WASHINGTON — On Thursday, U.S. senators from both parties wrote to the acting Social Security commissioner, voicing their concern that the agency may take over a year to implement a benefit enhancement passed by Congress last year.
The group of 28 senators wrote that the Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of public employees who are unfairly penalized by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and others. We demand that this law be put into effect right away in order to give the millions of Americans affected by WEP and GPO timely relief.
Subsequently, the senators requested that Commissioner Michelle King give Congress regular briefings and updates on the agency’s implementation of the new statute.
Theone-page letterwas signed by Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper, Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, Maine independent Sen. Angus King, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luj n, Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, Nevada Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch and Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.
Answers to many queries about the new law and the Social Security Administration’s efforts to implement the benefit modification can be found on their website.
The website states that although the agency is unable to provide an exact timeline for when past or future benefits may be adjusted, information will be posted on this page going forward. We appreciate the patience of the people.
Additionally, the webpage describes how the new law allows those who have never applied for Social Security payments because of the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset to do so.
According to a Social Security Administration representative, the organization received the letter and will get back to the requestors immediately. States Newsroom had requested information on why it might take a year to execute the law.
The bill enacting the move was approved by Congress late last year in a largely bipartisan vote, and in January, then-President Joe Biden signed it into law.
According to a report from the independent Congressional Research Service, which contains maps indicating which states have higher numbers of people affected by the two prior sections, the windfall provision impacts 2.1 million Americans, while the pension offset affects around 746,000.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.