PRESENTATION BY For use by public in

PRESENTATION BY For use by public in fight to repeal GPO/WEP

GPO & WEP What ONE PERSON can Do? 2

GPO/WEP & WORKFORCE More than 1/5 all public employees at risk More than 1/3 all educators at risk

What is Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)? Since 1983 The WEP affects one’s own earned Social Security benefits. Without 30 years of “substantial income” in Social Security covered work, a complex formula will significantly reduce benefits, by no more than half of one’s earned government pension. Paid same Social Security taxes, BUT are held to a different standard when S. S. benefits computed.

WEP affects those who: q Work(ed) for state/local govt in Non-SS covered job, & are. . q Entitled to a government pension from this job. q And also are entitled to a Social Security retirement or a disability benefit from your SS covered work. Paid same taxes, but are held to a different standard than others = LESS

What is the GPO? Since 1977 Government Pension Offset (GPO) affects Social Security spousal and survivor benefits, reducing it by 2/3 of the pension not covered. Often, creating TOTAL LOSS of Social Security benefits. Normally, the widow/er gets 100% of earner’s SS. Dependent spouse gets 50% Different standard, not consistent

Who does the GPO affect? The GPO affects persons who: work(ed) for a state or local government in non-Social Security covered employment and are also entitled to dependent spouse or survivor’s benefits. RECEIVE LESS MONEY than others who paid the SAME AMOUNT in Social Security taxes.

OCCUPATIONS penalized Teachers, police, firefighters, postal workers, air traffic controllers, customs agents, many federal government employees, & many state & local workers are penalized: GPO & WEP have been called the “Heroes’ Penalties”

Where do federal workers live? All over the U. S. and overseas as well. Air Traffic Controllers

26 STATES (in blue) State, county, municipal employees Largest populations: CA, CO, IL, LA, OH, TX

TEACHERS in Alaska & 14 other states Red = States affected

NOT DOUBLE DIPPING q Worked 2 jobs paying into 2 different & independent systems, each for required time. q Should earn 2 partial retirement incomes INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER We EARNED benefits from BOTH.

Recruitment STIFLED “Current law not only makes it more difficult to recruit teachers, police officers and fire fighters, but it penalizes the invaluable public servants who have already given so much. ” Diane Feinstein Social Security benefits should be EQUITABLE FOR ALL

Can you & your family AFFORD to lose this? WEP AND YOU q $350. 00/month which equals…. q $4, 200/year which equals…. q $63, 000 TOTAL LOST in 15 years GPO LOSSES ARE OFTEN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE ! OUCH! OUCH

SEVERE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP q The groups MOST AFFECTED BY SEVERE financial hardship are: widows & divorced women, especially the aged. o Many live below federal poverty level. Most widows/widowers get NO spousal benefits

Double Dipping? NO! Stories of REAL PEOPLE & GPO/WEP losses=TRUTH q In the following stories, the people or their spouse PAID in the FULL Social Security CONTRIBUTION (for 10 years) and often many more, but are DENIED the full benefit, due to GPO/WEP. q While OTHERS who paid SS taxes in for only 10 years are NOT PENALIZED AT ALL. In the stories that follow you will see how UNFAIR the GPO/WEP are!

CHEATED in Massachusetts q 13 years in the military, served in war where I earned: • 3 Bronze Stars for valor • Purple Heart q 22 years in teaching. I am shocked to learn I will receive virtually nothing from Social Security. VICTIM OF WEP

Penalized in Texas q I worked both as a teacher & a Registered Nurse & have paid FULLY into both Social Security & my teacher’s pension fund for retirement. q Must I retire in poverty because I worked hard in both areas but will only be fairly compensated for one? VICTIM OF WEP

Food Stamps for teacher in Texas? q Husband in nursing home with huge copayments. q Annuity not adequate. q FULL social security benefits would alleviate SERIOUS NEED. ALL BECAUSE I TAUGHT IN 2 DIFFERENT STATES VICTIM OF WEP

Facing POVERTY in Ohio Does ANYONE CARE? Worked 15 SS years & 20 teaching years CHOICE q A. Retire at $16, 000/year. q B. Work until 73 for FULL teacher’s pension. VICTIM OF WEP, WORRIED ABOUT GPO

DISMAL retirement in Illinois q My late husband & I worked a total of 78 professional years. q My annual retirement of $22, 392 is hardly regal after 37 years teaching. Yet, this prevents me from receiving survivor benefits from Social Security. VICTIM OF GPO

CONFUSED WIDOW in California q While I continue to teach, I will receive survivor benefits of $25, 000/year. q When I retire, I WILL NOT receive a dime of survivor benefits. VICTIM OF GPO THIS MAKES NO SENSE

Paid $70, 000 in SS taxes Government invests my money I will NOT EVEN receive a bit of INTEREST from this “investment” in my future.

Social Security is inequitable Equity Inequity We seek a FAIR SYSTEM with an EQUAL standard of distribution for earned Social Security credits for ALL.

Our Goal REPEAL THE GPO & WEP Pass H. R. 235 Pass S. 484 325 cosponsors in House 31 cosponsors in Senate 111 th Congress

COST OF JUSTICE The cost to REPEAL the GPO & WEP is 2% of the overall Social Security costs paid to recipients each year. Money long overdue Years beyond due date Only 2% According to the Estimated Trust Fund information at http: //www. ssa. gov/

Why care… if retirement not in near future? FINANCIAL PLANNING IS PART OF LIFE Law to inform employees of GPO/WEP ONLY applies to those hired on or after Jan. 1, 2005.

DIVORCE is not uncommon in today’s society. Knowledge of GPO/WEP CRITICAL to proper division of assets.

SINGLE LIFESTYLE Today 1 in 4 households Can she MAKE ENDS MEET?

Life is full of SURPRISES At some point, many will LOSE THEIR SPOUSE. For women, the chances are high. When this occurs they will lose much or all of their survivor benefits. Is a precarious lifestyle what we want for our family members?

THIRTY YEARS of GPO/WEP We need ACTION or … GPO/WEP will continue another 30 years

We APPEAL to you, brothers & sisters o EVERY STATE, not only those with penalties. o “One nation, with liberty & justice for ALL”

Why should other states care? q Today’s society is mobile. q MANY move from state to state & job to job q GPO/WEP affects people in every state.

What is ssfairness. com? q Begun in 2009 in San Francisco Bay Area & spreading throughout the U. S. to all affected professions. An all-volunteer group of active & retired public service employees, working to REPEAL GPO/WEP. Sign up on SSFAIRNESS. COM for POLITICAL ACTION ALERTS so we can unlock the hold on our earned benefits.

Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity (CARE) comprised of over 43 national, state & local organizations, founded in 1991 Supporting & connecting groups & individuals across the country working to REPEAL GPO & WEP. A Voice For Change! Is your professional association working with CARE? Be a part of the action!

What can ONE person do? o EDUCATE yourself- read o WRITE letters/emails o SHARE widely q MOTIVATE others q PERSEVERE

YES, with your help FAIRNESS CAN PREVAIL Power. Point created by Liz Curtis

DEDICATION q Produced by ssfairness. com for the benefit of ALL who have dedicated their lives to serving our country & deserve to be HONORED, not demeaned for their undying efforts. Hoping SOON they will be recognized and their RIGHTS RESTORED. 1 -4 million lives affected Estimates vary according to source

EVERYONE EVERYWHERE SHOULD CARE! q Photos used are not of actual individuals affected. q Individual stories are those of real people hurt by GPO/WEP. EVERYWHERE!

YOU can make a difference! BE THE VOICE FOR CHANGE! q First, Sign up on SSFAIRNESS. COM For Political Action Alerts. Then…. TALK, TALK! WRITE, WRITE! AND…. . DO NOT GIVE UP!