Advocate Online

From Capitol To Campus

Two little-known sections of the Social Security Act—the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)—are wreaking havoc with the pensions of retired educators, including many from the ranks of higher education.

These two provisions, adopted by Congress in the 1980s as a snap solution to problems such as pension “double dipping” abuses and budget deficits, have inflicted damage lawmakers never intended.

In 15 states where educators and other public employees don’t pay into Social Security, the Government Pension Offset reduces a worker’s Social Security spousal or survivor benefit by an amount equal to two-thirds of his or her public pension.

Duck that one, and you’re slammed by the Windfall Elimination Provision, which cuts the Social Security benefits of anyone who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.

In affected states like California, Illinois, Texas, and Massachusetts, many higher ed faculty and staff, along with K-12 teachers and staff, receive rosy Social Security statements advising them they’ve earned sufficient credits for a full retirement benefit, but then go into shock when the first, reduced Social Security check arrives.

In May, Congress heard all this and more straight from Active and Retired NEA members through phone calls, postcards, over 7,000 e-mail messages, and visits to Capitol Hill by some 150 NEA state leaders, organized into 46 lobbying teams.

For more on the GPO and WEP and on legislation to repeal them, go to www.nea.org/lac/socsec. There you’ll also find talking points on repeal and an e-mail link to your members of Congress.