Why do I rail on and on about the Social Security Offset and Windfall Elimination Penalty? Because my husband worked for private industry and paid into Social Security from age 18 (1967) until he was 31 (1980), BUT because he began working for the United States Government in 1980, our retirement income is reduced by two thirds because the government has deemed that money to be a "windfall".
What is the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)?
Retirees
drawing any government pension and also qualify
with a minimum of
40 quarters for Social Security benefits
may have
their Social Security benefit reduced by as much as 60%
"Retirees
drawing a benefit from a private pension fund
do not have their Social Security benefits reduced.
Why should we do this to our civil servants. "
Rep.Max Sandlin
As it is right now, he gets a very small pension from a corn processing company he worked for before going in the military and serving in the Air Force for 4 years (also paying Social Security), and also after he got out and reclaimed his job there. The government does not reduce his government pension because it's a private pension fund through Kraft. Before he ever hired on with the government, he had fully paid his 40 quarters for Social Security benefits.
From 1981 to 2008 my husband worked for the Federal Government as a civil servant with the Dept. of Defense paying into his government pension each paycheck. Right now, he is only 60 years old and so not old enough to begin collecting social security, but he is collecting his government pension. He was in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Now, here's where it also cuts to the quick. I was a stay-at-home mom, and haven't worked enough in my lifetime to pay into Social Security. At this point, I'm disabled with fibromyalgia, but I rightfully don't qualify for any disability insurance or anything. I didn't pay into it, so I shouldn't get it. But, because my husband's Social Security benefits are reduced by this supposed 'windfall', so are any that I will get through him!! Just for being a woman, and being married to him for almost 39 years, I too am being penalized financially while he is alive.
Why don't they fix it and repeal this provision?
Because Congress, since 1977 (Carter) has fed at the pork trough and robbed Social Security so much that there is (seemingly) no way to pay federal retirees the full amount to which they are entitled. They could repeal it, but we need to speak up. We need to tell Congress to do the right thing.
Whether or not you are a federal retiree, or about to be, personally write to your Congressperson and express your opinion.
House of Representatives: H. R. 235 - Social Security Fairness Act of 2009
Senate: S.484 Social Security Fairness Act of 2009
Bush asked Educators "Leave no child behind" (he blew that one, didn't he?)
Offset
Windfall asks Congress "Leave NO SENIOR Behind"