For decades the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) have stolen Social Security benefits from public employees just like you. Now legislation to repeal WEP and GPO is closer than ever to becoming reality thanks to the U.S. House of Representatives voting last week to pass the Social Security Fairness Act.  But that vote puts it only halfway to the finish line—the United States Senate must pass the bill before the end of the year so President Biden can sign it into law.

 

That’s the reason Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who’s spent many years working for the repeal of WEP/GPO, has signed a bipartisan letter calling on Senate Leadership to schedule a vote before time runs out. The letter says, “Our nation’s public servants have implored us to listen to their stories and to take congressional action to correct the glaring injustices of the WEP and the GPO…Social Security’s short-term solvency should not be propped up by the stolen benefits of these retirees—benefits they have long been owed and will never get back.”

 

Now is the time to seize the moment and urge the Senate to act swiftly and pass the Social Security Fairness Act before Congress adjourns at the end of December.

 

Join the effort to restore Social Security benefits for public employees by CALLING or WRITING a Senator ASAP.

 

More than 270,000 Ohioans, including members of OCSEA, don’t receive the Social Security benefits they deserve because of WEP and GPO. 

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces Social Security benefits for workers who receive pensions from federal, state or
local government for employment not covered by Social Security.

Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces Social Security benefits for the spouses, widows or widowers whose spouses receive pensions from federal, state or local government.

WEP/GPO Fact Sheet

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am a public service retiree/employee in [CITY]. I’m calling to urge you to pass the Social Security Fairness Act because GPO and WEP have been penalizing retirees for too long. As a public servant yourself, you surely agree that Americans shouldn’t be punished for choosing careers serving their communities. But that’s exactly what GPO and WEP do to public service retirees. Some retirees have seen our benefits cut to ZERO. So please, pass the Social Security Fairness Act to show you stand with proud public employees. Thank you for your time.

TAKE ACTION