Southern Fairfield County Retired Teachers Association

Southern Fairfield Retired Teacher Association serving Darien, Greenwich, New Canann, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, Wilton

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Social Security

March 2010 - SFCRTA is actively working on the issue of Social Security fairness. Retired teachers in the state of Connecticut (as well as police officers, firefighters, postal workers in CT and 14 other states) are being impacted by two social security provisions, which reduce their earned Social Security or survivor benefits. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits. Nine out of ten affected by GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even though their spouse paid Social Security taxes for many years. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) enacted in 1983, causes hard-working employees to lose a significant portion (up to 2/3) of the Social Security benefits they earned themselves through other work history. In the private sector, a pension from an employer, no matter how large, does not cause the Social Security benefit to be reduced nor does it reduce survivor benefits. We will continue to update you on which bills before Congress deserve your support and we will ask you to write (email) your elected officials in Washington to this end. Read the Frank's notes from the click here GPO & WEP National Summit, March 9 - 10, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
Social Security Fairness Committe of Connecticut Retired Teachers - We are actively working to eliminate the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Letters have gone out to Gov. Rell, Sen. Chris Dodd, Rep. Rosa DeLauro - Read entire update and print and sign letter.

An update on the Social Security OFFSET.

THE ISSUES

Nine out often public employees affected by the G.P.O. lose their entire spousal benefits even though their spouses paid, over many years and in full, their Social Security taxes.

The WEP causes hard working people to lose up to sixty percent of their earned benefits.

THE HISTORY

The History of Social Security, the Government Pension Offset (WEP), and the Windfall provision:
  • 1935 - Franklin Roosevelt and congress created the Social Security system to pay retirees 65 and older a retirement benefit.
  • 1939 - Social security benefits expanded to cover spouse and minor children in the event of the worker's premature death.
  • 1960 - State and local employees given opportunity to participate in Social Security. 13 states voted not to join
  • 1977 - Government pension offset established. Spousal benefits for those earning state or local public pensions are reduced 100%.
  • 1983 - Congress reduced offset amount from 100% to two-thirds.
  • Many women stayed home to raise children and later entered the work force as civil servants.
  • The spouse dies and the survivor loses his or her entire spousal benefit, even though the spouse had paid in full social security taxes over many years
  • Estimates show that nine out of ten civil servants lose their entire spousal benefits even though the deceased spouse had paid full social security taxes and met all other requirements.
  • In jobs that require social security, payments were made as needed and all other requirements were met; still survivors received a reduced benefit.

THE RESOLUTION

End discrimination against women
Respect public service workers
and return full social security benefits to them.

Provide 100% for what individuals paid for: no more - no less.

Pass the fairness act of 2007 HR82 and S206

Social Security Archive

Did you know you may not collect Social Security. Social Security Information.

 
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