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Social Security Fairness Act of 2009

Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Secretary
ATF
Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:17 AM

Post Reply

I have worked for the gov. 25 years. I am a widow my social security includes the windfall elimination and the GPO. I am a senior and had to return to work. I cannot have any kind of retirement due to all the government offsets. Is this fair to the government worker?

Thanks,

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Physicist
State University
Fri May 15, 2009 12:40 PM
If this is repealed, Social Security will go bankrupt earlier than is reported. I know people who have never paid a cent into the SS system, but did pay into a state pension plan, so get an excellent retirement benefit from the state plan. If these acts are repealed, then they will be able to "double-dip" because they will be able to get SPOUSAL social security benefits, while getting their state retirement benefit as well!! I wish some of you would think about future generations. How about a current 6 year old who will be forced to pay into the system (the state agencies CHOSE to opt out, when it was possible to do so!!! They CHOSE this!), in the hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifetime and not get a penny because social security will become insolvent BECAUSE payments made far outpace what is put in. Repealing this will only make this worse. I hope some of you think a little more deeply about this, and not think magically about money.

Will this post get fair treatment?

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Educator spouse
IL TRS
Wed May 20, 2009 10:03 AM
TO: Physicist, State University
POSTED: Fri May 15, 2009 12:40 PM

The cost of repealing the GPO and WEP, estimated to be $62-$67 billion over the next 10 years, could be fully covered by eliminating just a small fraction of the well-documented "tax gap" resulting from failure to enforce current tax laws. That estimate is about a 4% increase over current benefit expenditures. I believe the war in Iraq costs that much every six months.

Yours in fairness,
~ R, 4K2 ~

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Retired
Retired
Thu May 28, 2009 6:51 PM
Physicist......
We paid our dues just like everyone else.
All those years believing the entitlement would be there.
Working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet.
Don't take the monies out of paycheck then.
Just pay us cash...then we'll be happy.
Your head is in the clouds....would you give up your just
due if the roles were reversed?
Cheney and Haliburton waste all that was taken from us.

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Retired
United State Post Office
Thu May 28, 2009 7:15 PM
Devils Advocate is being played by Physicist.
I doubt very much if this person is actually who they
say they are. Working in the Post Office was the best
job I ever had. To make ends meet I worked extra jobs
for 20 years while working for Post Office. According to the print out from Social Security I'm entitled to 800.00/month. You know what I actually get?
52.00/month. Until this thing is settled the only satisfaction I can get after contacting my Congress people is that's 52.00 is better than nothing--I'm not very happy w/ this--my republican congressman doesn't
care. With President Obama putting the disadvantged
who worked hard and made something of themselves into positions into his administration--this is what gives hope to our starving country. There's gotta be both republicans and democrats that care about people. What our country's going thru now is a blessing in disguise for the younger generations coming up. Learning to get along w/ less will promote the future

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Ms Soni
schools
Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:51 PM
As a single parent who worked several jobs and always was a part time teacher, I am not allowed full benefits through the governement pension plan and my Social Security is reduced from about $400 to $54. I paid just as much into SS as anyone else did who made the same as i did so I should be entitled to it. I could see the problem with folks who have full-benefits getting full-benefits twice, but for the poorest of the poorest it never works out that way. The maximum cut from WEP is $340. Not very nice if your benefit is $400. Wouldn't mean much to administration or folks with 2 or three thousand dollar benefits. The max is the max for all tax brackets.

RE: Social Security Fairness Act

management assistant
IRS
Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:39 AM

Post Reply

I sure hope they can get this GOP & WEP repealed.
This would sure help the ones who are in the Lowest Graded salaries of the branches of government.

We worked prior to and during breaks in government service and paid social security which was mandatory.
Therefore it was mandatory for us to pay, it should be mandatory for us to receive our portion when we retire, no matter how much we are entitled to in retirement.

If you must, you could a set a $ amount of retirement before all is eliminated in the ACT.

Try the yearly amount of $85,000.00-$95,000.00, that would help the lower paid employees and still get their small entitlement to all the allowable social security.

Many of us worked while salaries were low before we came to the government so Soc Sec checks would be small also.

Thanks

Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

Retired Human Resource Specialist
Army
Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:29 PM

Post Reply

I am also a retired individual, i have worked during my career under both systems. Seems to me if you have worked under both systems, have paid under both systems, then you should be eligible under both systems. This looks like it is discriminating against individuals, mainly federal employees who have worked under both systems. They need to repeal the GPO and the WEP....

Re: Federal Pension/GPO/WEP

SPEC
VHA
Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:06 PM
Me, too. It's a sorry state of affairs when some of us work and pay in, yet our benefits are going to someone else.

Social Security Fairness Act of 2009

Retiree
DOD
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:33 PM

Post Reply

As a single mother in the past, having to work 2 jobs to make ends meet, I was forced to pay into Social Security. Now as a senior having to continue to work to make ends meet and stave off foreclosure, because I have been robbed of my rightful Social Security benefits, robbed of my investments by a corrupt financial industry, and penalized again by Social Security if I manage to earn over $12,000-13,000, the little benefits I am allowed are totally confiscated. I blame all the seniors and/or retirees who are affected if it does not pass because if every one of us wrote our representatives and asked for their support, reminding them that you will be there for them next election as they are here for you with this bill, something would happen.

1st Session
H. R. 235
To amend title II of the Social Security Act t

Social Security Fairness Act of 2009

TLS
IRS
Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:10 PM

Post Reply

Although I probably won't ever have "significant earnings" to fall under WEP and will not fall under GPO, I am keeping my fingers crossed. These laws are so unfair to Government employees. No one in the private sector is affected by them. We work for many years, in many cases at a salary far less than our civilian counterparts, for many reasons, and then to be put in another "worse off" position upon retirement is untenable. Everyone should contac their representative if he or she is not on the bandwagon with this. Mine gets an email tonight.

Repeal of GPO and Windfall Provisions

Reitred
United States Postal Service & U. S.Navy
Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:48 PM

Post Reply

It's simple. We worked and paid with honesty and integrity. Should be able to draw full benefits with honesty and integrity. Any thing less is unfair. Retired Postmaster

Eliminate the GPO / WEP

RETIRED MSG / Letter Carrier
United States Army and United States Postal Service
Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:47 AM

Post Reply

The "birth" of this bill in 1983 is one of the most unfair legislatures ever "passed" by OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
I'm tired of being screwed by The United States Government. Putting my life on the line for over twenty years and a public servant for another twenty years calls for Full Retirement Benefits. No Exceptions.
I worked for and EARNED the Social Security benefits. Now, damnit, I want what I am due!!!!!!!!!!! Elimination would mean somewhere around $400.00 more each month for my full benefit. Do you realize that is almost $5000.00 a year that MY Government is Stealing from my family?????
That is the Thanks that I receive for doing my part for a "free" United States of America.
Get this "bill out of the "Ways and Means Committee" and on to the floor for a vote.I would like to reap some of the EARNED BENEFITS before I meet my maker.
ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Write to your representatives daily and hopefully we can force them to take action for a vote.

Re: Eliminate the GPO / WEP

Robert J York
retired teacher
Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:29 AM
Hey, I agree with you 100%. I am a retired teacher who also worked 12 years in the meat business as a journeyman meat cutter.
I would like to get my full share of SS benefits before I die.

Re: Eliminate the GPO / WEP

Physicist
State University
Fri May 15, 2009 12:46 PM
Did you contribute to Social Security? If so, you deserve what the rules say. If not, no. Repealing the act will make it such that hundreds of thousands of indviduals will be able to collect social security through "spouse", AND at the same time collect their state pension!! That doesn't make any sense, and will just make Social Security become insolvent earlier.
Total Comments: 108
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