Gillibrand pushes for Social Security legislation | News, Sports, Vacancies

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference this week calling on the Senate to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase Social Security benefits for 2.5 million Americans, including thousands of police officers, firefighters, teachers and other government employees. who have dedicated their lives to serving their community. Current law reduces Social Security benefits for workers who receive work-income pensions that are not covered by Social Security and payroll taxes, meaning that government employees who hold positions with nongovernmental organizations during their careers are being unfairly punished.

The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal these provisions that reduce Social Security benefits and provide retirees with the full benefits they are owed. The bill passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support last week; Gillibrand is now calling on the Senate to immediately send it to President Biden’s desk.

The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two harmful provisions that significantly reduce Social Security benefits for approximately 2.5 million Americans:

— The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which reduces Social Security benefits for workers who also receive pensions from the federal, state, or local government for work not covered by Social Security. In December 2023, the WEP program affected about 2.1 million people (or about 3% of all Social Security recipients).

— Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive pensions from the federal, state, or local government for work not covered by Social Security.

The bill passed the House last week by a margin of 327 to 75 and has 62 co-sponsors in the Senate.