“This is probably the greatest success I will ever have in my professional career,” said CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey while accepting her recognition from the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) for her work with overturning the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO).
This week, DeLancey, along with Mary Moniger Elia, ARA board member, and Tammy Gowash, Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut executive director, received awards at ARA’s annual awards luncheon for their work on the National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force. The task force, which began in Connecticut in mid-2020, spanned the country and had members from all 50 states fighting for repeal.
WEP/GPO were penalties that for forty years negatively impacted educators and other public servants, preventing them from receiving their earned Social Security benefits. CEA members fought hard for repeal for decades, and it was a huge victory when President Biden signed WEP/GPO repeal into law January 5, 2025.
“These three were vital to the success of this task force,” said CT ARA President Bette Marafino. “We would not be here today celebrating this win without their support and dedication to the cause.”
Marafino also recognized the thousands across the state who wrote letters, sent emails, and made phone calls to lawmakers. Members of the task force and along with other supporters, took several trips to Washington, D.C. throughout the appeals process for rallies and votes in both the Congress and Senate.
“You are the inspiration that I have to keep fighting. As labor partners, as retirees who have worked their entire lives and deserve a healthy, thriving, and secure retirement,” DeLancey said as she addressed the crowd of mostly retired workers. “You are the people who have earned this benefit, who have paid into this benefit, and you continue to fight for it at a level that deserves my generation’s support and collective strength.”
Also honored at the event were State Senator Jan Hochadel and activist Tom Connolly for their work in making Connecticut a better place for retirees.
