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PRESENTATION BY

PRESENTATION BY. ssfairness.com. For use by public in fight to repeal GPO/WEP. GPO & WEP. YOU. 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.

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PRESENTATION BY

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  1. PRESENTATION BY ssfairness.com For use by public in fight to repeal GPO/WEP

  2. GPO & WEP YOU What ONE PERSON can Do? 2

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

  4. What is Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)? Since 1983 The WEP affects one’s own earnedSocial 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.

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

  6. 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 LOSSof Social Security benefits. Normally, the widow/er gets 100% of earner’s SS. Dependent spouse gets 50% Different standard, not consistent

  7. 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 arealso entitled to dependent spouse or survivor’s benefits. RECEIVE LESS MONEYthan others whopaid the SAME AMOUNT in Social Security taxes.

  8. 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”

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

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

  11. TEACHERS in Alaska & 14 other states Red = States affected

  12. NOTDOUBLE DIPPING • Worked 2 jobs paying into 2 different & independent systems, each for required time. • Should earn 2 partial retirement incomes INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER WeEARNED benefits from BOTH.

  13. 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

  14. Can you & your familyAFFORD to lose this? WEP AND YOU • $350.00/month which equals…. • $4,200/year which equals…. • $63,000TOTAL LOSTin 15 years GPO LOSSES ARE OFTEN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE ! OUCH! OUCH

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

  16. Double Dipping?NO! Stories of REAL PEOPLE &GPO/WEP losses=TRUTH • While OTHERS who paid SS taxes in foronly 10 years areNOT PENALIZED AT ALL. • Inthe following stories, the people or their spousePAID in the FULL Social SecurityCONTRIBUTION (for 10 years) and often many more, but are DENIED the full benefit, due to GPO/WEP. In the stories that follow you will see how UNFAIR the GPO/WEP are!

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

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

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

  20. Facing POVERTY in Ohio Does ANYONE CARE? Worked 15 SS years & 20 teaching years CHOICE • A. Retire at$16,000/year. • B. Work until73 for FULL teacher’s pension. VICTIM OF WEP, WORRIED ABOUT GPO

  21. DISMAL retirement in Illinois My late husband & I worked a total of 78 professional years. 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

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

  23. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  30. 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?

  31. THIRTY YEARSof GPO/WEP We need ACTION or … GPO/WEP will continue another 30 years

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

  33. Whyshould other states care? Today’s society is mobile. • MANY move from state to state & job to job • GPO/WEPaffects people in every state.

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

  35. 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 toREPEALGPO & WEP.A Voice For Change! Is your professional association working with CARE? Be a part of the action!

  36. What can ONE person do? • EDUCATE yourself- read • WRITE letters/emails • SHARE widely • MOTIVATE others • PERSEVERE

  37. FAIRNESS CAN PREVAIL YES, with your help YOU PowerPoint created by Liz Curtis

  38. DEDICATION Produced byssfairness.comfor the benefit ofALLwho have dedicated their lives to serving our country & deserve to beHONORED,not demeaned for their undying efforts. Hoping SOON they willbe recognized and theirRIGHTS RESTORED. 1-4 million lives affected Estimates vary according to source

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

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

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