depend on two incomes. If he happens to die before me, I would lose my home because I would not be able to pay for it!"

From NEA member Alan in Illinois:

"My experience with the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision is much like other teachers with one exception; it's a double "whammy" for me and my wife. Like most teachers who were the main family wage earners, I worked part-time jobs most (actually 15 of 27) of the years I taught. I have worked during the summers for a seed corn company, and Friday nights and weekends in a retail store. Along with the supplemental work while I was a teacher, I worked four and a half years in the business world before I entered teaching. I easily qualified for the necessary quarters for Social Security benefits. At retirement time you can imagine my chagrin to see the reduced amount I was to receive due to my teacher's retirement pension. That $300 or so per month would go a long way to help my meager teacher's retirement pay, which is constantly being eroded by increased medical plan costs. Then part two -- my wife, also a teacher, will not be able to draw any spousal/survivor benefits due to her teacher retirement should I precede her in death. The law is a penalty for public servants. These inequities must be corrected."

The National Impact of the GPO and WEP: Undermining Teacher Recruitment Efforts

The GPO and WEP have an impact far beyond those states in which public employees like educators are not covered by Social Security. Because people move from state to state, there are affected individuals everywhere. The number of people impacted across the country is growing every day as more and more people reach retirement age.

Perhaps most alarming, the GPO and WEP are impacting the recruitment of quality teachers to meet urgent national shortages. Record enrollments in public schools and the projected retirements of thousands of veteran teachers are driving an urgent need for teacher recruitment. 

At the same time that policymakers are encouraging experienced people to change careers and enter the teaching profession, individuals who have worked in other careers are less likely to want to become teachers if doing so will mean a loss of Social Security benefits they have earned. Some states seeking to entice retired teachers to return to the classroom have found them reluctant to return to teaching because of the impact of the GPO and WEP. In addition, current teachers are increasingly likely to leave the profession to reduce the penalty they will incur upon retirement, and students are likely to choose other courses of study and avoid the teaching profession.

For example,

From NEA member Margaret in Connecticut:

"After years of working at a university and then a non-profit organization I decided that my skills would be well-suited to become a science teacher. The first opportunity that was available, I returned to school to complete my certification. As a dedicated and passionate person who taught national science to children at my nature center, I was excited to be able to reach more students through the teaching profession. Now after these years of teaching and coming into the profession later in life, I feel BETRAYED. After much hard work and determination passing many tests and leaping through and over hurdles to become a teacher, I quickly find out how out world really feels about teachers and the important job they perform. I am using my expertise and skills from other professional work and all the Social Security contributions I have made during those years are lost!  In no way is the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination a windfall for me…. Good people who would make excellent teachers later in their career will think twice about such a change. Had I known, I would have seriously reconsidered using my skills in the teaching profession. What sort of message are we sending to students who may think about the teaching profession? What kind of treatment for hard work and dedication is this?" 

From NEA member Patti in California:

"I began teaching in 1998, after holding a federal job and later a corporate job. When I found out that I would not be able to collect all of my money I paid into Social Security and part of my husband's Social Security, if I collected a teacher's retirement, I decided to leave teaching. I feel this is very unfair to educators, policemen, and firefighters. It is no wonder that California can not attract more corporate people into the teaching field."

The GPO/WEP Solution: Total Repeal

Representatives Berman and McKeon have introduced the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82). This bipartisan legislation boasts well over 300 cosponsors. The bill would eliminate the GPO and WEP, thereby allowing public employees, like all other employees, to collect the benefits they earned and need. NEA urges the Subcommittee, and the entire House, to take immediate steps toward passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. 

Mandatory Coverage: An Unwise and Unnecessary Approach

NEA's position on repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision should not in any way be interpreted as support for requiring public employees to participate in Social Security. NEA strongly opposes mandatory coverage. Instead, NEA simply believes that educators should be able to receive the benefits they or their spouse earned by working in covered employment, without jeopardizing their public pension. 

Many existing public employee programs are tailored to meet the needs of specific employee groups. Forcing educators into Social Security would jeopardize these state and local plans. In addition, Social Security trust funds can be invested only in U.S. Treasury bonds. State and local governments permit a greater diversity of investment options, thereby potentially achieving a greater rate of return.

Mandatory coverage of educators would also increase the tax burden on public-sector employers. Ultimately, these increased tax obligations would lead to difficult choices, including reducing the number of new hires, limiting employee wage increases, reducing cost-of-living increases for retirees, and reducing other benefits such as health care. 

Finally, mandating coverage of educators will not solve the Social Security system's financial difficulties. The amount of money gained by mandating coverage would be relatively small and would not solve the long-term Social Security crisis. Requiring new state and local employees to pay into Social Security would enable the federal government to continue borrowing money from Social Security trust funds, and, therefore, could exacerbate financing problems.

We thank you for your consideration of these comments.

Submitted to the Finance Committee
U.S. Senate

November 6, 2007

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:

On behalf of the National Education Association's (NEA) 3.2 million members, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). We commend the Subcommittee for holding this important hearing on a matter of great concern to educators and other public employees.

NEA strongly supports complete repeal of the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision, which unfairly reduce the Social Security and Social Security survivor benefits certain public employees may receive.

The Government Pension Offset: A Devastating Loss of Benefits for Widows and Widowers

The Government Pension Offset reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of the individual's public pension. Thus, a teacher who receives a public pension for a job not covered by Social Security will lose much or all of any spousal survivor benefits she would expect to collect based on her husband's private sector earnings.

Congress and the President agreed in 1983 to reduce the spousal benefits reduction from a dollar-for-dollar reduction to a reduction based on two-thirds of a public employee's retirement system benefits. This remedial step, however, falls well short of addressing the continuing devastating impact of the GPO.

The GPO penalizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service. Nationwide, more than one-third of teachers and education employees, and more than one-fifth of other public employees, are not covered by Social Security, and are, therefore, subject to the Government Pension Offset.

Estimates indicate that 9 out of 10 public employees affected by the GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even though their deceased spouse paid Social Security taxes for many years. Moreover, these estimates do not include those public employees or retirees who never applied for spousal benefits because they were informed they were ineligible. The offset has the harshest impact on those who can least afford the loss: lower-income women. Ironically, those impacted have less money to spend in their local economy, and sometimes have to turn to expensive government programs like food stamps to make ends meet.

NEA receives hundreds of phone calls and letters each month from educators impacted by the GPO. Many are struggling to survive on incomes close to poverty, fearing they will be unable to cover their housing, medical, and food expenses on their meager incomes. For example, consider the following stories:

From NEA member Cecilia in Texas:

"My husband died 3 years ago. The Government Pension Offset will leave me with my small Texas Retirement System pension of $216.00 a month and only $500.00 a month from my husband's survivor benefit, totaling to $716.00 a month. I would have received $1400.00 a month from both sources. I am too old to find another job. If I had known this, I would have never taken this low-paying job."

From NEA member Joyce in Rhode Island:

"I am a 69-year-old widow whose life is greatly affected by the Government Pension Offset Law. I am unable to collect my deceased husband Social Security benefits. I worked under Social Security for 18 years and he also paid into the plan for 32 years....I am now experiencing a financial crisis because of the rising prescription drug costs. They average about $379.00 per month. I receive my pension and $100.00 per month from Social Security. My health insurance is $114.00 per month. I have gone back to work 15-20 hours per week as an associate in the Stop and Shop grocery chain bagging groceries. It seems so unfair."

The Windfall Elimination Provision: A Shocking Loss of Earned Benefits

The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. Congress enacted the WEP ostensibly to remove an advantage for short-term, higher-paid workers under the original Social Security formula. Yet, instead of protecting low-earning retirees, the WEP has unfairly impacted lower-paid retirees such as educators.

The WEP penalizes individuals who move into teaching from private sector employment, or who seek to supplement their often insufficient public wages by working part-time or in the summer months in jobs covered by Social Security. Educators enter the profession often at considerable financial sacrifice because of their commitment to our nation's children and their belief in the importance of ensuring every child the opportunity to excel. Yet, many of these dedicated individuals are unaware that their choice to educate America's children comes at a price — the loss of benefits they earned in other jobs.

While the amount of reduction depends on when the person retires and how many years of earnings he or she has accumulated, many public employees can lose a significant portion of the Social Security benefits they earned in other jobs. Like the GPO, the WEP can have a devastating impact on educators' retirement security. For example:

From NEA member Lee in Nevada:

"I was employed in private industry for 18 years, paying into the Social Security system. When I decided to become an educator, I did so knowingly taking an almost 50% reduction in pay, but felt that financially I could do this based on my investments, Social Security, and other retirement options that I had paid into and earned. Now I learn that the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision state that I am not entitled to my full investment in Social Security, or my spouse's investment. This is criminal! Public employees like educators, police officers, and firefighters should not suffer a penalty for dedicating their lives to public service."

From NEA Member Judith in Massachusetts:

"I am a special education teacher who began teaching in public schools at the age of 49. Before that I worked in the private sector in children's services and paid into the Social Security system for 28 years….I assumed that with my earned Social Security I would be able to manage. Imagine my surprise to find that under the current Windfall Elimination Provision law, I'm being penalized for working in the public sector with some of its most challenged children, and will lose most of my Social Security benefit. Although I find teaching in public schools to be the most rewarding work I've done, as a single woman in my mid-fifties trying to prepare for retirement, I find that I may need to leave the profession. Is this what these laws intend?"

From NEA member Russell in Maine:

"After returning from Vietnam, I worked a couple of jobs, but decided I want to be a teacher. I went to the University of Maine. My wife and 4 children moved to Orono, Maine, while I earned my degree. With 4 children, I always worked at least one job and went to school. When I graduated, I was hired as a Physical Education teacher. I coached several sports to supplement my teaching salary. I also worked as a bartender, hunting safety instructor, pumped gas and finally as a club manager, all while teaching and coaching. As a club manager, I left home at 4:30 am, worked in my office until 7:30 am and then went to school. After school (and after practice or games) I went to my office at the club and worked until 8 or 9 at night. On weekends I worked 8 or 10 hour days at the club. Needless to say, I missed many dinners and activities with my family. My wife also worked a full-time job. But all 4 of our children graduated from college, are doing very well, and we are proud of them. After 25 years of teaching, I retire from education, but I am still working full-time in club management. Now when I am preparing to retire, I find it very unfair to be penalized because I am receiving Maine State Retirement. I worked hard for many years, both as a teacher and at other jobs. My wife and family sacrificed a lot, but we needed the money and never imagined that when retirement time came that I would not get back the money I contributed to Social Security. The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision are an insult and injustice to those of us who dedicated our lives to teaching."

The 'Double Whammy': Educators Impacted by Both the GPO and WEP

Many NEA members report that they are subject to double penalties — losing both their own benefits and spousal benefits due to the combined impact of the GPO and WEP. For example:

From NEA member Donna in Kentucky:

"I am a public school teacher with 19 years of experience. I worked and paid Social Security for 10 years prior to becoming a teacher. My husband also paid into Social Security for over 30 years before quitting his job due to being diagnosed with cancer. We are in debt due to his early retirement, and depend on two incomes. If he happens to die before me, I would lose my home because I would not be able to pay for it!"

From NEA member Alan in Illinois:

"My experience with the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision is much like other teachers with one exception; it's a double "whammy" for me and my wife. Like most teachers who were the main family wage earners, I worked part-time jobs most (actually 15 of 27) of the years I taught. I have worked during the summers for a seed corn company, and Friday nights and weekends in a retail store. Along with the supplemental work while I was a teacher, I worked four and a half years in the business world before I entered teaching. I easily qualified for the necessary quarters for Social Security benefits. At retirement time you can imagine my chagrin to see the reduced amount I was to receive due to my teacher's retirement pension. That $300 or so per month would go a long way to help my meager teacher's retirement pay, which is constantly being eroded by increased medical plan costs. Then part two - my wife, also a teacher, will not be able to draw any spousal/survivor benefits due to her teacher retirement should I precede her in death. The law is a penalty for public servants. These inequities must be corrected."

The National Impact of the GPO and WEP: Undermining Teacher Recruitment Efforts

The GPO and WEP have an impact far beyond those states in which public employees like educators are not covered by Social Security. Because people move from state to state, there are affected individuals everywhere. The number of people impacted across the country is growing every day as more and more people reach retirement age.

Perhaps most alarming, the GPO and WEP are impacting the recruitment of quality teachers to meet urgent national shortages. Record enrollments in public schools and the projected retirements of thousands of veteran teachers are driving an urgent need for teacher recruitment.

At the same time that policymakers are encouraging experienced people to change careers and enter the teaching profession, individuals who have worked in other careers are less likely to want to become teachers if doing so will mean a loss of Social Security benefits they have earned. Some states seeking to entice retired teachers to return to the classroom have found them reluctant to return to teaching because of the impact of the GPO and WEP. In addition, current teachers are increasingly likely to leave the profession to reduce the penalty they will incur upon retirement, and students are likely to choose other courses of study and avoid the teaching profession.

For example,

From NEA member Margaret in Connecticut:

"After years of working at a university and then a non-profit organization I decided that my skills would be well suited to become a science teacher. The first opportunity that was available, I returned to school to complete my certification. As a dedicated and passionate person who taught national science to children at my nature center, I was excited to be able to reach more students through the teaching profession. Now after these years of teaching and coming into the profession later in life, I feel BETRAYED. After much hard work and determination passing many tests and leaping through and over hurdles to become a teacher, I quickly find out how our world really feels about teachers and the important job they perform. I am using my expertise and skills from other professional work, and all the Social Security contributions I have made during those years are lost! In no way is the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination a windfall for me….Good people who would make excellent teachers later in their career will think twice about such a change. Had I known, I would have seriously reconsidered using my skills in the teaching profession. What sort of message are we sending to students who may think about the teaching profession? What kind of treatment for hard work and dedication is this?"

From NEA member Patti in California:

"I began teaching in 1998, after holding a federal job and later a corporate job. When I found out that I would not be able to collect all of my money I paid into Social Security and part of my husband's Social Security, if I collected a teacher's retirement, I decided to leave teaching. I feel this is very unfair to educators, policemen, and firefighters. It is no wonder that California cannot attract more corporate people into the teaching field."

The GPO/WEP Solution: Total Repeal

Senators Feinstein and Collins have introduced the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 206). This bipartisan legislation already has 35 cosponsors in the Senate, and its companion House bill boasts well over 300 cosponsors. The bill would eliminate the GPO and WEP, thereby allowing public employees, like all other employees, to collect the benefits they earned and need. NEA urges the Subcommittee, and the entire Senate, to take immediate steps toward passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.

We thank you for your consideration of these comments.

Submitted to the Finance Committee
U.S. Senate

November 6, 2007

Senator Kerry, Senator Ensign and Members of the Subcommittee:

On behalf of the Massachusetts Teachers Association's more than 107,000 members, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision: Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security, which unfairly penalize educators and other public employees.

My name is Margaret Kane. I am retired after teaching English for 35 years at Medford High School in Medford, Massachusetts.

As you know, the Government Pension Offset reduces the Social Security benefits paid to a spouse or survivor by two-thirds of the individual's public pension. Thus, a teacher in Massachusetts who receives a public pension for a job not covered by Social Security will lose much or all of any spousal survivor benefits she would expect to collect based on her husband's private-sector earnings.

I know all too well what the impact of the Government Pension Offset means to a surviving spouse.

My husband, Dennis, joined the Navy at a young age and served for four years before we were married. After leaving the Navy, Dennis got a job at General Electric as a machinist. He worked there for 26 years.

I began my job as a public school teacher immediately after graduating from college. My husband and I worked very hard to raise our son and two daughters. Like other young couples, we thought we would watch our children grow into adulthood and perhaps start families of their own. We could never have imagined what a serious illness would do to our family.

In 1996, Dennis was diagnosed with terminal cancer. While this disease progressed, he continued to gather all of his strength to try to work for as long as he could.

Dennis died on December 23, 1998, at age 53. Two days prior to his death, Dennis asked me how long I thought he would live. I knew that he did not have much time left. One of the last things that Dennis told me was that he would be able to rest in peace, knowing that I would have his Social Security benefits to supplement my pension when I retired.

Dennis contributed to Social Security for more than 30 years. These contributions were taken from our family income, and Dennis and I both thought that full Social Security benefits would be available to us. Fortunately, Dennis never knew that I would not be able to collect one penny of his Social Security benefits as his spouse.

I am one of many women whose retirement years have been affected negatively by the Government Pension Offset. My colleague at Medford High School, Josephine Parella, tragically lost her husband, Carmine. Carmine had been an officer in the Air Force for sixteen years when he died in 1970 while returning to Vietnam. He had spent his career serving his country. Josephine was left to raise their four children, ranging in age from three months to 10 years old. When the youngest entered school, Josephine returned to work as an adjustment counselor. In 2002, after 26 years in public education, she retired and was unable to receive any survivor benefits from her Vietnam veteran husband.

My colleagues in Massachusetts are also affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision, which reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.

Joan Piacquadio, a registered nurse, worked for 25 years as a school nurse in western Massachusetts. Both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision make her retirement years less secure than they should be.

Joan retired in 1998 at 64 to care for her seriously ill husband. Because of her public pension, Joan was able to receive only half of her own Social Security benefits. After her Medicare payment and the Windfall Elimination Provision, Joan's Social Security benefit was $140 per month. Joan's husband died in 2000, and Joan was notified that she would be unable to collect the $869 in survivor benefits from her husband's Social Security because of the Government Pension Offset.

Joan returned to work for nearly seven years, but recently had to stop working because of a triple bypass operation. At 73 years of age, Joan is able to remain in her home only because her children have taken over the responsibility of maintaining her house.

On behalf of all Massachusetts Teachers Association members, I urge the committee and Congress to enact S. 206. Please do not continue to penalize those of us who have dedicated our lives to public service and to educating public school students.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign to Eliminate GPO/WEP

August 21, 2008

The Latest News:

National Democratic Platform Calls for Repeal of Social Security Offsets!

The 2008 Democratic National Platform includes language calling for the elimination of Social Security offsets. NEA President Reg Weaver and Pennsylvania State Education Association President Jim Testerman served on the platform committee and, with the help of NEA staff, were able to push the committee to include in the platform language reading,

"We will end the penalty within the current Social Security system for public service that exists in several states."

Inclusion of this language in the platform is a major victory for NEA and all those pushing to repeal these unfair offsets. Ultimate victory in reaching our goal will depend on the election of a President and Congress committed to supporting public education and protecting retirement security for public employees.

NEA also submitted comments to the Republican drafting committee that included a call for GPO/WEP repeal.

Current Legislative Status

The Social Security Fairness Act now boasts a record 352 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 37 cosponsors in the Senate. In November, 2007, the Senate Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Social Security, held a hearing on the offsets, followed in February 2008 by a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee. These hearings, and the high number of cosponsors, reflect the hard work of activists across the country in raising the profile of this issue and moving it farther in this current Congress than ever before.

The 110th Congress will adjourn this fall. While our congressional sponsors have been working very closely with the committees overseeing the issue looking for appropriate vehicles to move the Social Security Fairness Act forward, it is unlikely any additional action will occur on the offsets prior to adjournment. The Social Security Fairness Act will need to be reintroduced in the 111th Congress, which begins in January 2009. Repeal of the offsets will remain a top NEA priority for the next Congress and we will be pushing the new President and Congress to take immediate action.

Statements on Social Security Offsets Available on House Committee Website

Statements submitted for the record in conjunction with the January 2008 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Social Security offsets - including many statements submitted by NEA activists - are now available on the Committee's website.

Due to a technical glitch, some submitted statements were not received by the Committee. If you submitted a statement in January, check the website to make sure your statement is there. If you do not see your statement, you can contact the committee at 202-225-3625 to inquire about resubmitting it. Note, this is only for statements originally submitted within the two week period following the January hearing that were lost due to the Committee's technical problems.

Stay Up-To-Date! The latest GPO/WEP news is posted on NEA's Legislative Action Center at http://www.nea.org/lac/socsec/index.html.

Past issues of this update:

• October 31, 2007 
• August 15, 2007 
• June 30, 2007
• March 2, 2007
• February 16, 2007
• February 7, 2007
• January 26, 2007
• January 16, 2007
• January 9, 2007
• January 5, 2007

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign to Eliminate GPO/WEP

August 15, 2007

The Latest News:

Sign the Social Security Fairness Act Petition!

With record numbers of cosponsors on both the House and Senate versions of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82/S. 206) — which would completely repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision — it is time to push Congress to move this important legislation forward for a vote. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Charlie Rangel (D-NY) has announced plans to hold a hearing on the bill, possibly this fall. To show the Committee, and all of Congress, why they must act immediately, we need to show the strongest possible support for repeal of the GPO and WEP from across the country.

Make your voice heard today! Sign NEA's electronic petition. A copy will immediately go to your Members of Congress, and NEA will compile a complete record of all signed petitions so we can show congressional leaders the overwhelming support and urgent need for this bill.

Click here to sign the petition.

Cosponsor Update

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) has now garnered the support of 324 bipartisan cosponsors. The Senate bill (S. 206) has 35 cosponsors. See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

June 30, 2007

The Latest News:

House Ways and Means Chairman Announces Intent to Hold Hearing on Social Security Offsets!

In a June 27 letter to Representative Howard Berman (the primary sponsor of legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) announced that he has asked the Subcommittee on Social Security to schedule a hearing on the offsets. In his letter, issued as a direct result of his recent meeting with Representative Berman and NEA President Reg Weaver, Chairman Rangel expressed his concern about the "very serious issues" raised by the offsets and stated that Representative Berman's repeal bill "deserves to be examined." Watch the NEA Web site for further details once the hearing has been scheduled. 

Social Security Fairness Act Reaches Record Number of Cosponsors!

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would completely repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, has now garnered the support of 319 bipartisan cosponsors. The Senate bill (S. 206) has 33 cosponsors. 

See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors. 

Ongoing Action Needed:

• Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them that we need them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.
  
  
• Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

March 2, 2007

The Latest News:

Support Continues to Climb for Social Security Fairness Act!

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would completely repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, has now garnered the support of 237 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are Representatives:

Altmire (D-PA), Bachus (R-AL), Bonner (R-AL), Boyda (D-KS), Robert Brady (D-PA), Carter (R-TX), Cleaver (D-MO), Cramer (D-AL), David Davis (R-TN), Fortuno (R-PR), Hare (D-IL), Hayes (R-NC), Hirono (D-HI), Jindal (R-LA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Peter King (R-NY), Kirk (R-IL), LaTourette (R-OH), John Lewis (D-GA), Lipinski (D-IL), McCaul (R-TX), McIntyre (D-NC), Christopher Murphy (D-CT) Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Tim Murphy (R-PA), Murtha (D-PA), Norton (D-DC), Pascrell (D-NJ), Regula (R-OH), Rodriguez (D-TX), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Towns (D-NY), Wamp (R-TN), Watson (D-CA), Westmoreland (R-GA), and Whitfield (R-KY).

The Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act (S.206) now has 20 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are Senators:

Kennedy (D-MA), Menendez (D-NJ), Sanders (I-VT), Stabenow (D-MI), and Whitehouse (D-RI).

See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors.

Ongoing Action Needed:

• Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them that we need them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.
  
  
• Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206

• Statement of NEA member Margaret Kane to the Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, 11/06/07
• NEA statement submitted to the Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, 11/06/07 
• Statement to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on GPO/WEP and Mandatory Social Security Coverage, 06/09/05
• Statement to House Ways and Means Committe on Social Security, 05/12/05
• Testimony of NEA member Terry Hickman to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, 07/20/04
• Letter to the House on the Public Servant Retirement Protection Act, 05/19/04
• Statement to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, 02/26/04
• Statement to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, 09/24/03
• Statement to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, 05/01/03
• Statement to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, 02/27/03
• Testimony of Jack Kelly to House Subcommittee on Social Security, 2/27/03  

   

  
  

Sample Letters to the Editor

To the editor:

Our community is proud of our strong work ethic. We believe in rewarding and supporting hard work and citizens who make contributions to our society. That's why our congressional delegation simply must support legislation to repeal the unfair Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which cut the retirement benefits of public employees who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities and their country.

More than 200 members of Congress have agreed to cosponsor bipartisan legislation (H.R. 82/S. 206) called the Social Security Fairness Act that would repeal GPO-WEP, but the bill has been stuck in committee for years.

Too much is at stake to ignore this common sense legislation any longer. [Insert your personal story about the impact of the GPO and/or WEP on you, your colleagues, your friends, your school, and your community.]

Join me in urging our representatives in Washington, D.C. to support passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.

To the editor:

Between retirements of veteran certified teachers and low numbers of college graduates entering the teaching profession, there is a nationwide shortage of certified teachers. Some reasons are obvious: low salaries compared to the private sector, diminished respect for educators by lawmakers and students, and increasing pressures of paperwork and standardized testing.

But one is not obvious. In our state, teachers who spend a career in the classroom and earn a public pension stand to lose substantial Social Security benefits that they or their spouse earned because of federal laws called the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). These laws were enacted in the late 1970s, and teachers retiring now are discovering their impacts.

More than 200 members of Congress have agreed to cosponsor bipartisan legislation (H.R. 82/S. 206) called the Social Security Fairness Act that would repeal GPO-WEP, but the bill has been stuck in committee for years.

If we want to ensure that our children have qualified, certified teachers in their classrooms, we can begin by telling prospective teachers that their retirement benefits will be there for them, as promised. Congress has a practical obligation to help alleviate our national teacher shortage, and a moral obligation to repeal laws that hurt retirees.

<< Return to Social Security Offsets Overview

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

February 16, 2007

The Latest News:

House Bill Hits 200 Cosponsors!

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would completely repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, has now garnered the support of 200 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are Representatives:

Alexander (R-LA), Bartlett (R-MD), Bishop (R-UT), Bono (R-CA), Lincoln Davis, (D-TN), Forbes (R-VA), Gerlach (R-PA), Kanjorski (D-PA), Moran (D-VA), Napolitano (D-CA), Porter (R-NV), Roskam (R-IL), Schmidt (R-OH), Simpson (R-ID), Stupak (D-MI), Sutton (D-OH), and Yarmuth (D-KY).

Senate Cosponsors Also Continue to Climb

The Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act (S.206) now has 15 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are Senators:

Boxer, (D-CA), Durbin (D-IL), Kerry (D-MA), Obama (D-IL), and Murray (D-WA)

The rapid rise in support is a direct result of your continued e-mails and the personal lobbying efforts of the NEA Board of Directors, who visited congressional offices last week on this issue. See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors.

Ongoing Action Needed:

• Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them that we need them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.
  
  
• Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206

Help Us Repeal GPO-WEP!

Nationwide Call to Action: 
Repeal Social Security Offsets

NEA needs your help to put pressure on lawmakers to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Public employees have lived with these unfair burdens long enough. It is time for Congress to act!

We need to draw public attention to the need for GPO-WEP repeal. Help us send a clear and forceful message that NEA is mobilized and is holding lawmakers responsible for their actions. Take part in the Nationwide Call to Action!

Events can take many different forms. The type and style of a particular event will depend upon the individual characteristics present within a given community. For example, are there active members who can be mobilized for a large event? Would a smaller event be more realistic? Are the Representatives and Senators supporters, opponents, or undecided on the issue of repealing GPO and WEP? Understanding the make-up and potential in a given community is the first step in deciding the type of an event to plan.

Below is a menu of activities to choose from to make our voice heard. NEA grassroots muscle can have a strong impact on influencing our legislators. Take some time and organize a few of these activities in your local area. Want to send a really powerful message to your lawmakers? Organize an activity from each category during one or more of the targeted periods.

Warm Up

Call-in Day

Contact members of Congress and tell them your story about the dramatic effects of GPO and/or WEP on your current or future income security. Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative and Senators by name. Use the talking points provided in this toolkit. Is your local Association having a meeting? Take 10 minutes on the agenda to have everyone call their members of Congress. This is a great way to get a lot of calls done at once.

Postcard Raiser

Many local Associations have organized fundraisers for a variety of causes. How about organizing a postcard raiser? Organize members to raise as many letters and postcards from colleagues as possible. Send or hand-deliver the letters to members of Congress in their district offices. See the sample postcard messages enclosed in the toolkit for ideas and talking points.

E-mail/Petition Drive

The NEA Legislative Action Center (LAC) is always available to help you send e-mails to Congress. On the GPO-WEP page,  http://www.nea.org/lac/socsec/offsets.html, you can personalize your e-mail message and also select from sample talking points. Advertise the LAC in your publications, and send a message to your personal e-mail lists asking friends, family, and coworkers to e-mail Congress.

Outreach to State Lawmakers

Social Security offsets have a significant impact beyond the individuals affected. Impacted states have difficulty attracting and retaining quality educators, particularly those who might move into the profession from the private sector. Impacted people also have less money to spend in their local economies. Reach out to your governor, state legislators, and local policymakers and ask them to call for repeal of the GPO and WEP. Encourage your governor and your superintendent to write a letter to Congress (you can adapt the letter from Governor Schwarzenegger   included in the toolkit). Ask your state legislators to pass a resolution (see the sample in the toolkit) calling on Congress to repeal the offsets.

Build a Coalition

The offsets impact many public employees beyond educators. Reach out to police, firefighters, and other public employees to build a coalition in support of repeal.

Main Event

District Office Visit with Member of Congress

Visit lawmakers with a group of public employees during a congressional recess, when your representatives are back home in their district offices. Make sure you talk about your own experiences as well as the impact on education in your state. Ask for a commitment from lawmakers to cosponsor and push for a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. Enclosed in the toolkit are talking points for use in your visit(s). We have also provided a "leave-behind" that you can give to lawmakers and their staffs.

Rally/News Conference

Organize a rally to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP. A good rally needs a turnout of 20 or more members. One way to get create instant turnout is to have a rally during a regularly scheduled membership meeting. If your Senators and/or Representative are supporters of the Social Security Fairness Act, consider inviting them to speak at the rally. Invite the press to your rally. Choose a rally site outside of a Social Security Administration office or a public building like a school, fire house, or city hall.

Town Hall Meeting

A town hall meeting provides a great opportunity to educate the community and your lawmakers about the GPO and WEP. Take the time to organize an event that will bring together a wide cross-section of public employees to discuss the impact of the offsets. Notify the media about the meeting and advertise it throughout your community. Make sure you have a strong spokesperson who understands the issue and can speak on behalf of impacted public employees. If your Senators and/or Representative are supporters of the Social Security Fairness Act, consider inviting them to speak at the town hall meeting.

Encore

Letter to the Editor

A letter to the editor can be an effective tool to spread our message to a wide audience. Enclosed in the toolkit is a sample letter. Take the time to write your own version and send it to your local paper.

Share your Story

This issue is about real people who face real challenges and need a real solution. We need to hear from them. Collect these powerful stories from others who have been impacted by Social Security offsets. You can help us collect these stories by e-mailing them to clewis@nea.org or you can mail them to Carrie Lewis, NEA/GR, 1201 16th Street, NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20036. A form to collect stories is included in the toolkit.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE
NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION ON GPO-WEP!

<< Return to Social Security Offsets Overview

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

February 7, 2007

The Latest News:

Congress Holds Press Conference on Social Security Fairness Act

Representatives Berman (D-CA), McKeon (R-CA), and Doggett (D-TX) held a well-attended press conference on Tuesday, February 6 to call for repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. NEA president Reg Weaver spoke at the press conference along with NEA member Peg Cagle, who became a math teacher in Los Angeles after 15 years in the private sector. Other speakers included representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

In his remarks, NEA President Weaver called on Congress to act immediately to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, calling it "an issue of fairness, justice, and respect." Peg Cagle spoke eloquently of her reasons for changing careers, and of wanting to make a difference in the lives of her students. She told Congress that the offsets are "unfair to the current work force and seriously compromise the ability of our schools to recruit knowledgeable and passionate mathematicians and scientists to become teachers at a time when they are needed more than ever."

Cosponsor Lists Continue to Grow

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) now has 182 bipartisan cosponsors; the Senate version (S. 206) has 10 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are:

House: Brian Baird (D-WA), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Michael Conaway (R-TX), Ralph Hall (R-TX), Ron Lewis (R-KY), Gary Miller (R-CA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Mike Thompson (R-CA), and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH).

Senate: Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors.

Ongoing Action Needed:

Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them that we need them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.

Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206 .

Remarks of NEA President Reg Weaver

Social Security Fairness Act Press Conference

February 6, 2007

• Thank you Representatives Berman and McKeon for holding this very important press conference.
  
  
• NEA has been proud to work with both of you for many years as we have fought to repeal these unfair offsets. But, as hard as you and we have worked, we are still waiting for action.
  
  
• We can wait no longer.
  
  
• Today, I am calling on Congress to act immediately to pass the Social Security Fairness Act.
  
  
• This is an issue of fairness, justice, and respect.
  
  
• It is about Martha, an NEA member from Georgia. An education support professional who spent years caring for two bed-ridden relatives, and who now faces a retirement in poverty and the possible loss of her home.
  
  
• It is about Janice, a teacher from Illinois. A widow at a young age whose husband, her high school sweetheart, thought he was providing for his family by paying into Social Security. She now faces life without him and without the Social Security benefits he earned.
  
  
• It is about Perry, a retired teacher from California. Together, he and his wife paid into Social Security for a combined 47 years. Because of the offsets, they have lost over $57,000 in benefits since retiring 20 years ago.
  
  
• It is about Peg, who you will hear from in a moment. A recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching who now finds herself penalized for leaving the private sector to devote herself to teaching.
  
  
• And, it is about Cecilia, an NEA member from Texas who will lose half the benefits she expected. She says she is simply too old to find another job and, if she had known about the offsets, she would never have taken a job in the public school system.
  
  
• This is also about the education profession. Do we respect our teachers and education support professionals enough to ensure them a secure retirement? Do we respect our children enough to want to provide the very best educators for them? Or, do we want to keep discouraging dedicated and committed individuals from considering education professions?
  
  
• If Congress is serious about encouraging professionals from the private sector to move into teaching, you have to repeal the offsets.
  
  
• If you are serious about encouraging members of the armed forces to consider teaching when they leave the military, you have to repeal the offsets.
  
  
• And, if you are serious about fulfilling the basic right of every child in America to a great public school, you have to repeal the offsets.
  
  
• We simply cannot continue to tell hundreds of thousands of public servants that they have to wait. I know I cannot continue to tell that to the countless NEA members who call, write, and e-mail us every day desperate for news on when the offsets might be repealed.
  
  
• The time to act is now. Let's get moving.
  
  
• Thank you again to Representatives Berman and McKeon for their outstanding and unwavering leadership on this issue.
  
  
• Thank you.
  

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

January 26, 2007

The Latest News:

Press Conference Scheduled on Social Security Fairness Act

Representatives Berman (D-CA) and McKeon (R-CA) have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday, February 6 to announce the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) and call attention to the need for repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. NEA President Reg Weaver has been invited to speak at the press conference.

CALL TO ACTION: February 5-9.

To correspond with the press event in Washington, DC, NEA is sponsoring a Call to Action with a focus on garnering media attention around the offsets.

Suggested Actions:

• Submit a letter to the editor and/or an op-ed to your local newspaper. (See the sample letter to the editor ).
  
  
• Contact local reporters to pitch a story about the impact of the offsets on you, your school, and your community.
  
  
• Organize a rally or local press conference to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP (See the sample press release ).
  
  
• Reach out to police, firefighters, and other impacted groups in your area to participate in joint media activities.

Remember to send all resulting media clips to Carrie Lewis at NEA (clewis@nea.org).

Cosponsor Lists Continue to Grow

The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) now has 162 bipartisan cosponsors; the Senate version (S. 206) has 8 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are:

House: Representatives Ackerman (D-NY), Andrews (D-NJ), Baldwin (D-WI), Bean (D-IL), Burgess (R-TX), Calvert (R-CA), Davis (R-VA), Garrett (R-NJ), Gohmert (R-TX), Granger (R-TX), Hinchey (D-NY), Lampson (D-TX), Lynch (D-MA), McCotter (R-MI), Meehan (D-MA), Neugebauer (R-TX), Renzi (R-AZ), Rogers (R-KY), Shays (R-CT), Slaughter (D-NY), Young (R-FL).

Senate: Senators Leahy (D-VT), Cantwell (D-WA)

See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors.

Ongoing Action Needed:

• Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them that we need them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.
  
  
• Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

January 16, 2007

The Latest News:

Social Security Fairness Act Cosponsors Climb

You Did It! Your calls and e-mails during last week's Call to Action made a difference! The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) now boasts 141 bipartisan cosponsors. The latest additions are Representatives:

The Senate bill (S.206) continues to have four cosponsors — Senators Feinstein (D-CA), Collins (R-ME), Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Snowe (R-ME).

Action Needed:

• Thank Members who have cosponsored the bill and remind them to continue to advocate for movement of this important legislation.
  
  
• Urge all other Members of Congress to add their names as cosponsors to H.R. 82/S. 206.

Statement of Margaret Cagle

Social Security Fairness Act Press Conference

February 6, 2007

After 15 years practicing and teaching architecture, I made the move to teaching mathematics in a Los Angeles public school. While I had always found my work in architecture to be rewarding, I believed that I could make a greater impact on the world by teaching in public school, especially as a math teacher in a large urban district. It was not an easy decision after six years of college studying architecture, a rigorous national professional licensing process in architecture and many years of experience in the field designing commercial and residential buildings; I gave up a lot to change careers. Our nation's schools desperately need to recruit professionals like me to teach math and science, to fill a shortage of teachers and to give students a sense of the passion that professionals bring to their disciplines.

Architecture is a combination of art and math; it is an art form and a profession that still delights me. As an architect, I could see my impact on the world in terms of buildings scattered across New York, Connecticut and California, but I saw little impact on people's lives. As a teacher, inspiring students who would otherwise be turned off to mathematics, I now see a much greater difference that I'm making in hundreds of lives over the years.

I love teaching. I am happy with my second career, but changing careers was a financial hardship for me. If I had stayed in my better-paying profession in the private sector, I probably would have contributed to Social Security for another 25 or more years and upon retirement, I would have been able to collect my full benefits. As a second-career teacher I will be penalized when I retire. Most of my retirement contributions to Social Security, from my first career, will simply disappear in a tangle of arcane laws.

America faces a critical and eminent shortage of qualified teachers in math and science. The richest potential pools of new teachers are in the private sector. After working in business and industry I'm sure that many professionals may realize that there are richer rewards, if not monetary riches, to be found in teaching. The more years of practical experience that second-career teachers could bring with them to the classroom, the more financially punitive the move would be. In California, it is projected that one third of current teachers will retire within the next 10 years, with an even higher percentage of math and science teachers retiring. At the same time that No Child Left Behind is demanding a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, there has been a drop in enrollment in teacher preparation programs around the country.

I urge everyone to support H.R. 82 and S. 206, which would repeal the Government Pension Offset and eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision of the Social Security code. It is unfair to the current work force and seriously compromises the ability of our schools to recruit knowledgeable and passionate mathematicians and scientists to become teachers at a time when they are needed more than ever.

I'm sure that there are many professionals, like me, who would choose to make a difference in young people's lives if they could afford to make that choice.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

January 9, 2007

The Latest News:

Social Security Fairness Act Reintroduced in Senate!

Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Collins (R-ME) reintroduced the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate this morning. The new bill number is S. 206. Original cosponsors along with Senators Feinstein and Collins were Senators Snowe (R-ME) and Lautenberg (D-NJ).

As indicated in our update of last week, the new House bill, H.R. 82, was introduced on the first day of the new Congress with over 100 cosponsors. Introducing the bills this early in the new Congress signifies the importance of the issue to the sponsors. 

CALL TO ACTION – JANUARY 8-12, 2007

We Need Your Help!

Call to Action Checklist:

• Contact new and returning Members of Congress to educate them about the offsets. E-mail your Member and call the district office to explain the impact of the offsets on you, your colleagues, and/or the education profession. Thank Members who have already cosponsored the House or Senate  bill, and urge all other Members to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82/S. 206).
  
  
• Ask your Governor to write a letter to Congress and your state legislature to pass a resolution calling on Congress to repeal the GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Get your school board and principal involved. Explain how the offsets are hindering recruitment of talented educators.
  
  
• Organize a rally to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Host a town hall meeting with a wide cross-section of public employees.
  
  
• Organize a call-in day. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for your Representative and Senators by name.
  
  
• Deliver postcards to Members of Congress in their local offices.
  
  
• Send an e-mail message to Congress; ask friends, family, and co-workers to do the same.
  
  
• Submit a letter to the editor or an op-ed to your local newspaper.
  
  
• Reach out to police, firefighters, and other impacted groups in your area to form a coalition in support of repeal.

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

January 5, 2007

The Latest News:

Social Security Fairness Act Reintroduced!

Representatives Berman (D-CA) and McKeon (R-CA) reintroduced the Social Security Fairness Act on January 4, 2007. The bill would completely repeal both the GPO and WEP. The new bill number is H.R. 82.

Introducing the bill on the first day of the new Congress signifies the importance of the issue to the sponsors. Interest in the bill is already high, with over 100 Members adding their names as original cosponsors.

Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Collins (R-ME) are expected to introduce the Senate version of the bill on Monday, January 8. The number for the Senate bill will be available once it is introduced.

CALL TO ACTION – JANUARY 8-12, 2007

We Need Your Help!

Call to Action Checklist:

• Contact new and returning Members of Congress to educate them about the offsets. E-mail your Member and call the district office to explain the impact of the offsets on you, your colleagues, and/or the education profession. Thank Members who have already cosponsored the House bill, and urge all other Members to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82; Senate number to be announced next week).
  
  
• Ask your Governor to write a letter to Congress and your state legislature to pass a resolution calling on Congress to repeal the GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Get your school board and principal involved. Explain how the offsets are hindering recruitment of talented educators.
  
  
• Organize a rally to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Host a town hall meeting with a wide cross-section of public employees.
  
  
• Organize a call-in day. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for your Representative and Senators by name.
  
  
• Deliver postcards to Members of Congress in their local offices.
  
  
• Send an e-mail message to Congress; ask friends, family, and co-workers to do the same.
  
  
• Submit a letter to the editor or an op-ed to your local newspaper.
  
  
• Reach out to police, firefighters, and other impacted groups in your area to form a coalition in support of repeal.
  

Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

December 18, 2006

The Latest News:

The 110th Congress will begin January 4, 2007, with the change in leadership offering a real opportunity to make progress toward repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. The following is a summary of expected activity in the early months of the 110th Congress:

January 4, 2007: Re-Introduction of the Social Security Fairness Act. The four primary sponsors of the Social Security Fairness Act — Senator Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Collins (R-ME), Representative Berman (D-CA), and Representative McKeon (R-CA) — remain committed to the legislation (which would completely repeal both the GPO and WEP) and to bipartisan efforts to secure passage. They plan to re-introduce the House and Senate bills on the first day of the 110th Congress (January 4, 2007) to signify the importance of the issue.

Mid-January: Press Event. The four bill sponsors have expressed interest in holding a press conference in mid-January with NEA and other unions whose members are impacted by the offsets to bring attention to the issue on Capitol Hill, in the media, and among the general public.

CALL TO ACTION – JANUARY 8-12, 2007. NEA will conduct a series of Nationwide Calls to Action, beginning the first full week of the new congressional session, to call attention to the re-introduced Social Security Fairness Act and urge Members of Congress to cosponsor the bills. The first Call to Action will take place the week of January 8, 2007, with the goal of rebuilding the cosponsor lists as quickly as possible. NEA will notify activists of the new bill numbers for the Social Security Fairness Act as soon as the House and Senate bills are reintroduced.

Additional Calls to Action will be announced in the coming months with specific goals, such as pushing for committee action (“mark-up”) of the Social Security Act.

We Need Your Help! Join the Call to Action

Call to Action Checklist:

• Contact new Members of Congress to educate them about the offsets. E-mail the Member and call the district office to explain the impact of the offsets on you, your colleagues, and/or the education profession. Urge new Members to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act (bill number to be provided as soon as available).
  
  
• E-mail/call returning Members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act. Focus particularly on those Members who cosponsored the bill in the 109th Congress .
  
  
• Ask your Governor to write a letter to Congress and your state legislature to pass a resolution calling on Congress to repeal the GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Get your school board and principal involved. Explain how the offsets are hindering recruitment of talented educators.
  
  
• Organize a rally to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Host a town hall meeting with a wide cross section of public employees.
  
  
• Organize a call-in day . Call the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for your