Reports from the Congressional Budget Office or Social Security Administration

Senate to Vote on Social Security Fairness Act, Repealing WEP and GPO

Dec 12, 2024, 10:30 PM

The Senate is preparing to vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation aimed at providing full Social Security benefits to millions of people, particularly those who have worked in public service. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced the process for a final vote, highlighting the bill's intent to rectify what he describes as an unfair denial of benefits to public servants. The bill, which has already passed the House, seeks to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These policies currently reduce Social Security payments for approximately 2.8 million individuals who receive pensions from non-Social Security-covered employment or are surviving spouses with their own government pensions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would add $195 billion to federal deficits over the next decade, raising concerns among some conservative senators about its cost and potential impact on the Social Security Trust funds, which are projected to be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2035. Despite opposition, the bill enjoys bipartisan support, with Schumer working to secure the necessary Republican votes for passage.