Is the GPO or WEP hurting you and your family? Take Action and Tell Your Story to Congress

Are you negatively impacted by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) or Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)?  The Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy, chaired by Senator John Kerry recently held a hearing on legislation that would repeal these two harmful provisions which hurt public employees in Massachusetts.

• The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) impacts low pension earners by drastically reducing their social security benefits.  This reduction affects the public employees in Massachusetts who also have social security retirement benefits from other employment.

• The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces the Social Security benefit of public employees with public pensions who are eligible for benefits as a spouse or widow. The offset reduces the amount of the benefit by two-thirds of the individual’s public pension.  
   

SEIU members and leaders lobbied hard to ensure that the committee would conduct a hearing on the GPO and WEP.  Moving this legislation to a hearing is a huge victory for SEIU 888 members in Massachusetts
 
Tell Your Story!

The Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy will accept written submissions for the record by mail until Tuesday, November 20. 

Your statement must be:

• Typewritten and single-spaced, not exceeding 10 pages in length.
• The first page must clearly state your full name and address as well as the title and date of the hearing: GPO and WEP: Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security” November 6, 2007.  

Statements should be mailed (not faxed or emailed) to:

Senate Committee on Finance
Attn. Editorial and Document Section
Rm. SD-203
Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6200b

In addition if you would like to send an email to Senator Kerry follow the Take Action link.