A petition appeals to the Senate of the United States to take a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, and more than 10,000 individuals have signed it. The petition was created by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, otherwise known as AFSCME, which is within the United States the largest union of public employees. The petition seeks to mobilize support by highlighting the need to resolve two federal policies that affect millions of people who work in federal, state, and local jobs and who are entitled to SS benefits but are restricted by those very federal policies. Last week, the House of Representatives finally voted in favor of the act by 327 against 75, bringing the elimination of such policies closer.
Trending: What is the special rule of Social Security about earnings in the first year of retirement?
The policies in question are the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). WEP takes away Social Security money from public employees with pensions who have not paid Social Security wage taxes, which affects around 2 million people. GPO reduces spousal or survivor wage income for individuals in the same class, which is estimated to cover nearly 800,000 people. These provisions have received backlash within and outside the government as they seek to harm public service workers who have played key roles in society.
Nevertheless, the House has approved, and the bill is now facing additional hurdles in the Senate, where the time is short as the present Congress shall be coming to an end in January. Should the Senate stay mute, a fresh legislative process will have to be initiated in the coming Congress. Further, it should be noted that some of the major bills, such as Sherrod Brown from Ohio and Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Garret Graves, are not going back, leaving the chances of reintroduction of the bill tied down.
The AFSCME petition has surpassed 11,000 signatures and is putting additional pressure on Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell to bring the bill to a vote. However, the petition is not legally binding and does not guarantee a Senate vote. Advocates for the bill, including its sponsors and supporters like Spanberger, Graves, and Senator Susan Collins, have sent letters urging Senate leaders to act, emphasizing the unfairness faced by workers who lose benefits they have earned.
If the Senate votes on the bill, it is expected to pass, as it has already gained over 62 co-sponsors—enough to ensure approval. Advocates argue that the bill will restore fairness to Social Security by eliminating policies that have “stolen benefits” from workers. However, critics raise concerns about the financial implications. A 2020 study estimated that repealing these provisions would boost benefits for about 4.5% of beneficiaries by 2025, with an average annual increase of $7,300. The Congressional Budget Office, however, projects that this change would add $195 billion to federal deficits over the next decade, straining Social Security’s finances.
Trending: How long before I leave foster care may I file for Supplemental Security Income benefits?
Opponents argue that the bill could hurt younger workers by increasing the fiscal burden on Social Security. Some, like Rep. John Larson, voted against it, citing concerns that it is not adequately funded and could jeopardize benefits for the most vulnerable Americans. If the bill becomes law, changes will take effect in December 2023, providing relief to those affected by WEP and GPO. Despite uncertainties, supporters remain hopeful, driven by the momentum generated by the House vote and public advocacy.
