Your advocacy has been vital in ensuring our elected officials understand the issues around the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO) and their impact on teacher recruitment, retention, and retirement. Because of these outdated federal laws, teachers have long been denied Social Security benefits they are entitled to through previous jobs, second jobs, and spousal earnings. It’s time to fix that.
While we continue to urge Congress to move on HR 82, a law that would repeal WEP/GPO, our legislators in Hartford are recognizing the negative impacts of WEP/GPO, and in response, have proposed HJ 215—a resolution calling on Congress to repeal WEP/GPO. Though this resolution is largely symbolic, it shows that our words are being heard, and it urges Congress to take action now.
The Connecticut General Assembly’s Labor Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the resolution this coming Tuesday, March 5. This hearing provides another opportunity for us to ensure we are educating all of our elected officials and the general public about these unfair penalties.
Thank you once again. Together, we can make a difference.
