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H.R.1795 - Repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision

Public Comments (10,192)
  • Jan 12th, 2017
    Someone from Colorado Springs, CO writes:
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    I only want what is fair, my social security should only be based on what I paid in and not any other programs that I have invested in. Does the public really want the federal government to start penalizing people for having additional retirement programs and taking money from public servants in their final years. Please repeal the windfall tax that unfairly targets public servants.
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  • Jan 11th, 2017
    Pam B. from Shawnee, KS writes:
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    WIDOWS NEED HELP NOW! Kent Conrad and James Lockhart....think that Soc Security should be MORE FAIR to Widowed Women! Conrad thinks widowed women should GET THEIR OWN BENEFITS and 3/4 of their DECEASED SPOUSE'S BENEFITS! This model for Soc Sec would keep Widowed Women OUT OF POVERTY!!! REPEAL: WEP & GPO for Widowed Women WHO TEACH IN MISSOURI! Tell Congressmen to PASS: HR 973 & S 1651. OR....Time To Correct the MATH FOR WEP....per Kevin Brady's HR 711. Social Security Advisory Board should be publishing a POSITION PAPER on the GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET....and the harmful effects it causes for widows...by the end of this year! Just as BRADY has said...TIME TO CORRECT THE MATH FOR WEP...the SSAB....should be documenting that it's TIME TO CORRECT THE MATH FOR WIDOWS!!! WE EARNED AND DESERVE OUR SURVIVOR BENEFITS!!! I asked NEA lobbyist...Al Campos...questions about GPO....and he couldn't answer my questions !!! I have paid NEA union dues for 25 years! I need to know about the 60 months exemption for GPO. Supposedly...if you work the LAST 60 MONTHS...IN A POSITION THAT PAYS INTO SOC SECURITY...AND THE JOB IS IN THE SAME RETIREMENT SYSTEM....YOU CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM GPO . Has anyone tried this? What do you know about GPO....that I don't know ????? Oh----Pat Toomey (Penn) supports S 3303....but it would ONLY REPEAL...WEP & GPO....FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. WHY DOESN'T S 3303...INCLUDE HARD-WORKING TEACHERS......ESPECIALLY WIDOWS ??????? There's suppose to be a law...that all new teachers in Missouri...are suppose to SIGN A PAPER....stating that the SCHOOL DISTRICT...has INFORMED THEM ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY...AND THE 2 LAWS....WEP & GPO. I just asked a NEW TEACHER....if she signed her paper....SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT! I personally don't think the LAW is being followed. I know NEA....NEVER TALKS ABOUT WEP & GPO!!! Whenever I tell someone about these 2 LAWS.....they don't believe me! My Fnancial Planner and Tax advisor....were completely unaware of WEP & GPO !!!
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  • Jan 10th, 2017
    Kate D. from Atlanta, GA writes:
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    While the law may have had good intentions, the impact is not what was intended as I see my two postal worker parents struggle month over month to pay bills. They decided to start working in their teens and worked into their 70's in both the private and governmental sectors. They kept working solely so their social security wasn't cut; but now that they are trying to enjoy their retirement, they are doing so with far less income. It's totally unfair to hard working Americans who love on modest incomes.
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  • Jan 10th, 2017
    Tom C. from New Haven, CT writes:
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    To achieve fairness, we support this bill to repeal the GPO - we need action on Capitol Hill.
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  • Jan 9th, 2017
    Someone from Dallas, TX writes:
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    Unfair and unconstitutional please reverse this bill. I've worked hard my entire life & cannot afford to retire due to this unfair reduction. You don't penalize other private sector workers for having pension plans, why are you penalizing educators?
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  • Jan 9th, 2017
    David S. from Hamden, CT writes:
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    Private sector employees who contribute to a pension plan as well as Social Security do not have their Social Security benefits reduced. Therefore it is totally unfair to reduce the Social Security benefits of public workers who contribute to a pension plan and Social Security. Public workers simply want to be treated the same as all other workers.
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  • Jan 8th, 2017
    Shirley C. from Townsville, NC writes:
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    Very unfair especially for widows! It's horrible to lose your love one and then turn around and you cannot even collect what is due to you from their Social Security because of this law!
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  • Jan 8th, 2017
    Someone from Evergreen, CO writes:
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    People working in gov't do receive a "healthy salary" and compensations for their desk jobs, mental gymnastics, etc. Give us working citizens a fair deal being many years were spent working and gathering some savings for the days we are retired. Walk in our Moccasins! It is only fair.
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  • Jan 7th, 2017
    Thomas K. from Temecula, CA writes:
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    I can't believe this unfair law has been going on for 30 years,I can't understand how they take our social security, that we have earned and think it is fair. I think our Congress & Senate should stop dragging this on year after year and finally pass a law to get rid of a law that is hurting us lower income retirees.
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  • Jan 6th, 2017
    Valerie P. from Sparks, NV writes:
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    I worked for 10 years as a self-employed contractor for Dept. of Veterans Affairs. As a self-employed person, I paid 15% in social security. In addition, I worked several other private sector jobs. I have worked in State Government for 12 years so I have to give up 2/3rds of my Social Security benefit. This is grossly unfair. It will be impossible to live on my PERS. It would have been more doable if I could have kept my Social Security benefit.
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  • Jan 5th, 2017
    Someone from Port Saint Lucie, FL writes:
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    Please repeal
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  • Jan 5th, 2017
    Patricia F. from West Haven, CT writes:
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    Many of us worked another career and are now being penalized.
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  • Jan 5th, 2017
    maria t. from North Haven, CT writes:
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    Please lend your support to this bill which targets such an important segment of our society.
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  • Jan 4th, 2017
    Someone from Houma, LA writes:
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    I retired with the State at an early age - age 55. I have started a new life and new career nothing to do with the State. Why should I be penalized when I am paying into social security now and its nothing to do with anything from my past.
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  • Jan 4th, 2017
    Glenwood L. from Bonne Terre, MO writes:
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    Please right this long term wrong. Why this has not been done long ago, I can't understand. It's not even constitutional. Some states affected, but not all? That's blatantly unconstitutional. Repeal it asap, and give reparations to those who have been treated unjustly.
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  • Jan 4th, 2017
    Someone from Worcester, MA signed.
  • Jan 2nd, 2017
    Judy R. from Gifford, IL writes:
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    This just isn't fair! Please repeal. I didn't pay social security because my teaching job at that time wasn't required to. My husband worked his whole life and paid into social security. His salary was much larger than mine but had to go on disability because of Alzheimer's at age 59. He passed away a few weeks ago and I've been told I will not be able to collect his social security because of this goo thing. I am not collecting social security on my own so why am I not entitled to his as his spouse. Just not fair.
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  • Jan 2nd, 2017
    David W. from FLORA, IL signed.
  • Dec 31st, 2016
    Carol T. from Elk Grove, CA writes:
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    Both the GPO and WEP need to be completely eliminated! I had worked in the SS system nearly 18 years. My circumstances changed when my husband died in 2001. I was 47 years old and now the head of household. I went back to school and got my teaching credential. I have been a teacher since that time. Many teachers have had previous jobs where they have paid into SS and now face having those monies reduced by 2/3. Police and Teachers are not asking for more than they have paid into the SS system. Just pay us what we are due. Thank you to all who have drafted and introduced Bill H.R. 1795.
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  • Dec 30th, 2016
    Someone from Aurora, CO writes:
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    its time to take care of the service retirees that have given so much to their communities. We does the nation turn their backs on these hard working people their golden years
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  • Dec 30th, 2016
    Someone from Willis, TX writes:
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    I've been in public education for 19 years and was in business for 15 years before that. I don't understand why I'll be penalized when I retire. When I do retire from school work, I anticipate going back into business and paying into the system - the system that doesn't seem fair as it is. Please consider repealing the WEP and making it fair for teachers, firefighters, police officers...
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  • Dec 29th, 2016
    Robert E. from South Mills, NC writes:
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    I paid into the Ss system for seventeen years while working in the private sector. These were very hard years , I was the sole breadwinner for a family of five . Earning a small salary and sometimes working 3jobs to make ends meet. The ss system withheld funding from my salary which I had no choice. The remaining years of my career I worked for the federal gov but was forced to retire early and take penalties. I am penalized for retiring fed gov and only receive 30 percent of Ss benefits. Very unfair considering the huge numbers who are receiving Ss benefits who never contributed to the system at all. I need and deserve my social security benefits, it's my money . No one should be authorized to take it from me.
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  • Dec 29th, 2016
    Carolene C. from Bradford, OH writes:
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    The WEP and GPO need to be totally "repealed"....no amendments. Just REPEALED. Those of us that have paid into both systems, thinking we would benefit from both, deserve to have our pensions. We need it now. I am 76 and still having to work because I can't afford to have my social security cut by 2/3. Please use some consideration on us old work horses who deserve what is coming to us.
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  • Dec 27th, 2016
    Someone from Huntington Beach, CA writes:
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    Why are the government employees always attacked? Anyone else have to offset their earned Social Security - NO!
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  • Dec 26th, 2016
    David R. from Snohomish, WA writes:
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    My dad passed away last month, last week my mom finds out about the offset. They used a government retirement planner, and we're never told about this. If they had been told, they could have planned differently.
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  • Dec 24th, 2016
    Pam B. from Shawnee, KS writes:
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    WIDOWS NEED HELP NOW! Kent Conrad and James Lockhart....think that Soc Security should be MORE FAIR to Widowed Women! Conrad thinks widowed women should GET THEIR OWN BENEFITS and 3/4 of their DECEASED SPOUSE'S BENEFITS! This model for Soc Sec would keep Widowed Women OUT OF POVERTY!!! REPEAL: WEP & GPO for Widowed Women WHO TEACH IN MISSOURI! Tell Congressmen to PASS: HR 973 & S 1651. OR....Time To Correct the MATH FOR WEP....per Kevin Brady's HR 711. Social Security Advisory Board should be publishing a POSITION PAPER on the GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET....and the harmful effects it causes for widows...by the end of this year! Just as BRADY has said...TIME TO CORRECT THE MATH FOR WEP...the SSAB....should be documenting that it's TIME TO CORRECT THE MATH FOR WIDOWS!!! WE EARNED AND DESERVE OUR SURVIVOR BENEFITS!!! I asked NEA lobbyist...Al Campos...questions about GPO....and he couldn't answer my questions !!! I have paid NEA union dues for 25 years! I need to know about the 60 months exemption for GPO. Supposedly...if you work the LAST 60 MONTHS...IN A POSITION THAT PAYS INTO SOC SECURITY...AND THE JOB IS IN THE SAME RETIREMENT SYSTEM....YOU CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM GPO . Has anyone tried this? What do you know about GPO....that I don't know ????? Oh----Pat Toomey (Penn) supports S 3303....but it would ONLY REPEAL...WEP & GPO....FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. WHY DOESN'T S 3303...INCLUDE HARD-WORKING TEACHERS......ESPECIALLY WIDOWS ??????? There's suppose to be a law...that all new teachers in Missouri...are suppose to SIGN A PAPER....stating that the SCHOOL DISTRICT...has INFORMED THEM ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY...AND THE 2 LAWS....WEP & GPO. I just asked a NEW TEACHER....if she signed her paper....SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT! I personally don't think the LAW is being followed. I know NEA....NEVER TALKS ABOUT WEP & GPO!!! Whenever I tell someone about these 2 LAWS.....they don't believe me! My Fnancial Planner and Tax advisor....were completely unaware of WEP & GPO !!!
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  • Dec 23rd, 2016
    Someone from San Luis Obispo, CA writes:
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    Earned Social Security should not be withheld in spite of other pensions being received. I am 70 yrs old and still cant retire on my low teacher pension because I cant get the SS i have earned being married over 30 yrs, before the State teacher benefits began, thanks to WEP and GPO. I have over half of the credits earned on my own work record. Why cant I have a percentage of that? The government made it legal to steal our hard-earned social security benefits.
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  • Dec 22nd, 2016
    Michael B. from Little Falls, MN signed.
  • Dec 22nd, 2016
    Debra L. from Mineral Wells, TX writes:
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    One of the benefits of social security is supposed to be assistance to survivors upon the worker's death. My husband worked and paid into social security, and because he died before retirement, never received any benefits from his years of paying into the system. As his widow should be entitled to those benefits like any other widow. However, because I worked as a public school teacher for mediocre wages, I find out that the benefit is almost wiped out because of my relatively small pension. These two issues are independent of each other and should be handled as such. GPO is unfair and should be eliminated.
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  • Dec 21st, 2016
    Anil K. from Fullerton, CA writes:
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    Windfall Elimination Provisions (WEP) should be repealed because it discriminates government employees who contributed towards social security and pension both. If they contributed for both, they should get both benefits at the time of retirement.
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  • Dec 21st, 2016
    Someone from Parker City, IN writes:
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    I am 65 years old retired from VA hospital after 42 years of service I work 3 other jobs paid into social security still working paying into social security and instead of getting what I earned I receive 170 dollars a month my wife of 20 years whom I had quit work when we get married only gets 100 dollars a month so she is under attack because she is married to me she has also had congestive heart failure heart attack open heart surgery diabetes acid reflex and still can't get any help from social security yet I still have to pay 100 per cent into this broke system
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  • Dec 15th, 2016
    Frances D. from Holbrook, MA writes:
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    After paying social security and paying into a municipal pension, I know only receive $58.in social security benefits. I only get $1,600. from my municipal pension, therefore, it is a hardship I have endured for 18 years. I believe if this ever went to the Supreme Court it would be dismissed as it is written so vague. I urge our legislators to pass this legislation that will restore social security benefits to people like me who are having a hard time with the cost of living.
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  • Dec 14th, 2016
    Nancy W. from Ruston, LA signed.
  • Dec 13th, 2016
    Marie J. from Westbury, NY writes:
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    100% support
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  • Dec 13th, 2016
    Jenny L. from New York, NY writes:
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    My father paid into Social Security his entire working life. That is over 45 years of employment. After his sudden passing, social security denied my mother his benefits Ben with their 34 years of marriage, all because of this government offset law that Ronald Reagan created in the 1980s to save the government money. This law was never published in the newspapers or made aware to the public. It was just passed, and until someone is put in this awful circumstance, people are unaware that the money to pay into your social security can and will be held from your survivors if the any of them worked for the government! Please sign this petition to get this bill passed. It is unjust what our government is doing to widows and widowers.
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  • Dec 12th, 2016
    gloria b. from Marrero, LA signed.
  • Dec 10th, 2016
    John T. from River Edge, NJ writes:
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    Working in the private sector before and after working in the Federal government and receiving a pension is not a windfall. If that were the case, people who have two jobs working over 60 hours per week in the private sector in order to support their family should also be penalized. Are the two salaries in that case a windfall or the rewards from hard work and sacrifice?
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  • Dec 10th, 2016
    Someone from Victorville, CA writes:
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    Individuals who contributed to social security prior to the date the government pension offset was enacted should have their benefits protected.....This so-called "windfall" is actually money that belongs to the people who earned it and put it in the account in the first place. So no one is asking for anything that doesn't rightfully belong to them. Right this wrong by repealing the GPO entirely OR approve a protection of the earlier earned benefits.
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  • Dec 9th, 2016
    Someone from Goose Creek, SC writes:
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    My spouses ss benefit is directly tied to mine however, my federal pension has nothing to do with my marital situation. There is something wrong here! I accept my reduction even though I don't agree with it but, MY SPOUSE'S SS BENEFIT SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON MY RECEIPT OF A FEDERAL PENSION! IT IS APPLES AN ORANGES!
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  • Dec 8th, 2016
    Juda H. from Houston, TX writes:
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    I'm confused as to if the GPO and the WEP are both federal laws then why employees from all states are not affected? I have just been made aware that all states do not do that. How is it federal yet all states are not affected by it?
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