By Kathy Jasper
A big thank you to California State Senator Dave Cortese who authored California Retired Teachers Association’s (CalRTA) Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1), which calls for the U. S. Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO). Although the California Legislature’s action does not affect these federal laws, the many of us who are punished by these laws appreciate their recognition of this injustice.
The WEP affects teachers who have work experience both in the CalSTRS system and in Social Security-covered employment. If they get CalSTRS, they only get a part of the Social Security they earned.
The GPO means that teachers who get CalSTRS only get a portion of or maybe no spousal benefits when their spouses pass away.
There are 26 states whose government employees are affected by this legislation.
- R. Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
There are 274 cosponsors for H.R. 82, the federal bipartisan bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
S 597 is the Senate Companion Bill to H.R. 82 which has 45 cosponsors in the Senate.
We who are affected by this legislation are hoping we have enough momentum to finally right this injustice.