Spanberger Launches Survey on Social Security Benefits of Retired Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Educators, Federal Employees, & Other Public Sector Workers

The Congresswoman is Gathering Stories from Virginians Who Have Had Their Benefits Cut by the Windfall Elimination Provision & Government Pension Offset

Earlier this Year, Spanberger Reintroduced the Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” to Eliminate the WEP & GPO

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today launched a survey to hear from Virginia federal employees, police officers, firefighters, local government employees, educators, and other public servants who have been denied their hard-earned Social Security benefits due to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Spanberger launched this new survey to hear from Virginians whose benefits have been cut by the WEP and GPO — two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted much of their careers to public service. The WEP impacts approximately 2 million Social Security beneficiaries — and the GPO impacts nearly 800,000 retirees.

Earlier this year, Spanberger reintroduced her bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate these provisions and protect the retirement benefits of Virginians. Last Congress, the bill earned more than 300 cosponsors — Democrats and Republicans. Since January of this year, the legislation has already earned more than 200 bipartisan cosponsors. Spanberger will use these stories to continue pushing U.S. House leadership to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote.

Virginians can click here to complete Spanberger’s brief survey.

“All Virginians deserve the Social Security benefits they have paid into throughout their careers and rightfully earned. Unfortunately, thousands of Virginians are right now being denied their full benefits,” said Spanberger. “No American should be penalized for a career in public service. I will continue to work in the U.S. House with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to eliminate these unfair provisions and protect the retirement benefits of every federal employee, police officer, firefighter, educator, postal worker, air traffic controller, and local government employee. I hope that every Virginian who has been unfairly penalized for serving our communities will take a moment to share their experience with me.”

Spanberger originally introduced the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2021.

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