President Biden Signs Social Security Fairness Act Into Law

On Sunday, January 5, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. The U.S. House of Representatives had passed the bill (HR 82) in November by a vote of 327-75 and sent it to the Senate.  The U.S. Senate on December 21st passed their bill (S.597) by a vote of 78-20 and sent it to the White House.  It is now law!  

The legislation will eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which has reduced Social Security benefits for more than 2 million people who receive pensions from work in public service.  According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), these provisions unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for public sector retirees who receive a public pension – as well as the spouse or survivor of a Social Security or Railroad Retirement beneficiary – who worked in a job not covered by the Social Security program. NARVRE continues to insist that any rail retiree impacted by either of these provisions should contact the Railroad Retirement Board (877-772-5772), the only agency that can properly address their individual case. 

Tip: Call early and leave your phone number.  
  
The legislation allows for qualified retirees to receive overdue and back-dated benefits calculated to 2024.  It was passed with bipartisan votes in the House & Senate. The WEP and the GPO were added to the Social Security Act in 1983.  The 118th Congress and President Biden “righted a 50-year-plus wrong”.    
 
NARVRE members should be proud to have been a part of the concerted effort involved in repealing these unfair provisions affecting our American retirees!