Supporters say the law finally removes limits imposed on benefits for public servants. Critics say it will speed up the Social Security program’s insolvency.
President Joe Biden on Jan. 5 signed into law a bill that would increase Social Security benefits for millions of U.S. citizens who have worked in eligible public service fields.
The bill, dubbed the Social Security Fairness Act, specifically boosts benefits for about 3 million U.S. citizens who have worked in public jobs, particularly affecting those who received state and local pensions separate from Social Security.
“By signing this bill, we’re extending Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, nurses and other public employees and their spouses and survivors,” Biden said at the signing of the bill on Jan. 5.
In an email to The Epoch Times, a White House official said Biden’s signing of the legislation made him “the first president in twenty years to expand Social Security benefits.”
The official fit the bill into Biden’s larger commitment to Social Security. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have repeatedly expressed support for Social Security and opposition to substantial revisions that reduce benefits or raise the retirement age.
The legislation passed the House on Nov. 12 with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 327–75 vote. Later, it passed the Senate in a similarly bipartisan 76–20 vote. Even Republicans, who are more hawkish on government spending and Social Security issues, largely supported the bill.
For supporters, the legislation is a long overdue correction to provisions in the law that limited benefits for public servants. It will get rid of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which previously limited the federal pension that public sector employees could receive based on their other income sources from state and other government pensions.
According to the most recent estimates from the Congressional Research Service, about 2.1 million people have taken benefit cuts from the WEP, while about 746,000 people are affected by the GPO.
On the other hand, repealing these provisions—a move broadly supported by a broad cross section of politicians from both parties—is expected to increase the federal government’s Social Security expenditures.
By Joseph Lord
