NARFE Continues Push for Social Security Fairness, Supports New Legislation to Reform Windfall Elimination Provision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                
September 30, 2019

Alexandria, VA – In response to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-MA, introducing the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, H.R. 4540, that would provide relief to civil servants financially punished by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement: 

“The Windfall Elimination Provision has unfairly penalized public servants through reduced Social Security benefits for far too long. This bill would provide much-needed relief from the penalty for those currently affected, and improve fairness for future retirees.

“NARFE supports a full repeal of the WEP, as the status quo has harmed too many hardworking and dedicated public servants for too many years. We commend Chairman Neal for his continued leadership on this issue and urge both sides of the political aisle to work together on a compromise that improves fairness, provides real relief for current retirees, and, importantly, passes into law.”

Background
•    The WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of local, state and federal retirees who worked in Social Security-covered employment (e.g., private-sector jobs) and who also receive a government annuity from their non-Social Security covered government employment (e.g. federal employment covered by the Civil Service Retirement System).
•    According to the Congressional Research Service, as of December 2018, the WEP affects 1,863,084 beneficiaries, including 1,747,212 retired workers, 13,345 workers with disabilities, and 102,527 spouses and children. In 2019, the WEP can result in a monthly benefit that is $463 lower than under the regular benefit formula.
•    The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, H.R. 4540, would provide current Social Security beneficiaries affected by WEP (and for future beneficiaries turning age 62 before 2022) with a $150 per month increase in their Social Security benefits to offset the WEP penalty, starting nine months after enactment.
•    Under the bill, Social Security benefits for future retirees (those turning 62 in 2022 or later) would be eligible for a new, fairer formula that calculates benefits based on the proportion of earnings covered by Social Security to total earnings. These future retirees would receive a benefit that is the greater of that calculated based on the new formula or the old one.

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As the only organization solely dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE delivers valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy. For nearly a century, NARFE has been a trusted source of knowledge for the federal community, Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the media.

CONTACT:
Jill Talley
NARFE Director of Public Relations
jtalley@narfe.org
(703)838-7760