Van Hollen Applauds President’s Signing of Bill to Ensure Full Social Security Benefits for Public Employees

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded President Biden’s signing of the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation the Senator cosponsored to ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits. This bill, which Senator Van Hollen voted to pass in the Senate on December 21, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act, both of which significantly reduced benefits for nearly 3 million Americans – including over 54,000 Marylanders – many of whom are federal employees, teachers, police officers, and state, county, and local government workers.

“From firefighters to teachers to food safety inspectors, we count on the services that public employees provide every day. Our passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring all public workers and their families can retire with dignity, receiving the full Social Security benefits that they have paid into – and earned – after years of hard work,” said Senator Van Hollen.

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduced Social Security spousal benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government. Together, these provisions reduced Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million Americans – including many teachers and police officers.

The Social Security Fairness Act repeals both the WEP and GPO statutes, ensuring public sector workers and their families receive their full Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration will soon begin the process of implementing this legislation. Updates on this process will be released here.

This legislation was endorsed by a diverse array of labor leaders, including the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, International Association of Firefighters, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.