The ask comes from Judy Doran, the 2023 Maine School Nurse of the Year, who is advocating for the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions significantly impact the Social Security benefits of public employees in 15 states. For many public servants, including nurses, educators, firefighters, and police officers, Social Security can actually become a source of financial insecurity in retirement.
The irony is stark:
- Social Security, designed to provide financial stability in retirement, can leave some public employees financially vulnerable.
- Those who have spent their careers serving their communities may find themselves penalized in retirement.
- A system meant to reward work can actually discourage people from pursuing careers in public service.
This situation transforms Social Security into what is actually “Social InSecurity” for affected workers. The Social Security Fairness Act, which has recently passed in the House and is now awaiting action in the Senate. Judy urges everyone, even those in states not impacted, to advocate for this legislation to ensure that public service employees can retire with dignity and receive the benefits they have earned.
Asking For My Friends……. In Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia*, Illinois, Kentucky*, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island*, and Texas. (Starred states mean only some school districts are affected)
There is an archaic and punitive set of provisions and terrible math that affect some public servants in 26 states including educators in the 15 states noted above. They are called the Windfall Elimination Protection (WPE) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The bottom line is that public servants including those in education, practicing in certain states risk reduction of or actual elimination of their social security benefits. Sounds crazy? It is and that’s why I’m asking for your help!
This is a case of if you know you know. My ask is that you please read on no matter where you live or practice and help those of us who live with the threat of moderate to extreme reduction or elimination of our Social Security Benefits. The GPO goes a step further and really messes with spousal/survivor benefits, leaving survivors in dire straits. I’m attaching two PDFs detailing both schemes if you want to read the gory details. I’m also including a letter that I’m asking you to please send to your Senators.
We are asking the Senate to pass the Social Security Fairness Act. They’ve all got to vote regardless of whether or not their state uses these rules in their retirement calculations, so please spread far and wide. They’ve all got submission forms on their websites so a quick check of Congress Members will get you to contact pages where you can copy and paste. Heck while you’re there you could check in on your Reps and see how they voted and maybe write a thank you or a not thank you note. (It passed in the House on 11/12/24)
Thank you so much from me and the millions of other folks across the country who NEED the Social Security Fairness Act to pass the Senate!!!! Remember we are Registered Nurses and Registered Voters. – Judy Doran
NEA Press Release Nov 12, 2014
GPO WEP FAQs
Template for a letter to your Senators
Dear Senator __________,
Respectfully,
Name/Title
