SC Alaska News

President Joe Biden has signed into law H.R. 82, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have been affecting Social Security benefits for certain public sector workers.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has supported this legislation since 2003, expressed her satisfaction with its passage. "I have been working on the Social Security Fairness Act for as long as I’ve been representing Alaska in the United States Senate," she stated. She emphasized that the law addresses an injustice faced by public servants such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers who were denied full benefits due to their career choices.

The Social Security Administration is currently assessing how to implement these changes. Alaskans affected by WEP or GPO are advised to ensure their contact information with SSA is up-to-date but need not take further action at this time. Those receiving a public pension and wishing to apply for Social Security benefits can do so online.

The WEP was introduced in 1983 to reduce benefits for those receiving government pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. The GPO, enacted in 1977, similarly reduced spousal benefits under certain conditions. Together, these provisions impacted nearly three million Americans.

The act received endorsements from various organizations including AFL-CIO Alaska, NEA-A, and NARFE Alaska among others.

Senator Murkowski's involvement with similar legislation dates back over two decades with multiple co-sponsorships in Congress since 2003.