SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES IN THE 110TH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

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SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES IN THE 110TH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION
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NEA Priority Issues

• Fight any Social Security privatization
• Oppose mandatory Social Security coverage
• Repeal Social Security offsets

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Whats the difference?

• MNEA ---- MSTA?
• MNEA-R ---- MRTA?

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The national connection!

• In order to lobby effectively at the national
  level, you need a national organization.
• NEA is the organization that has led the fight to
  repeal the Social Security offsets.

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• What are the
• Social Security Offsets?

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The Government Pension Offset (GPO)

• Reduces some public employees Social Security
  spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of
  their public pension.

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WHOM DOES IT AFFECT?

• Any public employee who does not pay into Social
  Security but whose spouse does/did. (public
  employee expects to collect Social Security
  benefits based on the earnings of a deceased
  spouse).
• Mostly women, many low-income. Many ESPs (but
  not Missouri PEERS).

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What is the Windfall Elimination Provision?
(WEP)

• Changes Social Security formula to reduce EARNED
  benefits of persons who also earn a public
  pension.
• Some public employees can lose up to 328 per
  month in Social Security.

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WHOM DOES IT AFFECT?

• Any public employee who does not pay into Social
  Security in public sector job, but expects to
  collect Social Security from
• Earnings in prior career
• Earnings in another state where public employees
  pay into Social Security or
• Earnings from part-time or summer jobs.

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• To calculate the financial impact on your
  benefits contact your local Social Security
  Administration Office.

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Where did these Laws Come From??

• 1960s --state and local employees given
  opportunity to participate in Social Security.
  36 states opted to enroll remaining chose to
  maintain/enhance existing systems.
• 1980s -- Budget deficits meant Congress was
  looking for money.
• Perceived double-dipping led Congress to enact
  GPO/ WEP.

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Impact on Educators and Education
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States Where Educators Do Not Pay Into Social
Security

• Alaska
• California 
• Colorado 
• Connecticut 
• Georgia (some districts)  
• Illinois 
• Kentucky

• Louisiana
• Maine 
• Massachusetts 
• Missouri (except KC STL)
• Nevada 
• Ohio 
• Rhode Island (some districts) 
• Texas (some districts)

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Overall Impact

• Nine out of 10 affected public employees lose
  entire spousal benefit because of GPO.
• GPO partially or fully reduces benefits of
  367,000 people. Over 70 percent are women many
  low-income.
• This number, and number affected by WEP, will
  only continue to grow as more people reach
  retirement age.

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New Notice Required

• NEA worked with Congress to require notice to new
  employees in non-Social Security states about
  potential impacts of the offsets.
• Requirement went into effect for employees hired
  after January 1, 2005.
• Social Security Administration provides notice
  form to employers.

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SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT
Progress 297 cosponsors H.R.
82 including Blunt, Carnahan, Clay, Cleaver,
Emerson, Graves Not yet Akin, Hulshof,
Skelton, S 206 27 Co-sponsors . . . .
McCaskill Not yet -- Bond
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The GPO/WEP Pledge

• On my honor
• I will try
• To contact my Congress Member
• To thank him or her for their support or
• To urge their co-sponsorship
• Of the Social Security Fairness Act
• Within the next week.

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I will tell them . . . .

• This is not double dipping!
• This is double working!
• All were asking is our fair share of money we
  have contributed to social security and the
  social security benefit we have earned.

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What can you do?

• Go to nea.org for more information, talking
  points and links to your Congressperson
• www.nea.org/lac
• Sign up for the mo-nea listserv for updates . . .
  
• Contact Judy.Glover_at_mnea.org

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What can you do?

• Call, FAX or e-mail your Congressperson
• Deliver postcards to Members of Congress in their
  local offices

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Goal for 110th Congress

• At the very least to get H.R. 82 out of the House
  Ways and Means Subcommittee for Social Security
  for a vote on the House Floor.
• We need to know if those that say they will vote
  for repeal will not only talk the talk but walk
  the walk.

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• Dont gamble with our future!
• Full repeal of the GPO/WEP
• 61 billion over 10 years How?
• Scrap the cap!

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• Marthalake_at_aol.com
• Leila.Medley_at_mnea.org