By Gene Lambey
Special to the AFRO
As one of his last acts as the 46th U.S. president, Joe Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) at the White House on Jan. 5. This new law boosts Social Security payments to over 3 million Americans who are current or retired employees in public services such as firefighters, teachers and police officers.
AP Photo/ Kenny Holston
The SSFA reversed the Windfall Elimination Provision Act of 1983 (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset of 1977 (GPO), which limited Social Security benefits for retired public service workers and their spouses. SSFA would give those who worked in public services and their spouses their full benefits.
This new law in the SSFA will boost monthly payments to $360 to affected workers by December 2025 after cutting the WEP. Shaving off the GPO would continue to increase benefits. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), by December 2025 it would increase, “by an average of $700 for 380,000 spouses and by an average of up to $1,190 for 390,000 surviving spouses.” These monthly payments would steadily increase and then slowly decline towards the end of December 2034.
“The bill I’m signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their life to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity — that’s the entire purpose of the Social Security system,” President Biden said during a signing ceremony in the White House East Room. “This is a big deal.”
This is especially important to the Black community. African Americans comprise close to 20 percent of the public service workforce, coinciding with the Black population making up almost 15 percent of the U.S. population.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), Black officers make up 12 percent of the police force. Black teachers make up just 6 percent of all teachers in the U.S., according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Only 1.3 percent are male. The National Volunteer Fire Council reported that Black men make up 8.4 percent of the force compared to 82 percent being White men.
The bill passed through the House on Nov. 12 with a vote count in favor at 327-75. On Dec. 21, the bill passed through the Senate after an arduous voting process in favor of the bill at 76-20.
The SSFA was first proposed in 2003 by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), pushing for fairness for public service. Other members including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) were important players in advancing this legislation. Twenty years later and their efforts paid off.
“In 2003, I held the first-ever Senate hearing on the WEP and the GPO, and I am pleased that with today’s signing of the these unfair provisions in our Social Security system have finally been repealed,” said Sen. Collins. “This is a victory for thousands of teachers, first responders, public servants, and the countless advocates who fought for years to correct this unfairness.”
Teachers, current and retired from the National Education Association (NEA), expressed gratitude to President Biden in their statement.
“This monumental victory will ensure that millions of educators and other public servants receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve by repealing the WEP and the GPO, which unfairly reduced the Social Security benefits that public employees or their spouses have earned,”the organization stated.
President of the NEA Becky Pringle was one of several members to attend the signing of the SSFA at the White House.
“This historic victory will improve the lives of educators, first responders, postal workers and others who dedicate their lives to public service in their communities,” said Pringle. “NEA members fought endlessly for the repeal of these discriminative and punitive laws. We thank President Biden, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) for their leadership in putting aside partisan politics and coming together to pass the SSFA.”
The American Federation of School Administrators Association (AFSA) were present at the signing event. Richard Jackson, AFSA general vice president and president of the Council of School Officers, AFSA Local 4 for Washington, D.C., delivered his remarks on the new law.
“This legislation ensures our members receive the full benefits they’ve earned through their hard work and dedication,” said Jackson. “It reflects fairness and equity for those who deserve every benefit they’ve worked for. AFSA’s commitment to this fight underscores the strength of collective action and the tangible impact unions can have.”
Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, attended the signing ceremony at the White House for the SSFA.
“Today, this 40-year injustice has ended. No longer will our hardworking public servants have money stolen out of their Social Security benefits every month,” said Yoes. “The WEP and GPO have finally come to an end.”
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, attended the event as well, praising President Biden and the senators who advocated for them.
“The passage of this legislation is a testament to what we can achieve when we fight together,” said Dimondstein. “As a coalition of unions, affected individuals, and community organizations, we have shown that when we join together on a cause for the common good, we win.”
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly attended the event, celebrating the signing of the momentous legislation at the White House.
“After 40 years of being treated like second-class citizens, a wrong has finally been righted, and millions of retirees can afford to retire with dignity – and with the Social Security benefits they earned and paid into,” he said. “Repealing the WEP/GPO has been one of my top priorities as general president.”
Some Republicans supported the legislation while others, such as Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voted against it. “We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis,” said Tillis.
The Social Security Administration released a statement in finalizing the steps to put SSFA into action.
“The Social Security Fairness Act, HR 82, concerning the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, was signed into law on January 5, 2025. Upon implementation, the Social Security Fairness Act eliminates the reduction of Social Security benefits while entitled to public pensions from work not covered by Social Security. The Social Security Administration is evaluating how to implement the Act. We will provide more information as soon as available.”
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