The Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act early Saturday, addressing a decades-long grievance among millions of retired public service workers. The legislation, which now heads to President Joe Biden for approval, promises to boost benefits for those affected by longstanding federal policies that reduced Social Security payments for individuals with public pensions.
The bill, approved by a 76-20 vote, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions had limited Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million retirees, including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and postal workers. The bill also extends to surviving spouses and family members affected by these restrictions.
"Millions of retired teachers and firefighters and letter carriers have waited decades for this moment," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "No longer will public retirees see their hard-earned Social Security benefits robbed from them."
The passage of the bill marks the culmination of years of advocacy. Hearings on these provisions began as far back as 2003, but the recent push gained momentum in the final weeks of Congress. The legislation had previously garnered bipartisan approval in the House in November.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat and longtime advocate of the measure, celebrated the victory. "Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class. You pay into it, you earn it, and it should be there when you retire," Brown stated. "All these workers are asking for is what they earned."
The change comes with significant financial implications. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the repeal of the WEP and GPO will add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over the next decade. The strain on the Social Security Trust Funds is expected to advance their projected insolvency date by approximately six months, now anticipated around 2035.
Critics of the legislation, including Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., acknowledged the inequities in the current system but questioned the financial prudence of the bill. "We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis," Tillis said, warning of the long-term challenges to the program's solvency.
Supporters, however, argued that fairness for public service retirees was long overdue. "They have earned these benefits. This is an unfair, inequitable penalty," said Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Despite the financial concerns, the bill has been hailed as a landmark achievement for retirees and public service workers. Shannon Benton, executive director of the Senior Citizens League, called it "a monumental victory for millions of public service workers who have been denied the full benefits they've rightfully earned."
The legislation's provisions will take effect for Social Security payments made after December 2023, offering immediate relief to affected retirees. However, the added administrative burden may challenge the already strained Social Security Administration (SSA), which is operating at its lowest staffing levels since 1972.
Republican Senator Rand Paul proposed an amendment to address Social Security's broader financial issues by gradually raising the retirement age to 70. The proposal, however, failed to gain traction, with only three votes in favor.
