Biden Signs Repeal of GPO-WEP into Law
On January 5, 2025, President Joe Biden signed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, into law. This legislation repealed the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), provisions of federal law that reduce earned Social Security and spousal/survivor benefits for individuals who collect a pension from states where public employees do not pay into Social Security. Repealing these unfair penalties represents the conclusion of decades of advocacy from OEA members and public employees from across the country.
OEA President Scott DiMauro and OEA ESP of the Year Cheryl Williams attended the bill signing. The bill passed 327-75 in the U.S. House of Representatives and 76-20 in the U.S. Senate. Every member of the Ohio delegation voted in support of the legislation. OEA urges members to contact their members of Congress to thank them for their support.
Regulations on how the bill will be implemented have not yet been formalized. NEA will produce a FAQ document and other guidance to members that we will share when available.
Passage of this legislation is certainly a reason to celebrate. It would not have been possible without the hard work and passion of so many OEA members and is a testament to what we can do when we work together. OEA will continue to focus and work on improving retirement security for our members through advocacy in support of our state retirement systems and to strengthen Social Security for all Americans.
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