2337 is now the focal point for WEP reform. The House bill is now up to 301 co-supporters. Of course all of this procedural maneuvering is inside baseball. 2337. TRTA will be bringing you the latest updates on H.R. While it was clear the purpose of the hearing was to prevent a floor vote on full repeal due to concerns about Social Security solvency, primarily, according to committee leaders every committee member who spoke at the hearing expressed a desire to address the inequities of WEP and GPO. Those seeking all or nothing will continue to end up with nothing, resulting in everyone losing out.. Thereafter, I argued the adjustments based on WEP and GPO arent really all that harsh when compared to what you would have earned had you worked a full career in Social Security. APRIL 2, 2021: Congressman Richard Neal has reintroduced his Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reform proposal for 2021-22 Congressional Session with the support of the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation. 2337, Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021. Social Security leaders receive double no confidence votes, Lawmaker summons Pentagon official over canceled travel software, Schedule F is about accountability, not spoils system, ex-officials say, Lavender Scare a reminder of darker times in DC as Pride Month ends, Why US agencies buy personal info and what it means in the age of AI, Service academies exempt from Supreme Court affirmative action ruling, Making the Most Out of Military Pay Money Minute. The WEP negatively affects nearly 2 million retired public servants across the country, including 83,000 in Massachusetts. This is the approach taken byCongressman Richard Neal within his proposal H.R. JULY 18, 2016: A week that began with the promise of legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) advancing in Congress, has instead ended with the bill suffering a setback. 2337 would provide up to $150 a month in relief for those currently impacted by WEP and fixes the WEP for future retirees. It is understandable that those of us in the federal community read numerous articles about why proposals should be adopted to provide greater benefits to this workforce. Employee Relations 2337 is now the focal point for WEP reform. The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., would give current retirees and those turning 62 before 2023 an extra $150 a month in Social Security checks to correct for reductions to those checks mandated by the Windfall Elimination Provision. Savings generated by the change in the Social Security formula for future eligible retirees would be used to pay for increased benefits for current retirees. Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. This bill is of interest to a number of people in the federal community as it would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). H.R. His co-sponsorship will go a long way towards passing the bill out of committee. This means that it applies to CSRS retirees, and might apply to those retirees who are CSRS Offset or TransFERS. By now, I think you know just how much this issue means to all of us here atMass Retirees. Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, Overview of the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021, Estimate from the Social Security Administration Chief Actuary. At the outset of the hearing, Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), who is the bills chief sponsor, publicly called for retiree and employee advocates to utilize the summer Congressional recess to work together on solutions that will improve the bill. In anticipation of the bill being approved by Ways and Means on July 13, Legislative Director Shawn Duhamel joined Tim Lee of the Texas Retired Teachers Association and spent, the day before, meeting with members of the Committee and their staff in an attempt to shore up support. FEGLI Broad Republican and Democrat support is required to move the bill forward. This is the furthest a bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) has advanced through the congressional process, and committee members expressed support for addressing the issue in some way, but the future path for the bill remains uncertain. Retired State, County And Municipal Employees Association Of Massachusetts. The Windfall Elimination Provision has unfairly penalized public servants through reduced Social Security benefits for far too long. The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, H.R. Thankfully a strong working relationship and mutual respect exist between Brady and Neal, leading us to believe that a WEP reform deal will get done. The reduces any Social Security spousal or survivors benefit to which you would be entitled by $2 for every $3 of your federal pension. Since all five of them focus on the WEP and the GPO, I thought it would be a good idea to examine each in turn and find out what they do and why they were became law in the first place. This is especially true in the Senate, where a 50/50 split is in place. While the WEP and GPO are not in the economic interests of many future federal retirees, the arguments against repeal of these provisions have not succeeded, in part because of the potential impact on the solvency of the Social Security system and its potential impact on other Social Security recipients. your representatives now to urge them to support a floor vote on H.R. No doubt, their view coincides with many federal employees who would like to see an increase in their retirement income. 711 on the day before the hearing, disagreement broke out between the bills advocates and some public employee unions representing active employees. What do they mean when they say windfall? If passed, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 ( HR-2337) would establish "a new, fairer formula that will pay Social Security benefits in proportion to the share of a . In the coming weeks, I will have more to share with you on these issues. Should ESG funds be banned within the TSP? Prior to the hearing, NARFE National President Ken Thomas sent Congress a letter urging them to advance the bill. DE Synonyme fr Reform. Most FedSmith readers are current or retired federal employees. The National Active and Retired and Federal Employees Association (NARFE) quickly issued a press release supporting passage of the bill. He also specifically mentions his continued collaboration with Mr. Brady. Given the circumstances, it was a wise decision to delay the release of the bill. IRA As you might know, the filibuster takes a 60-vote supermajority to break. Brady serves as the ranking minority member on the House Ways and Means Committee, and his bill, H.R. It would also remove the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals whoalso receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes. Neal went on to thank our Association and praised our efforts on behalf of public retirees. 4260, is the latest iteration of WEP reform and would grant relief to current WEP-affected individuals by providing them with an extra $150 a month and instituting a new WEP formula for future retirees. Retired State, County And Municipal Employees Association Of Massachusetts. Another is Texas Congressman Kevin Brady. The goal of H.R. VA The hearing will take place Wednesday at 1P.M. As long as the US Senate remains closely divided, with a 60-vote majority required to pass legislation, full repeal cannot pass. Please make the passage of WEP Reform a personal priority. No existing retiree would see any reduction in their Social Security benefit. The bill would provide individuals impacted by the WEP who are age 60 and older with a monthly rebate of $100 ($50 for surviving spouses) and change how the WEP is calculated for individuals who are currently under age 21. Any bill on the calendar will remain there until it is considered by the full House, or reported by the committee of primary jurisdiction in this case the House Committee on Ways and Means. Reform of the WEP has been nearly 40 years in the making. Man Sentenced to Prison After Pretending to Need Wheelchair to Get VA Benefits, GPO, WEP and Your Future Social Security Benefits, Legislation Aims to Eliminate WEP and GPO. (Read more onRedState). Bradys plea was echoed by lead cosponsor Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), who made it clear that he believes H.R. Given the closely divided House and the 50-50 Senate, where the filibuster remains,we believe that only a bipartisan proposal that has the full support of both Mr. Neal and Mr. Brady can pass both chambers of Congress. Anyone who had at least 5 years of either CSRS Offset or FERS service would be exempt from the GPO. The U.S. House of Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to vote on H.R. Another difference of opinion could also exist over calculating the long-term cost of WEP reform, as well as how the change in benefits will be paid for. These are never easy conversations to have. Taxes To understand the arguments on both sides of the issue, here is a provision from a recent article on FedSmith by Brenton Smith: This specific proposal would create a financial incentive for workers to opt-out of Social Security at the exact time that the program is struggling with the possibility of insolvency. This number grows each day as new retirees apply for Social Security. With this legislation, these valued members of our communities will have greater retirement security and peace of mind.. Last week, NARFE submitted a comment letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in response to its interim final rule establishing the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. Look for updates here, as well as our weekly hotline and in the Voice. Mass Retirees; The Online Voice of the Retired Public Employee: JULY 18, 2016: "A week that began with the promise of legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP . Probably the most visible of these proposals is the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 ( H.R. Seeing both sides of the issue can be helpful in understanding the complexity of the situation. As a reminder, both the WEP and GPO unfairly reduce Social Security benefits of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuitants, as well as many state and local government retirees, due to their receipt of a government pension. Relocation Service move-in in Karlsruhe, Organisation der Abholung von Flughafen/Bahnhof, Organisation einer ersten Unterbringung, Schul- und Kindergartenanmeldung, Behrdengnge The pressure to pass reform has never been higher. Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. I know that Im angry about it, to say the least. TRTA has been working closely with Kevin Brady (R The Woodlands) to repeal the arbitrary WEP and replace it with a newer, fairer formula. What is different in 2021 is that we have high ranking members in Congress, from both parties, in agreement that the WEP law is unfair and must change. H.R. Revolution Ausnahme nderung bergang Wandel Wende Verbesserung Wechsel Reform Revision Korrektur Umgestaltung Modifikation Umbruch Neuerung Wendung Wandlung Neuregelung Umkehr Neubeginn. The formula used to compute Social Security benefits includes factors that ensure that lower-paid workers get a higher percentage of return than their more well-to-do counterparts. Click here to find the phone number for the local office in your community or to send an email / letter. This exemption would end if the bill were to pass in its current form. Congress is currently considering three separate amendments to the Social Security Act which would change the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provisions (WEP) rules. Spearheaded by House Ways and Means Chairman Richie Neal and ranking Member Kevin Brady, negotiators could not reach an agreement on how to pay for the reform proposal. The nature of the disagreement rests on the delicate balance between crafting a new benefit formula that is fair to both current and future retirees. The WEP is so complex, but the questions surrounding it are usually the same. Those eligible for Social Security prior to 1/1/18 would receive a rebate based on their reduction under the current WEP law. If You Want a Bucket Strategy, Consider an IRA, Benefits for Surviving Children under Health, Life Insurance, Careful Use of Life Insurance for Estate Planning, Springing vs. Durable Powers of Attorney, How FEDVIP Differs from FEHB in Retirement, Knowing the Limits Family Member Eligibility in the FEHB. The Texas Retired Teachers Association's (TRTA) Executive Director Tim Lee will host a Facebook Live discussion with Congressman Kevin Brady (R - The Woodlands) about the most recent efforts to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). At the same time, the way this Congressional session ended is a clear indication that we need a new approach to solving these problems. Full discloser, this is a long but very important email. Vaccinations NAPO on the Hill: National Police Week Priorities, Collective Bargaining; Chairman Neal Reintroduces WEP Reform Bill; NAPO in the News; Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security Update; Gupta, Monaco Nominations Move Forward; NAPO Supports Bill Providing Protections for Officers Abroad; House Resolution Introduced in Support of an Officer Bill . This article The reason for the WEP was to eliminate the windfall that could result if a federal employee were to receive a CSRS pension based on many years of federal service not covered by Social Security and also receive a full Social Security Benefit. However, the truth is that our members and this Association have done everything within our power to help get a deal done and a bill passed in 2022. 711. 4540, by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richie Neal, and H.R. Federal workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others earned pensions through their service, and earned Social Security benefits separately through their or their spouses private-sectoror other coveredemployment. Neuigkeiten aus den Ausschssen, Antrge, und was sonst im politischen Alltag der Fraktion passiert. Legislation to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal, D-MA. Here is a portion of the statement from the NARFE National President Ken Thomas: WEP and GPO have deprived public servants of their full Social Security benefits for far too long. We need your continued help if we are to be successful in getting a bill passed. By impacted, I mean that they are public retirees who have had their own personal Social Security benefit reduced by the WEP law. It now includes discussion of bills that would affect both. In recent months there had been an attempt to construct a phase-out of the 30 year rule, whereby public employees currently in the system would be grandfathered under the old law. The Democrat position is that the hold-harmless clause should continue to exist indefinitely, while Republicans would prefer that it sunset. The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, H.R. Mass Retirees will have more to say on the outcome, as well as an outlook for 2023 early in the New Year. This is the furthest a bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) has advanced through the congressional process, and committee members expressed support for addressing the issue in some way, but the future path for the bill remains uncertain. He did not qualify for Social Security. Therefore, many would benefit from a repeal of the WEP and GPO provisions of the federal retirement system. In effect, the Congress took away what it viewed as a disproportionate benefit. Of course, the wording of the bill could change by the time it passes in the House and Senate. You can find their contact information here. If you are impacted by the WEP law, please read through to the end and also watch my video. H.R. A key component of the earlier draft of H.R. These two provisions of the federal governments retirement system were introduced in the 1980s. The markup would have placed H.R. Over the past 25 years, there have been several sessions where full repeal bills held a super majority of support in the House. Annuity A key aspect of the rebate is the fact that funding for it comes directly from the Social Security system itself. Congressman Richard Neal within his proposal H.R. Labor Relations First lets look at the WEP. Bradys plea was echoed by lead cosponsor Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), who made it clear that he believes H.R. Over . Backlog We need our members to keep in contact with your local member of Congress. Bills have been introduced each Congress, often accumulating cosponsors from a majority of House members. NARFE has pressed for repeal of these onerous penalties for decades. Sign up to receive more, Changes to RMDs: What Federal Retirees Need to Know, Share of Workers At Risk for Retirement Remains Elevated. Ask that they continue to make the passage of WEP reform a top priority. 82. This is the first time that the bill has advanced and it may result in a vote on the bill being taken on the floor of the House. For those of us representing current retirees, it is absolutely essential that our members receive financial relief from the WEP. Under the current House bill, the changes would be effective for benefits payable after December 2021. Ill let the Social Security Administration explain: Social Security benefits replace a percentage of a workers pre-retirement earnings. Neal went on to thank our Association and praised our efforts on behalf of public retirees. Mass Retireeshad supported and actively fought for fullyrepeal for nearly 30 years, but we no longer believe it to be a viable option. Similar bills have been introduced every year for a number of years. . I also hope that this outcome serves as a wake-up call to those taking an all-or-nothing position. It was an effort to improve the financial health of the the Social Security system. Today, June 13, 2023, Senate Bill 10 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. 82, out of committee, but without recommendation. There are some big changes coming to Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) in 2023 and beyond. Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. The struggle to repeal WEP and GPO is decades old. Social Security This means that, if it comes up for a floor vote, the bill is very likely to pass in the House. Whistleblower. 201 gefundene Synonyme in 11 Gruppen. Under the WEP, every CSRS employee who reaches age 62 and is eligible for an annuity based in whole or part on employment where they didnt pay Social Security taxes will have a lower formula used to compute their Social Security benefit. Tim Lee to Host Facebook/YouTube Live Event July 11. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released an updated version of its report concerning the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). FedSmith will continue to update our readers on how the attempts to repeal the WEP and GPO fare in Congress. 82). AFGE WEP reform legislation filed by Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) in 2019 carried a 40-year sunset clause, designed to protect current workers from an unfair change in the Social Security rules. This bill would provide at least some much-needed relief from the penalty for those currently affected, and it will improve fairness for future retirees, said National Active and Retired Federal Employees National President Ken Thomas in a statement. Public employees like firefighters, teachers, and police officers should not miss out on the Social Security benefits they earned over decades of hard work. We remained confident and reliant on these two leaders to bend on their ideological beliefs and cut a deal, but it didn't happen and these issues will remain unresolved for the foreseeable future. Last week, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-TX, introduced a new bill to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and bring relief to the 1.9 million people affected by it. Cosponsors do not always translate into actual votes. The 139 original cosponsors of the legislation are available HERE. SPRINGFIELD, MAToday, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) reintroduced his groundbreaking legislation, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021, to fix the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) for future retirees and provide meaningful relief to current WEP retirees. The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., would give current retirees and those turning 62 before 2023 an extra $150 a month in Social. H.R. Federal Retirement: When Age Isnt Just a Number. Thank you for the support you provide Mass Retirees, as well as for your assistance in advocating for WEP reform. 2337 currently does not have Republican support. We also conveyed to them the deep frustration and outright anger of our members toward what is seen as inaction on the issue. General Schedule Thus they received the advantage of the higher percentage of Social Security benefits in addition to their other pension. While this move is fair, it leaves the overall WEP reform proposal without a major revenue source to help pay for the rebate to current retirees. If the bill then maintains the 290 cosponsors for 25 legislative days, it will be placed on the calendar; the House must consider at least one bill from the calendar each week that the House is in session. Call their office, send an email or write a letter. The markup would have placed H.R. Key among them is our Congressman Richie Neal, who has pushed and pushed to keep WEP on the national radar screen. Thomas cited that the bill represents an opportunity to provide real relief to our nations seniors and public servants. Following its advancement through the House, Thomas released a media statement urging House leaders to commit, this month, to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. The full media statement can be found here. Highly paid workers receive rates of return that are considerably less. , out of committee, but without recommendation. As you may have heard us say, the decisions made over the course of the coming year will prove to be critical in terms of the quality and affordability of retiree health plans for the foreseeable future. While Neals bill has been endorsed by more than 50 national retiree and public employee organizations and has beencosponsored by 178 House Democrats(including all 9 MA members of Congress),H.R. Retired State, County And Municipal Employees Association Of Massachusetts. However, with the release of a redrafted H.R. At that time Bradys bill also contained a $100 rebate rather than the $150 benefit offered by Neals proposal. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is a method of computing benefits for some workers who receive a pension based on non-Social Security covered work.At the end of 2006, about 970,000 beneficiaries, mainly retired workers, were affected by the WEP.This article provides a brief legislative history, describes the WEP computation, and presents statistical data about beneficiaries affected . Whether advocating for full repeal or a WEP compromise, retirees put a lot of work into gaining support for action in this Congress. Through coordination with NARFEs congressional allies and other allied organizations, we have been able to secure 302 cosponsors for H.R. I appreciate his commitment to fixing this problem, and look forward to working with him to move a solution through Congress expediently.. 2023 Ralph R. Smith. ), Before the law was changed in 1983, employees who spent time in jobs not covered by Social Security had their benefits computed as if they were long-term, low-wage workers. Please. 82. Follow Ralph on Twitter: @RalphSmith47. Expands and strengthens Social Security benefits, improves the solvency of the Social Security trust fund, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, and provides for numerous other Social Security related improvements. Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families.
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