Txdigest.com

Anyone else here affected by this?

from my retired teacher letter:
December 20, the United States Senate voted to pass H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), with a vote of 76 yeas and 20 nays!

After 42 years of being punished for their public service, Texas education employees, police officers, firefighters, and many other public servants will FINALLY receive the benefits they earn and deserve!
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It was not just Texas workers who are affected. I think retirees in 16 states were affected by this. The formulas that were used makes it confusing for me to know, but I think I will get about $400 more in SS each month. It will also now allow me to get SS widow benefits when that time comes.

This is a very nice end of the year surprise. Senator Ted Cruz voted against the repeal.

(doing a happy dance over here)

Hadn’t heard of it, but congratulations.

A couple of questions, because I really don't know the issue that well...

1. How many years did you work in the public school library?
2. How many of those years did you have the Social Security tax withheld from your paycheck?

Mark wrote:A couple of questions, because I really don't know the issue that well...

1. How many years did you work in the public school library?
2. How many of those years did you have the Social Security tax withheld from your paycheck?

As for my wife. she retired after 35 years and also had 40 quarters in the private sector. This is indeed good news for those (in only 16 states) that were subject to this.

rusty wrote:

Mark wrote:A couple of questions, because I really don't know the issue that well...

1. How many years did you work in the public school library?
2. How many of those years did you have the Social Security tax withheld from your paycheck?

As for my wife. she retired after 35 years and also had 40 quarters in the private sector. This is indeed good news for those (in only 16 states) that were subject to this.

That's 10 years. Does this bill means she gets the same Social Security benefit as those that paid into the system for 40 or 50 years?

Mark wrote:

rusty wrote:

Mark wrote:A couple of questions, because I really don't know the issue that well...

1. How many years did you work in the public school library?
2. How many of those years did you have the Social Security tax withheld from your paycheck?

As for my wife. she retired after 35 years and also had 40 quarters in the private sector. This is indeed good news for those (in only 16 states) that were subject to this.

That's 10 years. Does this bill means she gets the same Social Security benefit as those that paid into the system for 40 or 50 years?

No, that means she would get SS payments commiserate with the number of years ($) she paid into the system. For most people it wouldn’t mean a great deal of money. In my wife’s case it would amount to about an extra $500 per month. It’s only giving public retirees the amount they would have coming to them had they not had a pension.

Thanks for the answers. I have a better understanding now.

Mark wrote:Thanks for the answers. I have a better understanding now.

This also effected police, firefighters, etc.

I think it affects people in 16 states. If someone paid into enough quarters in SS and also have a retirement fund from working in a job paid by tax dollars, then they were affected by this.

Someone asked if I paid into SS. Yes, I worked for 14+ years in the business world (not counting those teenage years) and was due some SS money from that. I also worked in education for 22 years, so have teacher retirement money.
The formula WEP removed about $400/month from my SS money.

I think it will be February before I see the increase in my SS money because it will take some time to refigure the payments due for so many workers.

I don't envy the accountants/bookkeepers who have to figure all this out. They will be putting in some long hours in the near future.

Prior to the repeal, I would not have been eligible for widow's benefits when my husband dies. Now, I will be like others and can collect either from his account or from my account.