Whitfield Supports the Social Security Fairness Act | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Supports the Social Security Fairness Act February 16, 2007 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield announced he will co-sponsor the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007. If passed, this legislation will eliminate the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination (WEP) provisions on Social Security.

"This comes down to basic fairness," said Whitfield. "Workers who pay into social security deserve the full benefit regardless of any other pensions."

The GPO affects individuals who qualify for both a government pension based on non-Social Security-covered employment and a Social Security spousal benefit. The GPO provision reduces Social Security benefits that a person receives as a spouse if he or she also has a federal, state or local government pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduction in Social Security spousal benefits is equal to two-thirds of the government pension.

The WEP directly affects individuals, such as Kentucky teachers, who also worked in a Social Security covered job. The WEP reduces the amount of Social Security benefits based on the pension an individual receives from the non-Social Security covered job.

Congressman Whitfield co-sponsored this legislation in 2005. Even though the legislation had a broad range of support it never made it out of the Ways and Means Committee.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure this important legislation is passed so the seniors who have paid into Social Security receive their fair share of the benefit."

Back to headlines