Breakthrough in Efforts to Repeal WEP and GPO Offsets

There is renewed hope that legislation to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that reduce the income of public sector retirees and their beneficiaries, will finally get through Congress.

The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus threw its support behind the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would eliminate both provisions.

That means the measure now has 320 cosponsors, including 112 Republicans.

Lead sponsors are Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), who first introduced the legislation in April 2023. It has not received a floor vote.

“After hearing for years from police officers, firefighters, educators, federal employees, and postal workers, I've been proud to help lead the Social Security Fairness Act to make sure no American is penalized for their public service. I’m encouraged to have the endorsement of the Problem Solvers Caucus on this commonsense legislation that is supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” said Rep. Spanberger.

“As co-chair of the bipartisan Problems Solvers Caucus and a co-sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act, I am pleased our caucus has endorsed this bipartisan legislation that would give millions of these workers the benefits they rightfully accrued during their years of service to the federal government,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

WEP reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.

GPO reduces benefits for beneficiaries who also receive government pensions of their own. 

It affects approximately three million public sector retirees and their beneficiaries.

Alternative Legislation

Even as the Social Security Fairness Act enjoys broad support, there is an alternative bill floating around.

The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act (H.R. 5342) replaces the windfall elimination provision with a new formula to calculate Social Security benefits of someone who worked in both the public and private sector.

The measure has at least three dozen sponsors, mostly conservative Republicans, although Representative Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX), is a sponsor.