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GPO and WEP Changes: Don't Hold Your Breath

REPEAL of WEP and GPO

Disabled, Retired Police Officer
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Tue Mar 4, 2008 9:35 AM

Post Reply

Another example of the "do-nothings" in Washington DC on both sides of the political aisle. When are we
Americans going to smarten up and elect people who have we
Americans best interest at heart and have the ability
"to do the right thing"??? This November is an ideal
and the only time we'll have in the next few years to
OUST and "put out on the streets" those in Congress
who have lied to us, blown smoke and mirrors in our
faces and who, in most cases, generally don't care
about those of us who make up the masses. They
have consistently "chipped away" and "cherry picked"
our benefits over the years where there is nothing
left to whittle away and they wonder why we are in
the state we are in. WE THE PEOPLE have the power
and its time we EXERCISE that power and vote to get
rid of the WHOLE Washington "IN" Crowd and vote all
of them OUT OF OFFICE!!!!! Its time to change ALL of
the players in Congress and put people in there that
will put the MASSES first.

Government Pension Offset (GPO).

GS7 Retired
USAF (Retired)
Tue Mar 4, 2008 9:51 AM

Post Reply

I'm CSRS offset retiree, very close to window-hood (very ill spouse). Having the remainder of my worked-for pension would be a welcome addition to my financial survival around the corner. And as calculations have it; we're only talking about an additional $3-4 hundred dollars a month, and that would pay for my gas bill for a couple months.

windfall and GPO

Miss Margaret Johnson
SBA
Tue Mar 4, 2008 9:55 AM

Post Reply

My belief is that it is completely and utterly unfair to have this laid upon federal employees.

People who retire from civilian companies are not penalized for social security. why are government workers?

it is the same as double taxation which you already know we have imposed upon everyone also.

Re: windfall and GPO

Retired FERS
FBI
Tue Mar 4, 2008 1:07 PM
Maybe the reason the civilians and me are not penalized is we paid into Social Secuirty our entire careers. You didn't.

Re: windfall and GPO

ATSS
FAA
Tue Mar 4, 2008 2:08 PM
One should get what they paid for. If I only have 40 quarters of Social Security I should get paid for that once I qualify at age whatever, not for half of it because I'm CSRS. If I only get a portion of Social Security, then they should only take out a portion in any post federal career job.

Re: windfall and GPO

Retired Examiner
OCC
Tue Mar 4, 2008 3:01 PM
30+ years ago there was no FERS and those in CSRS paid 6 or 7% of their salary into the retirement plan while Social Security paid far less. Only now do they match CSRS.

I like anyone else, am willing to pay into Social Security as long as I will be entitled to the same benefits as anyone else and not for the obvious purpose of supporting others to my detriment.

I understand that GPO/WEP was foisted upon us by that stellar economist and former president, Jimmy Carter.

Re: windfall and GPO

Analyst
DOD
Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:04 AM
This is for the retired FRS FBI...how do you know who or who did not pay into social security? You think it's unfair that they receive funds from both systems even if they have contrubited to both systems? You need to get your facts straight.

Re: windfall and GPO

Retired Fed
GAO/NSA
Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:17 AM
Maybe retired FERS FBI should consider the fact that many retired feds are like me. I was fully vested in SS before I started my careeer with the Federal Government. After 341/2 years, I retired and found that my government employment caused me to lose 75% of my SS annuity. I don't consider that fair!!

GPO/WEP

CSRS
VA
Tue Mar 4, 2008 10:06 AM

Post Reply

Am I missing something? I went to the NARFE website to see how our Representatives stand on this issue. It appears every state Representative is a co-sponsor so what gives?

Too bad I'm not like my neighbor. He worked for Brach's Candy, gets an annuity check and social security too. He's living large and gets "double dipped" chocolate checks each month in his mailbox...by Brach's and Uncle Sam.

Re: GPO/WEP

Examiner
Bank regulatory agency
Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:15 AM
Oh good grief! Your neighbor is not "double dipping." He/she paid into social security for all the years worked. If Brach's also provides a pension to its retirees, their employees are very fortunate. And congratulations to Brach's for offering its employees this wonderful benefit!

Most of the CSRS folks I know are likewise "living large" as they are getting about 60% of their pre-retirement income. They can retire earlier, get their benefits immediately, and get a larger monthly check than I will. FERS is the equivalent of that monthly pension, but even with SS income, it won't equal 60% of my monthly pay. I still feel blessed that the government is providing a pension in addition to SS (into which I have paid since the age of 18).

Re: GPO/WEP

Analsyt
DOD
Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:32 PM
This is for the Bank Examiner, there are quite a few CSRS folks that have also paid into SS with enough quarters to receive a full benefit. Why should there retirement be "offset" by the amount of SS they receive? Did they not actually contribute to both?

Maybe

Seen it all
VA
Tue Mar 4, 2008 10:09 AM

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If I'm not mistaken this bill is pretty much a duplication of a bill that has been pending before several Congresses for about ten years. It has never come out of committee in those Congresses either. Maybe it makes someone feel good; or maybe it provides cover; or mabe its too expensive; or maybe its the composition of the committee; or maybe its the leadeship of the committee; or maybe we don't have any money; or maybe its the war, or mabe its the economy, or maybe............

windfall and gpo

retd hr director
dod
Tue Mar 4, 2008 10:21 AM

Post Reply

was going to ask why you would headline with a
non-starter. then, saw the comments...guess you
needed to rattle the trees.

Cost of GP0/WEP

Examiner
OCC
Tue Mar 4, 2008 10:25 AM

Post Reply

The Congresssional Research Service has estimated the combined effect of eliminating both the WEP and the GPO would cost approximately $80 billion over a 10-year period, cost 0.11% of taxable payroll over 75 years and increase Social Security’s long-range deficit by about 5.6%. These estimates are based on the intermediate assumptions of the 2007 Social Security Trustees Report and assume each bill is effective for benefits after December 31, 2007.

To put the $80 billion ten-year cost in perspective…the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (who also prepared the analysis below) now estimates the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan at $11.4 billion per month through August 2007 (i.e. pre-surge). That's about seven months worth of warring.

Monthly cost:
Iraq $9.6 billion
Afghanistan $1.8 billion

Let's get real about the cost of ending these programs. Write your Congressional Leader!

Re: Cost of GP0/WEP

Examiner
OCC
Fri Mar 7, 2008 8:09 AM
Talk about your oxymoron - "Congressional" - yes; "Leader" - hardly. And writing to them is useless as most of them sponsor the bill but won't actually do anything to move it forward, where they might have to actually vote and go on the record.
Total Comments: 60
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