Over 42,000 public sector employees and retirees in Washington state will have their full retirement benefits restored thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act Senator Murray helped pass, which was signed into law January 5th
***AUDIO AQUÍ, B-ROLL AND PHOTOS AQUÍ from today’s roundtable**
Everett, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion in Everett with local union members and leaders on the Social Security Fairness Act, a brand-new law Senator Murray helped pass to restore full Social Security benefits for public servants—including firefighters, law enforcement officers, teachers, and other state and local government workers—by repealing two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits of some public employees. The Social Security Fairness Act will restore full Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million Americans across the country—including over 42,000 people en el estado de Washington.
Específicamente, el Social Security Fairness Act—which passed the House and Senate in overwhelming bipartisan votes at the end of 2024 and was signed into law by President Biden on January 5th—repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The WEP, enacted in 1983, reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The GPO, enacted in 1977, reduces Social Security spousal benefits for spouses and widow(er)s whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government. Approximately 35,000 people in Washington state—mainly retired public workers—are affected by the WEP, and over 7,000 widows, widowers, and spouses are affected by the GPO; these individuals will now have their full retirement benefits restored thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act Senator Murray cosponsored and helped pass into law. More on the new law and its implementation is AQUÍ.
Joining Senator Murray for the roundtable discussion were Charlotte Murry, Executive Secretary Treasurer of Snohomish and Island County Labor Council; AJ Johnson, Legislative Liaison for the Washington State Council of Firefighters; Curtis Price, President of the Everett Chapter of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE); Steve Kofahl, Retiree Coordinator for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 11 and President Emeritus for AFGE Local 3937; and Michael Rainey, Council 2 President of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The discussion took place at the Everett Labor Temple.
“For decades now, in Washington state and across the country, public servants including teachers, police officers, and local government workers have not been able to receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve after years of hard work, because of two provisions that have been wrongfully penalizing public servants. People have been working for years, doing crucial work in our communities, only to retire and learn they are getting the short end of the stick,” dijo el senador Murray. “This is about basic fairness and common sense. If you spend your working years helping us build strong communities, and a stronger nation—the least we can do is make sure you have a strong, secure retirement. That’s why I’ve been pushing for years to pass the Social Security Fairness Act which repeals these provisions for good and restores the benefits so many people are missing.”
“NARFE is thankful to Senator Murray for her leadership in making the Social Security Fairness Act become law. NARFE has fought hard for repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO). This victory is more than 40 years in the making. This unfair reduction of earned Social Security benefits has finally ended, helping more than 42,000 Washingtonians,” said Anthony K. Merola, President of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Washington Federation.
“By passing the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, Congress and President Biden have restored earned retirement, spouse, and survivor benefits to workers who were treated differently for decades because they chose to work in public service. They worked in local, state, and Federal employment which provided pensions in lieu of Social Security coverage. Social Security spouse and survivor benefits were reduced or eliminated by the Government Pension Offset starting in 1982. The 1983 ‘Windfall’ Elimination Provision cut these workers’ Social Security retirement benefits if they also worked part-time or for just a few years in employment covered by Social Security. Unions and retiree organizations have been seeking relief for a very long time, and we are very pleased,” said Steve Kofahl, Retiree Coordinator for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 11 and President Emeritus for AFGE Local 3937. “Now we need to expand and fully-fund Social Security, with the rich paying their fair share.”
Senator Murray has advocated for years for the repeal of the WEP and GPO provisions and has an extensive record of protecting Social Security benefits and fighting to secure essential funding for the SSA. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security and have earned benefits over lifetimes of work. Half of seniors rely on Social Security for most of their income and a quarter of seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their income.
At a Budget Committee audiencia in September, Senator Murray outlined how House Republican proposals over the years would undermine benefits overall and undermine the SSA’s ability to help get those benefits to people. At another Senate Budget Committee hearing last July, Senator Murray outlined Democratic efforts to protect benefits, and strengthen Social Security’s long term financial footing while contrasting that with efforts from GOP leaders to slash funding.
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