SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with 27 other senators, has called for the swift implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act. This act aims to restore full Social Security benefits to thousands of Alaskan public servants affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The legislation, which repeals these provisions, was signed into law on January 5, 2024.

Senator Murkowski has co-sponsored this legislation annually since 2003 and expressed satisfaction with its passage. She emphasized that it is now crucial for the Social Security Administration to prioritize its implementation.

“The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, ‘SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits’ owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO,” wrote the senators.

Murkowski's appeal was supported by Senators Bill Cassidy, Dan Sullivan, Jerry Moran, Shelley Moore Capito, Deb Fischer, Susan Collins, Pete Ricketts, John Fetterman, Ben Ray Lujan, Sheldon Whitehouse, Alex Padilla, John Hickenlooper, Angus King, Jon Ossoff, Jack Reed, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Jacky Rosen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tim Kaine, Cory Booker Mark Warner Peter Welch Amy Klobuchar Richard Blumenthal Tammy Baldwin Martin Heinrich.

The letter addressed to Acting Commissioner King urged monthly updates on progress toward implementing the act. It also highlighted that Alaska is among the states most affected by WEP and GPO due to a high number of public servants who face reduced benefits under these provisions.

The Social Security Fairness Act has received endorsements from various organizations including AFL-CIO Alaska AFCA APFA NEA-A NARFE Alaska ASEA FOP NCPSSM Social Security Works Strengthen Social Security Coalition AFT IUPA NAPO AFSCME NEA Senior Citizens League.